Overview
September will begin the second full year of our Band of Brothers program at MBC! It is amazing to see what the Lord has done through and in this group, and we are so excited to see what the Lord will continue to do in our group. In the coming year we will continue with our vision:
“To cultivate an environment where young men can support each other through fellowship, Bible reading, and prayer. Our goal is to grow in the Lord as we tackle various topics and read challenging chapters of Scripture. We will delve into the deepest parts of our existence because the Lord Jesus is coming back, and we must be ready. Each of us has a divine assignment and spiritual gifts that we intend to discover and embrace. In short, we are cultivating spiritual warriors for Jesus.”
With the goals of: Cultivating Biblical worldviews. Bearing one another’s burdens. Confessing sins to one another. Adopting a Biblical view of masculinity. Establishing Biblical character. Till soil where seed can be planted, watered, and bear fruit. Establish ourselves in the ways of the Lord.
This year, we’re building a well-rounded calendar that balances meaningful topics with purposeful activities. To make that happen, our year will follow four distinct phases:
In our Foundation Phase, we will lay the groundwork for everything we’ll discuss throughout the year. We will return to the basics of Christianity because we need to know what we believe, why we believe it, and we must know it well. These truths shape who we are and who we aspire to be, and by studying them together, we will set a strong foundation for the year ahead.
Base Material Francis Chan: What is a Christian (Right Now Media Video Series)
Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without Him and His life, we have nothing to stand on. As we approach Easter, we will seek to grow more deeply acquainted with our Savior: who He is, what His character is like, and how we can become more like Him. We will reflect on the truths of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and intentionally apply them to our lives.
Base Material JD Greer: Who is Jesus (Right Now Media video series)
After Easter, we will turn our focus inward to who we are as individuals. More specifically: What is a man of God, and how do I become one? In today’s culture, the definition of “being a man” is not only ever shifting, but it often stands in direct contrast to the biblical picture of manhood. We will explore God’s Word to discover His design for a man and commit ourselves to growing together into the men He created us to be. During this phase, we will be inviting in strong men of God to share and teach their life experiences. Our goal is to create an environment of open discussion with more experienced men that are farther in their walk with the Lord than we are, and to also provide a space where connections with these men can flourish for future mentorship and opportunity.
Our culture constantly bombards us with messages, pressures, and ideas — and for a high school young man, there’s a lot to process. In a world saturated with sexual temptation, moral confusion, and cultural dilemmas, the question is: How do we see the world through the lens of the Christian faith? This summer, we will examine the culture around us, measure it against biblical truth, and discuss how to live faithfully in it. This phase will be led by an accredited Colson Fellow, equipping us with the tools to think clearly, live faithfully, and stand courageously for Christ in our time.
Special Events
At Band of Brothers, we feel it is important to create environments for growth outside of the normal “War Room Experience.” This year we are committed to doing a better job of creating those events to provide a well-rounded experience for our young men.
Often the punchline of Band of Brothers, hikes are something that we truly want to implement this year. These hikes will not only get us out in creation, but provide avenues of Bible study, spiritual growth and worship in a new environment.
Bonfires are already something we love at Band of Brothers. Some of the most impactful nights we have had are shared thoughts and experiences around the fire. Whether during the summertime on the beach, or in the height of winter around a burn barrel, we will continue to utilize this effective method of meeting style intermittently throughout the year.
A new item that we want to add this year. We would like to spend strategically placed meetings watching a film. Watching films as a group is a fun time to connect, but also an awesome time to learn together.
As a man, food is a cornerstone to everything we do. We must eat, so we shall. Throughout the year we will take the time to break bread with one another, whether at bonfires or at one off events, we feel that some of the best discussions of all time happen around the dinner table, so we will use that to our advantage.
Seminars are something new we want to do this year. We want to bring in well-rounded men of God from different walks in life to share their life experiences with our group. These will primarily happen during our Third phase, but also potentially at our bonfire nights.
Tentative Calendar
We have a lot planned for the next year for Band of Brothers. Check out this calendar to see all that you can take part in with the group!
Meetings: Meetings will take place every Thursday night.
Kickoff & Bonfire: September 18th
Hike: September 28th
Hike: October 26th
Bonfire: October 30th
Beefs Giving: November 20th. Will take the form of “Bring your own steak.” We will grill steaks, and the leaders will provide caramelized onions and potatoes.
Break: We will be taking a break from our weekly program for leaders and students to spend time with their families.
Tentative: Hike & Movie Night
Frequency: Based on Phase 1, we will gage the frequency of meetings (Either every week, or back to first, third, and fifth Thursdays)
Bonfire: January 8th
Bonfire: March 5th
Movie Night: “Passion of the Christ” Movie Night – March 26th
Break: We will be taking a break from our weekly program during this time.
Meetings: Meetings every week
Bonfires & Hikes: Bonfires to be announced. Hikes.
Break: We will be taking a break before the summer curriculum.
Meetings: Weekly Meetings
Bonfires: Bonfires to be announced
Beach: Beach Overnight
BBQ & Bonfire: End of Year BBQ and Bonfire – August 27th
Important Notes
Meeting Time
Our meetings will take place from 7:00PM to 8:30PM. We will be starting each discussion at 7PM Sharp. Please arrive before 7PM to ensure you do not miss any of the discussion. Also, if you get picked up and dropped off each week, please arrange for your rides to come at 8:30PM.
What to Bring Each Week
– Bible
– Notebook with Pen/Pencil
Final Thoughts
As we step into this year of Band of Brothers, we do so with gratitude for what God has done, and expectation for what He will do. Every phase, meeting, and event is an opportunity to grow in Christ, sharpen one another, and prepare for the calling God has placed on our lives. Our prayer is that each young man would leave this year with a deeper love for Jesus, a stronger grasp of His Word, and a clear vision of what it means to live as a man of God today. Let’s commit ourselves fully to the work God wants to do in us for His glory, and our Good.
Sincerely,
Cory Dziedzic, Johnny Graves, Ben Youtkus & Tim Youtkus
Band of Brothers Leadership.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Call the church office at 908-647-0594 or email Tim Youtkus
