An invitation by District Youth Director Mark Dean to do Speed the Light events is always a welcome one. In addition to great fellowship with a longtime friend, I always look forward to the meals featuring walleye fish, hanging out with Minnesota students and leaders, and experiencing the winter wonderland (as low as -22 this time).

An unexpected highlight of this trip was the meeting with Carl, Kirk and Mike, leadership team members of the Blacksmiths. That is the name of the men’s group at Grand Rapids Assembly of God based on the role of the blacksmiths in II Kings 24. But this is more than a men’s ministry, it is a ‘movement’ according to Kirk.

Some of the church’s men attended last year’s district men’s retreat and experienced something special that inspired them to make strategic moves in reaching the men of their community. The pastor empowered them to commit one Sunday night a month to the Blacksmiths. This meeting, diverse in ages and content, is now impacting about 60 men in a church that averages about 220 on a Sunday morning.

As these men first met me in the lobby of the youth center, I was especially impressed by the bear hugs exchanged with virtually every teenage man that walked through the doors. It was obvious this ‘movement of men’ will positively influence generations as these leaders have purposed to reach out to every man in the community.

Thanks, Blacksmiths, for reaching out to me. This is a movement that needs to take place across America!