#84 – Wild Warrior Adventure

Guest: Jonny Benton

Act Like Men- Men’s Leadership Podcast

Podcast Show Notes

Wild Warrior Adventure(WWA) was ​started in 2018 by ​men​ who love fly fishing and have a heart for the sacrifice and service of Combat Veterans. Bonded by the significant life impact of The Wild Adventure, WWA founders give back to active-duty and retired Veterans, specifically those experiencing combat operational stress injuries. WWA Board Members are committed to the healing of emotional, moral, and spiritual wounds in combat veterans.

An invisible epidemic is plaguing our nation. It affects our loved ones, co-workers, and neighbors, and sadly, it is not a new phenomenon. It has ravaged relationships and lives throughout the centuries, and before we even knew its name, it was referenced in literary works by Homer, Shakespeare, and Dickens. Over the years, it has been called many things. Following the Civil War, we called it “Soldier’s Heart.” After the First World War, it was referred to as “Combat Fatigue” or “Shell Shock.” Today, we call it post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, and it is still wreaking havoc.

PTSD affects 8 million Americans each year, and regrettably, too many of these individuals are suffering in silence. The reality of living with PTSD is a daily struggle for a growing number of veterans and service members. However, this condition is not confined to those who have served in our military. It is also an enduring burden for our police officers, sexual assault survivors, and many others who have experienced significant trauma.

The inclusion of faith-based solutions to combating suicide and PTSD has been embraced by the highest echelons of the executive branch. In President Trump’s executive order on ending veteran suicide, he calls for the inclusion of faith-based organizations, and this acknowledgment should be lauded.

The title of this much longer article quoted prior is: Faith-Based Treatment Should be Explored as an Option for Helping Solve PTSD. (see Wild Warriors website)Rep. Vicky Hartzler R- MO

Listener, you will want to take the time to listen to this podcast. Jonny’s personal story is enough to say Thank you for your service. More importantly, to see inside the mind and heart of a man who was willing to give his life for his family, and for you and me. We also see that the residue that sticks with a man who has lived in an extended wartime environment is one that most of us will never understand. Yet despite all of his trauma, deep struggles, and a desire to end his life multiple times, Jonny would say: OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE DOES HEAL.

I am so proud to know Warrior Jonny and even more proud of him for taking his pain and turning it into a ministry to be an instrument of healing for many others. Jonny - Bless you, your family, and the men God brings into your life for hope and healing.

To reach Jonny Benton and Wild Warrior Adventure, go to: https://www.wildwarrioradventure.org.

Just a reminder, these podcasts are released on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. For additional podcasts, go to: https://mensministrycatalyst.org/podcasts/

Many people assume Father’s Day (and Mother’s Day) is a holiday created by greeting card makers to turn a profit. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The story behind how this day became a holiday is actually a tale of determination by one woman and a decades-long fight to get fathers the recognition they deserve.

The first local Father's Day was in Spokane, WA, in 1907. It took a long time and a lot of effort, but President Johnson recognized it in 1966. However, it was in 1972 that it became a National Holiday. Mother's Day was recognized as a National Holiday in 1915.

Many fathers in the Bible teach us pieces of what it means to be a father.

Adam: the first father – his job was to be the protector and provider for Eve and his family. We see the consequences of poor choices, complexities of relationships, all of which mirror the dilemmas we all face as fathers. Lesson: We as fathers will always be caught in a dilemma that we will need to confront. If the first man struggled, let’s not give up when we struggle.

Noah: Here was a righteous father who showed us unwavering faith in the goodness of God and complete dedication to his family in a very corrupt world, which we are facing today. Lesson: Noah is an example of a father's role in protecting his family, no matter the circumstances or outcome. Protect your family's being, trust God’s commands, and trust in the goodness of God.

Father of the Prodigal Son: While this parable is not a true story, it has many lessons about fatherhood. The son had left the family, he went wild, spent his portion of the father's inheritance, and then came crawling back, repentantly, to the father. How many of us as fathers have had kids who went astray or are still astray from the family and God? This is heartbreaking! No other way to say it – heartbreaking! Lesson: What do we learn about God and about our role as a father from how this father responded to his child when he came back?

Celebrating Fathers Today: What do we celebrate about Fathers today?

1. No one has more long-term influence than a father in a child's life. We have all sorts of negative examples, of course, but we have many positive examples. If you are a dad who struggled with your dad, find a positive mentor who can help you parent in a way that you will be pleased. None of us is perfect – we all need support.
2. Every dad wants to succeed at being a good parent for his kids. Do not be afraid to reach out for support, help, and guidance. We can rarely do well what we have not experienced or witnessed in the “doing well” category.
3. Do not give up on your children. It can be very hard as kids get older, if they have fallen away from the family or God. Trust that the Holy Spirit is working in their lives to bring them to Himself, which most often leads back to you as well.

Men: what you are doing as a father is a good and Godly thing. Our children learn so much about what they think of God through their relationship with you.

1. Pray for your children every day. Love them unconditionally with Godly standards.
2. Involve yourself in their life – they know they are important because you have put aside other things to involve yourself with them.
3. Bring other Godly Men around your kids. They see the love of God in other families who are connected with you, and they learn this is the way to live, under the power and love of God Almighty!

Happy Father's Day – God has a great calling on your life, which is to represent Him to your children!!

#83 – What is the National Coalition of Ministries to Men

Guest: Scott Haima

Act Like Men - Men’s Leadership Podcast

Podcast Show Notes Founded in 1996 at the height of the Promise Keepers movement, The National Coalition of Ministries to Men (NCMM) was created and today brings together more than 200 organizations and independent ministers who share a single objective: to connect the men who disciple men. NCMM doesn’t minister directly to men – instead, we bring together the individuals and organizations that do this vital work. The goal is to help these organizations do what none of them can do on their own. Their intent is listed in three words: Together, Building Men.

Ministry Vision
Discipleship is at the core of the Great Commission and our vision is that the Body of Christ be fully equipped to mobilize men as disciples in Christ. To “mobilize” means to assemble and put in a state of readiness for immediate active service in time of war. Our members are committed to calling forth men (assembling) and equipping them (state of readiness) for service. NCMM simply provides the platform for the members’ networking to take place for the discipleship process.

The overall strategy of NCMM is focused on four distinct phrases:

• Visibility: We will raise awareness on behalf of the members with the need to disciple and mobilize men and to develop the resources within the Body of Christ to meet that need.
• Networking / Connection: We will foster points of connection between members for leadership development, training, fellowship, and networking.
• Resources: We will facilitate faster access to member resources and sponsor the development of needed resources beyond the scope of any one member.
• Ministry Development / Incubation: We will serve as an incubation conduit to develop emerging ministries.

NCMM has several ways to support you as men’s leaders who are part of the NCMM network.

Free Resources.

Monthly Training and encouragement calls.

Books written by the leaders in the network, as well as sponsored by NCMM.

A collection of podcasts is available, including MMC podcasts being featured there.

NCMM National Conference (annual)

Leaders of Men:

1. You can go to the NCMM website to find numerous resources and speakers who are experts in areas where your men need support.
2. You can find a group of leaders who are walking through exactly the issues, challenges, and opportunities that you are also facing.
3. Know that you are not alone – reach out and get support and expertise.

For more information about the NCMM:

Website: https://ncmm.org/

To Reach Scott Haima, Executive Director: scott@ncmm.org

Just a reminder, these podcasts are released on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. For additional podcasts, go to: https://mensministrycatalyst.org/podcasts/