How can we educate and equip men with the mature Christian faith to engage and develop a spiritual life with younger men in today’s culture? Why are men’s ministries failing? How do we create mentorship between older and younger dads, in different seasons of their spiritual lives?
Since 2010, Todd has been leading a discipleship movement of men, first in Southlake, Texas and now in Atlanta, Georgia. As part of the Executive team at Victory Church in Atlanta, Todd oversees discipleship for all ministries across four campuses.
In this conversation, Todd and I explore why churches struggle with their men’s ministries programs, how we can navigate the crisis young men are having with their role in the church, and what a mature Christian mentorship looks like. We also discuss advice on how to live out our spiritual fitness to help guide other men in the church to live out theirs.
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in…
- Todd’s story about getting into a men’s ministry role [1:30]
- The spiritual crisis with young men in the church today [5:10]
- The millennials’ question: “Does the Christian lifestyle work?” [9:47]
- The healing journey a man needs to take for spiritual fitness [13:20]
- How to say “no” to and dominate temptations of the flesh [16:20]
- Todd’s advice for young dads raising a family [27:50]
- Barriers spiritual fathers run into while trying to mentor other men [32:10]
- Best spiritual advice Todd has been given [39:50]
- Todd’s book recommendations and his own book in the works [41:40]
The Struggle Churches have with men’s ministry
When Todd was offered a job as a men’s ministry leader, he had research to do. He discovered many churches were giving up on men’s ministry programs because men were not interested in the functions. He decided he wanted to find a way to get men involved in a leadership role in every area of the church. The missing discipleship of men spiritually leading men needed to be reintegrated back into the church.
The Crisis young men have in the church today
Today young men are asking, “Is it actually possible to finish the spiritual race?” and “Does it work?” Young men struggle when they do not see spiritually strong men as role models in the church today.
Is the crisis young men are having due to the spiritual church leaders leading with lukewarm lives? We believe in the power of an older mentor investing in the life of a younger man. However, sometimes something is missing and creates a disconnect in our ability to impact the lives of the younger dads. Todd gives his advice on how the older generations can overcome this disconnect.
Advice on improving Spiritual fitness
What does your spiritual fitness routine look like? Todd helps us understand how the act of overcoming the flesh daily requires work and intention not just to remove sin from our lives but to then fill the space left behind with the Word and Spirit of God.
Todd offers mentorship advice for the young dads in a busy season of dependent family life, and advice for the seasoned dads struggling to make the reach to connect with these busy young dads. He reminds us not to be afraid to make connections and have fun with each other because being friends is the first step to being a mentor.
Todd tells us that, “It matters that we serve God. It matters that we run from sin. It matters that we trust God. It matters that we pray. It matters that we fast. It matters that we go after the things of God because there are people that come behind you, that need what you have.”
Resources & People Mentioned
- Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
- Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jokko Willink and Leif Babin
Connect with Todd McIntyre
Connect With Spiritual Fathers
- The Spiritual Fathers website
- SpiritualFathers(at)ManInTheMirror.com
Audio Production and Show Notes by – PODCAST FAST TRACK