How A Men’s Meeting Builds Brotherhood

A lot of men carry the same fear in silence: “I’m the only one struggling.” Ground Zero exists to prove that lie wrong. We gathered around the table with four leaders from Christ Family Outreach Church in Amelia, Virginia to talk about what happens when men show up hungry, put down the mask, and choose brotherhood.

We dig into why a monthly men’s meeting can become a catalyst for real change: accountability that sticks, relationships that keep you standing, and a church community that feels like family. You’ll hear how something as simple as dinner around tables can break isolation, why bringing sons and grandsons matters for the next generation, and how friendships formed at church can protect you from getting pulled back into your old life.

Then we talk worship. There’s nothing like hearing 80 to 100 men sing, pray, and fill an altar with expectation. We share how unashamed praise becomes a training ground that carries into Sunday mornings, into the workplace, and back home into marriage and parenting. We also get personal about the battles men face, from learning to receive love to leading with courage, and why we’re praying for a tangible encounter with the Holy Spirit that “takes our breath away.”

If you’re looking for a Christian men’s ministry focused on spiritual growth, discipleship, and godly leadership, press play, share this with a man you care about, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. After you listen, leave a review and tell us what kind of brotherhood you want to see in your church.

Transcript

Why Ground Zero Matters

SPEAKER_00 0:07

What's going on, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Beyond Sunday. I'm your host, Pastor Lee Day, and I pastor Christ Family Outreach, located right here in Amelia, Virginia. We're gonna be doing something a little different on this episode of Beyond Sunday for the very first time ever. I have three guests all at the table here in studio at the exact same time. And I consider it to truly be an honor to have the opportunity to introduce every one of these brothers to you right here in this episode. But before I do, allow me to just lay some groundwork for the topic of this episode. We are going to be discussing our ground zero monthly men's meeting. Now, before you go ahead and tune us out, because maybe you're a woman and you're thinking, what does this have to do with me at this particular time in my life? Or maybe you attend another church and you feel like you're not interested in this topic. I just want you to know that I believe it's important that you hear what the Spirit of God is doing amongst men, because I don't believe that it's just CFO church specific. Uh just recently I was um at at at an outreach and I saw the Spirit of God moving amongst men there from all different types of churches, all different walks of life, and it was a beautiful thing. So I truly believe if you're a lady listening, that you need to listen to this episode and be encouraged so you know how to pray for your husband. And if you're a man that attends another church, well, maybe you and your church can come join us at CFO the first Tuesday of every month when we gather at 6:30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for our ground zero monthly men's meeting, or maybe you could start a monthly uh men's ministry at your church and get the guys rallied up. And that really is what it's all about. So if nothing else, sit back and enjoy the testimony during this episode of what our faithful father is in the midst of doing. So let's get moving. Uh, first up, out of the three in this lineup, no particular order, that I'm gonna introduce to you uh is our worship leader at Christ Family Outreach Church. And if you attend one of our Ground Zero meetings, he will be leading you in worship. Brother Ben Dalton, how are you doing, my brother?

SPEAKER_01 2:18

I'm doing good, man.

Introducing The Ground Zero Team

SPEAKER_00 2:19

What's going on? Hey, glad to have you in here, my brother. Next up is Brother Daniel Rayner. And when you come into the room, you're gonna be greeted by this man right here. Men, he wants to love on you. He wants to pray for you because he has a heart and a ministry for the people of God. And also for those who need to come to know God. Brother Daniel, how are you doing, brother? Amen, brother. Thank you, man. I'm blessed to be here. Thank you, baby. Brother, we are as well, man. Thank you for thank you for joining us. Uh, last but not least, Brother Frankie Brown. Frankie opens up the ground zero men's meeting with a welcome, also with a brief word before we eat dinner, just to make sure that our minds are set, uh, to make sure that we are intentionally thanking about God, to make sure that we're lined up in the right direction, making sure that we're expecting God to work when it's time for the message. Brother Frankie, how are you doing, brother? Blessed to be here with y'all. Amen. My brothers. Amen. Let's let's jump right into it, guys. Let's jump right into it. Uh, Daniel, why do you think it's important that men come together at what we call ground zero? Why is that important?

Brotherhood And Accountability For Men

SPEAKER_02 3:21

Brother, I think accountability um and to build relationships with one another, man. Not only build your relationship with God, man, first and foremost, but just to build a relationship with one another, man. Yeah. And accountability. Yeah. I think it has a lot to do with it. Um, Proverbs 27, 17 says, iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another. Amen. So I think it's wonderful, man, to be able to so good experience other brothers and know that you're not alone.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

You're not alone. Amen. Absolutely. Absolutely. You guys got anything on that? Why is it important that that men come together in the same room in the house of God?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

For for me personally, um, I've got two kids that come with me. It helps teach the younger generation, man. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

I mean, it's just gives them somebody positive to look up to. Yeah. Brother Ben, you made you you bring up a good point. I'm glad you did that because I'd not planned on uh introducing this topic, but man, it's it you you hit the nail on the head. For those that do not know, uh, we we allow the dads to bring to bring their sons. Yeah. Or or if they have older grandsons, if it's a grandfather. Yeah. And I and I love looking around, seeing teenagers in the room. That's right. That's right. I think it's absolutely amazing. And it creates a bond in the brotherhood that that these young young men can look up to and say, well, you know, later in life, hey, I've got an uncomfortable topic I don't want to talk to my dad about, but maybe I can go talk to this guy over here that I've been seeing in this men's meeting for years now. Brother Frankie, you got anything, brother? Why is it important for men to come together?

SPEAKER_03 4:41

I think it's the realization that that as men, we aren't alone.

SPEAKER_00 4:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:45

A lot of times we try to hide, you know, hide our emotions, hide our feelings. Or like we could say, yeah, I'm blessed, I'm highly favored, but physically be going through uh a season where we feel like we're out of season, you know? Yeah. And it's and we feel disconnected. So it's it's a great place to be unified. Absolutely. And uh and the accountability, responsibility part is huge.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

Yeah. Brother Frankie, share with the listeners what you see on a ground zero when you come into the room, because we start we start the night out in our ministry center before we move and make our way into the sanctuary. And what we do in the ministry center, we've got tables set up. Um, just just kind of walk the listeners through what you feel, what you see when you walk into the ministry center, and there's 80, there's 90 men all around tables waiting for dinner. They're about to break bread together. What what do you see when you when you walk into that room?

SPEAKER_03 5:32

Man, I see uh when I walk in, I see communion taking place. Walk in, it doesn't matter. For me personally, it doesn't matter like what I've been through that whole day. Maybe, maybe it was a tough day. Maybe I was in my head that day and just feeling isolated alone. And when I walk in that room, you can just feel this uh this love, this brotherly love that captures you and it welcomes you in. It's like, hey man, like plug into this. Don't don't miss this opportunity. And you just see the brothers bonding, you see the brothers talking. It sounds like a bunch of blackbirds on a power line when you when you when you walk in, you know. But then, but then you also got the food in the background, man. So you know, you know you're about to be fed spiritually, physically, and every need that you have as a man is about to be met, and and you're gonna meet with other men that are that are human, just like you, yeah, who are who are there for the very same purpose and reason.

SPEAKER_00 6:23

I think that people use the word community um as as a good thing in church. And it is, it is. Don't don't get me wrong. But one thing that I love about Christ Family Outreach Church, to me, it it feels closer than a community. It feels it truly feels like a family. It does, bro. And when you when you walk into that room and it just man, whether it's your first time or whether it's not, you'll go you're gonna be welcome into the family of God. That's right. And and I love when I look around, just seeing the fellowship and the brotherhood. Frankie, you bring up all good points there. Ben, Daniel, anything you guys want to add to that when you when you walk into that ministry center, what what what kind of runs through your mind when you look around and just kind of see that buzz happening amongst the men in there?

SPEAKER_02 7:05

Man, I just feel like walls are breaking down. The word that comes to mind is personality, man. Really getting to know people, getting to know brothers, yeah, and um building that relationship that you know sometimes can be hard. Yeah. But I see I see walls breaking down. People opening up.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

Yeah. And uh such a blessing. It's beautiful to see it happening amongst men because so many times when you go to church with your spouse, oftentimes men are they're a little more guarded. Maybe because of uh an argument that they had with their wife on the way to church or throughout the week, and and and the enemy is really pounding on them and making them feel convicted. You know, and so then when they come into the house of God, oftentimes a man feels restricted. Well, here I've not been leading my house well this week. Who am I? And how can I come in here and and worship? And so they really let the enemy win and they themselves lose when when when they just shut down and don't lead their family through a time of worship. And so when you get these guys into a room and we don't know exactly everything in his in his closet, if you will. We we don't know what happened at his house beforehand, but we're not we're not gonna judge him even if we did know. That's right. And and he comes in there and doesn't have to worry about someone staring at him, but he can truly say, Okay, let me let me try this thing called worship out. Let me see what it is to raise my hands. Let me let me see what it is to go up to the altar. Let me see what it is to to lay a hand on another man and and and pray and pray for him. And and Ben, that kind of segues us into the next question I have for you because you've got a very particular type of of role here where it is very much individual, but also leading the family at the same time as the worship leader. Brother Ben, as as as a worship leader, what do you see God doing during worship? And like how how have you seen these men grow in worship since intending ground zero?

SPEAKER_01 8:56

It is uh unlike anything I've ever experienced, really, having a a room full of men um come together and just truly worship the Lord. It's I mean, it's it's nothing like it. It's a beautiful thing. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I I a lot of times I just back off and just just let God let God use the men to sing. That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

I I like that sometimes when I see you just kind of play and just back off that mic and and and then you hear the room just with with male voices. You can just feel the spirit, yeah, yeah. And you got you got 80, 90 plus men in there, basically like a men's choir.

SPEAKER_01 9:37

Yeah, exactly. Exactly, man.

SPEAKER_00 9:39

And and and you just you hear all those voices, those male voices crying out to God, and it it truly is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

SPEAKER_03 9:48

Can I say this for you before?

SPEAKER_00 9:49

Yeah, brother, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 9:50

I feel personally, brother, when when you're leading the men in worship, that God has given you like a greater grace for that night. I can I can I sense that and feel it. Even your words, I'm not saying that they're more profound at night, but God really gives you a greater grace each each night at the ground zero. And it's it's a beautiful thing to see that.

Food Fellowship And Walls Falling

SPEAKER_00 10:12

Frankie's right, Ben. When when you're up there leading those men, God's doing doing an extra something in there in your life to get these men convinced to sell out and say, you know what? Don't matter if I can't sing, don't matter if I've never sang a song to the Lord before, but but this night, this night I'm gonna try. You know, maybe I've never been to the altar before, but but this night I'm gonna walk up there and I'm gonna take that trip. Maybe I've never lifted my hands before, but but this night, but this night, I'm gonna I'm gonna take a turn at that. You know, and so yeah, that there is a there is a sweet anointing that that that takes place in those uh in those ground zero moments. Yeah, Frankie, you seeing anything, brother?

SPEAKER_03 10:51

I'm seeing like seeing like the birth of uh public praise again in the process. Uh you already touched on it, Pastor Lee, but it's it's this uh unashamed worship. And you hit on it earlier about without the spouse there, almost like keeping you accountable. It's like so say the man hasn't been leading, right? The spouse is no longer there. It's like this um, it's like this wall where he feels like he can't step past that. So now he's he's isolated alone. He's like, okay, I can go to the altar. Okay, I can sing. Okay, the brother beside me, he's off tune. Yeah, let me let me join in. I'm seeing this this birth of an unashamed worship begin to take place. Yeah where well, probably, most likely, hopefully, they'll take it home and uh and they'll begin to do it, do what they weren't currently doing, yeah, and start to do it.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Because that's our hope, right? And and that's really why we call it ground zero, because it's at ground zero where that first initial event happens that causes everything else. You know, everything else that transpires was because of that event at ground zero. And and we believe, we believe God and we have seen God make changes, right, in the lives of so many men, and ourselves included, that that faithfully attend ground zero. And brother Frankie brings up a great point. Like, if we can get these brothers comfortable to worship amongst men, then surely the following Sunday or the following Thursday at Recharge, maybe we'll see that man walk up to the altar and get his knees. Maybe we'll see that man uh at his seat beside his family lift his hands. Yeah. Maybe we'll hear that brother singing a little more vocally, you know. So what we're doing oftentimes at ground zero, we we're we're we're giving these men an opportunity as a training ground to practice.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Well, see, that's what I've that's what I'm I'm seeing a lot of is is these men, they're they're they're being more than just Christians on Sundays, yeah and more than just Christians on Thursdays, you know, recharge service. Yeah, yeah. They're taking it to the grocery store and to work and to the ball field and you know, I mean, bro. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:58

I mean, it it's it it's it's really cool to to be a part of. Absolutely. What what I see to your point, Ben, is like I'm I'm hearing more and more like groups of people, you know, the people are are getting to know people, they're becoming friends, and now they're going out doing things together right outside of church, which is what we need. You know, men need opportunities to fellowship with other godly men. Yeah, yeah, because if we don't have them, then all we're gonna do is still trying to be a new creature by hanging out with people that identify with our old creature. That's right. And they're gonna try to tempt us and lure us back into that old lifestyle. So we do need, as we're a new creature, we need to be hanging out with other new creatures. That's right, right. You know what I'm saying? That's right. And I'm I'm hearing that's happening. Yeah, you know, and and I know as a pastor, that blesses me to know that that that these groups are kind of popping up, and people are going out to dinner, people are going out to see a Christian movie, people are hanging out with with one another at their homes. People are popping up with these with with their own small groups and their own Bible studies and doing things together. This truly does, truly does bless me. And again, that that that to me is why it's more than community, it's family. People are going beyond just what's in the walls of the building that that we call Christ family outreach.

SPEAKER_03 14:12

And I love, I love to your point, Pastor Lee. It's it I'm hearing like expansion of family. The family of God is growing. It's growing. Yes. Outside of that event or even that community or communion, you know. Yeah, yeah. And it's it's it's expanding.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 14:27

It's contagious too.

SPEAKER_00 14:28

Beautiful thing. It is contagious, it is contagious. Yeah, I'm gonna go around the table. Uh, Frankie, we'll start with you on this one. Frankie, what would you say is your favorite, your most favorite thing about ground zero?

Men Worshiping Without Shame

SPEAKER_03 14:40

That's a really good great question, Pastor Lee. I would say, man, I would say it's the atmosphere for me. Yes. Like I don't get charged up, man.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:49

Just that buzz in the room. And it's something different too, even like you you said um at the beginning of the podcast, like I get to share, I get to share a prayer in a in a word. Yeah. When I stand before 80 men and like I'm just, I feel like a grizzly bear done chased me, man. Because it it's something about, you know, I could be in front of 500 people and say a prayer, and and I know that I'm talking to my father. Um and I've always kind of maybe people don't even know this about me, but I've always had a fear of public speaking. Uh-huh. But it's something about being in front of 80 to 100 men that I feel like a grizzly bear chasing me, bro. Yeah. And it's to look out and see the men actually grasping what you're putting down, even though there's food behind you. Yes. Even though there's a pile of food behind you. I know they got an appetite physically for that, but they have an appetite to hear about the spiritual message that's going to be shared by you. And um, and that it is special to me. Amen. The atmosphere, man.

SPEAKER_00 15:45

Yeah, it's so good. So for just a few weeks ago, you were doing a welcome at church and getting ready to pray at church for over 700 people.

SPEAKER_03 15:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

But then at ground zero, you're standing before 80 or 90 men. Yeah. And you're right, it is different when you got a room full of men. And here's what I say is different about it. They all come with the expectation. That's right. None of them are there checking a box on a Tuesday night.

SPEAKER_01 16:08

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 16:09

And that's what I that's what I love about a Tuesday night service. Like, no one's coming up there on a Tuesday night just to check a box. That's right. They're not, they don't have to bring the wife, and the wife didn't drag them. Well, I don't know. Maybe there's a wife sitting out in the parking lot. Maybe there's a wife sitting down in the parking lot somewhere. She drug that man up there. Hey, if you if you're if you're a woman listening, maybe maybe that's your plan. You know, maybe maybe that's why you're listening to this episode right here. Maybe you need to take your man, get him in the car, uh, do what you gotta do to get him in there, and drive him up to church and and and drop them off. Um, and we would gladly, we would gladly receive your husband up there. Amen, brothers. But but what I love about it is primarily Tuesday night's not a box check. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 16:49

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 16:50

Guys that come to that, man, they're they're hungry. They know they're gonna get fed a physical meal. But I tell you what, I think even more for more than the food, I think guys truly are coming for the fellowship. Yeah. I think guys are coming for the laughter that's in the room. I think guys are coming for the worship. I think guys are coming for the message. I think guys are coming because they leave feeling better. You know, they they they they leave, they leave changed. Um, you know, so uh, brother Ben, what what would you say uh is right now? I know, I know it could all change as the spirit moves and more things are happening, but as of right now, brother Ben, what would you say the the your most favorite thing about a ground zero event is?

SPEAKER_01 17:27

We kind of talked about it a few minutes ago, but the the worship is for me. That's your heart. That yeah, it's it's it's where my heart is, man. And it's it's something powerful about a room full of men worshiping the the Father and and coming to the altar and and praying and and laying hands on one another, man. You know, just the the the love, it's unlike anything else in this world. And it's genuine.

SPEAKER_00 17:52

Yeah, oh 100%. I remember one time at Ground Zero looking up, and we have a very long altar. We we've got a big stage from from left to right. We've we've got a very large stage, and the altar runs across the entire front and off to the two sides of it as well. And I remember looking up, wanting to go up to the altar and couldn't find a space to break in. You know what I'm saying? Like I was like, man, praise God. I mean, yeah, it was men stretched literally from wall to wall on on the stage where the altar connects to the wall on both sides. And and I was like, hey, man, what an honor. You know, so I I may not be able to hit those altar steps right now, but I can stand behind some men and just pray and wait my turn. I'm gonna tell you, man, like the spirit is moving when you got to wait your turn to get up to the altar, man. When you got to wait your turn to get to the altar steps and kneel down and pray. You know what I'm saying? And and I just looked, man, and and so people just started kneeling down in the floor, you know, and I was like, okay, God, look at you do this right here amongst these men. And that's what I'm seeing. That's what I'm seeing, and also that's what I'm hearing. I was messaging with someone from another church yesterday, not even in this county, in this community, somewhere else. But they were saying that that they too are seeing a movement that God is doing in the hearts, in the minds, in the lives of men. God is calling the men to him. Amen. And and and and is powerful. God wants men to be leaders of their home. He calls them to be priests of their home.

SPEAKER_03 19:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

And and God is calling men. And here here's a here's the amazing part. Men are responding. Yes. They are. Men, men are responding, and and they're at a point to where it's like, you know what, I've been lied to long enough. I don't want to continue to walk the walk that I've been walking and accept generational curses from my daddy, my daddy's daddy, my daddy's daddy's daddy. I don't want my children living this stuff out. I want them to be better than I am, and I'm gonna live a different life. And men are responding. Brother Daniel, what would you say is your most favorite thing about ground zero?

SPEAKER_02 19:58

Brother, I got a couple, man. Oh, go ahead, give them, bro. You know, the message, man, would be the most um just being sitting with a bunch of brothers, man, and getting to hear the word of God, man. It's so special. Yeah. And I mean, you can look at me and tell I like to eat physically too. So I can tell's always good too. You look healthy and good too.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

Yeah, and God bless those ladies that are um that are coming now and preparing food and serving and fixing even the Alpha Gal friendly stuff, right? They even make Alpha Gal friendly because we got we got a few brothers that got the Alpha Gal. Oh, you got anything else? D you said the word and people coming together.

SPEAKER_02 20:36

Yes, yes, that would be me, man. And just getting to fellowship with them beforehand and uh during that time to share a meal with them, man, it's it's pretty special. Getting to see a lot of men that you may not you may not run into Thursday night or Sunday morning as much. Yeah. But everybody together and getting to talk to them is a blessing.

What We Hope To See Next

SPEAKER_00 20:54

Now that's a great point because the room is so full on a on a Sunday, and and even on a Thursday, there's so many people running around. But when you condense it down to just men, it does seem like you you see people stand out more. Yeah. When when when you kind of get the men in into the room. Uh now this one, this one may or may not be, this question may or may not be a little more difficult. You kind of got to project out here. Thank, think forward, if you will. What do you what do you guys uh and brother brother Daniel, we'll start with you on this one. What do you guys want to see happen at ground zero as it continues? Is there something particular that you're praying for for you, for the men, for everyone as a family and whole? What is something that you want to see moving forward, God do at ground zero?

SPEAKER_02 21:42

Uh brother, I hope our relationships get stronger. We get more on fire for God through this. Um man, I would love to see a lot of the men on Wednesday nights as well. That's a great point.

SPEAKER_00 21:53

I actually just shared that with Brother Frankie earlier this week, I think it was.

SPEAKER_03 21:56

Yeah, you did.

SPEAKER_00 21:57

And I was telling Brother Frankie, these guys come so Faithfully on that once a month Tuesday. And I was like, Frankie, we're gonna put a new challenge out at the next ground zero. If we could just get all right, all the guys that don't come on a Wednesday, let's try to get you in here for at least one. You know, so if you can give us one Tuesday like you're doing so great already. But let's add a let's add a Wednesday in there. For those that don't know, on Tuesdays, the first Tuesdays when we do the ground zero, but uh every every Wednesday on the second, third, or fourth week, we're doing, we're doing Bible study at church from 6:30 to 8. And and and we we see guys growing there.

SPEAKER_03 22:30

Yes, we do.

SPEAKER_00 22:30

Yeah, that's right. It's a beautiful thing. And the word is given, man. That that's why there's life change. It's the word. Because the word is given. That's right. Brother Ben, what's something looking forward that that that you could say, hey, I'm I'm hoping this happens in these meetings going going forward from here?

SPEAKER_01 22:46

I'm I'm seeing it happen right now. Um, but I I I'd I'd love to see it happen even more is is uh the masculinity, I guess. It's in today, you know, today's standards, yeah, masculinity has kind of been it's not a good thing anymore, you know. It's kind of looked at frowned upon, you know, right. Uh before I come to CFO, I wouldn't go up to just a random person and hug them. Man, I'm a hugger now, you know. Yeah, I mean, you know, just the love, uh, you know, uh telling, telling a man, hey man, I love you. Yeah, you know, yeah, that's mean it. And mean it. Right, right, right. And and so just to see that continue and and grow.

SPEAKER_00 23:32

Yeah. Uh, you know. Yeah, we had a really rough guy come into church, man. He he got saved and everything, praise the Lord. But prior to being saved, he was just really, really rough, big burly guy. And uh, I told him, I told him that I loved him one time. I said, I love you, brother. He looked at me and he said, What'd you say? Yeah, yeah. I mean, I said, I said I love you, brother. And he looked at me and said, Well, why? Why you say that? I said, Man, because I love you, brother. I said, the love of Jesus is in me, man, and I just I want to share it with you, you know. And uh he looked at me, kind of thought about it, you know, and then it wasn't too long, too long after that. He looked at me and he said, Love you, brother. You know, love you, brother. Yeah, and and and I just thought that that was a beautiful thing. That's one thing that people say when they come and visit CFO. They said, Man, it's amazing looking around, seeing all these men loving one another, hugging, greeting, handshaking, making eye contact, actually spending time with one another, not just going and finding a seat in the back row somewhere, but we got guys walking around all over the place, yeah, reaching out, touching other men, you know, making sure that they're touched and feel touched and know that hey, I made a contact with you while you were here. Yeah. Absolutely. Amen. How about you, brother Frankie? What's one thing on your radar that you're hoping you could see God do at Ground Zero?

SPEAKER_03 24:44

Man, I want to see, I want to see uh Romans 8, 37 take place. And I'm gonna just read it. Go ahead. Word of God says this. Know in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Hallelujah. And I want to see, I want to see men uh become super conquerors of their of their life, not by what they're doing, but by the word of God. And I want to see men overcome. I want to see men grow. I want to see, I want to see um men just really sell out to Christ because I'm here to tell you, it wasn't until I got to uh Christ Family Outreach Church, decided to plant roots, where I started conquering in my life. And when I say conquer, I'm talking about conquering my past because for so long, that's what kept me bound. I would always look back to it. And I had this desire in my heart to really live out the faith, but was never truly around it, around other brothers that were actually living it out because I let offense always uproot me. I had never found a family, man. That's what I've been looking for in that at Christ Family Outreach. I'm not trying to sell you on CFO. I'm just telling you, like, come experience it for yourself. That's true, bro. And you're gonna see that it's not impossible to live the faith out. Yeah, it's very possible. Oh, yeah. You just need other brothers around you that are willing to be there with you and conquer together. Yes, conquer this life together.

Personal Battles And Spiritual Growth

SPEAKER_00 26:02

It is so it's so much easier to do that when you've got other men that are truly, as Brother Ben mentioned, willing to walk in what true godly masculinity looks like. It's so much easier to live that life of victory when you got other men that are willing to go around with you and do that regular. And and you can I go to church expecting to see these people. Yeah, yeah. I know they're gonna be there. They're gonna be present. And and and and that's a help, you know, that's that's a blessing. We're gonna we're gonna end this episode right now with with this particular question. We'll make it personal. And and I'll even I'll even answer this one as well. So we'll we'll go completely around the table. Is there anything particular that you're hoping to see God do in your life at ground zero? So we just kind of touched about what we want to see God do, kind of like with a broad stroke with everybody in the family. But but what do what do we want to see God do in your individual life at ground zero? Whether that's spiritually, whether that's in serving. Brother Frankie, we'll start with you. What would you say you want to see God do in your life?

SPEAKER_03 27:10

Man, it's very personal, and I'll I'll just I'll share it because I feel the spirit ministering to me to do it. I would love to hide it, right? But it's something I really struggle with, men, uh, is receiving love. Uh, I don't I don't like that part of me. I I really want to change that part of me. Uh, but for if I'm being honest with you guys and even the listener, maybe this can minister to another man too. I struggle receiving love, uh, specifically from uh specifically from my spouse or or even another brother. I I'll receive the I love you, but deep down inside, I I still believe that core lie that I'm unlovable at times. Yeah. At times I'm almost afraid to uh so to answer your answer your point passionately, what I would like to see happen in my life at ground zero is that love that's so contagious in the air that it actually like penetrates my heart and and transformed me from the inside out. Not just so so I can be transformed, but so that I can go home and and love my wife like I'm supposed to, so I can I can love myself and I can love these men around me because I know that I can't do this alone. Yeah. I've I've tried it, yeah, and it and it and it's never worked for me. So I really would love to see that take place in my life, and that's my prayer too.

SPEAKER_04 28:25

Amen.

SPEAKER_03 28:26

Not just for me, but for the men in the room that they because I know I'm not the only one. Yeah, we was at a bonfire one night and a guy spoke up. He said, I can't be the only one here that's struggling with this. I remember that. I remember that. And I wasn't brave enough to say that, but he it's like he took the words out of my mouth. So I'm saying it again. I'm not the only one that that's that's struggling sometimes to receive love. Yeah, and I'm okay with that. Yeah, that's it. Because God's gonna change it. God's gonna change it.

SPEAKER_00 28:48

Amen. Amen. And again, it's contagious. I think Brother D used that word earlier, you know. Uh the more we put ourselves around guys who can accept it and do accept it, the easier it's gonna be for you to also walk in that and accept that.

SPEAKER_03 29:02

And a hug from Daniel, man. That's that's one part that even opens me up. Like, because you're gonna get the head rub, the back rub.

SPEAKER_02 29:08

I know, man. I apologize. I'll be messing her up. I mess glasses up.

SPEAKER_03 29:13

You just messing the plans of the enemy up, too, bro.

SPEAKER_00 29:16

So tall, though. What we need to do is we need to have like a uh step stool. And you just stand on the other side of it, and then people come in and bring it up to your level, man. You know, bro. You love each other well, you you love people so well, and when you love down on them, you're literally coming down on them. So what we need is a step stool to come up to your level, and then it'd be right there, man. They wipe their noses on my shoulder, bro. Anything they want to do, bro.

SPEAKER_02 29:39

I just fall asleep, bro.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

We'll get a setup in the uh ministry center. Yeah, free hugs. Yeah, free hugs. I love that.

SPEAKER_00 29:47

Not responsible for glasses. If your glasses get knocked off, you're not responsible for that. That's the only waiver, right? Yeah, that's it. Sign that waiver, right? Amen.

SPEAKER_02 29:58

Sign it with the hood.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

Yeah, brother Ben, where are you at, man? Uh, what do you want to see God do in your life as we continue to meet monthly at Ground Zero?

SPEAKER_01 30:06

Um, become a a better leader. Amen. Um, that's good. You know, uh conquer uh internal fears that I have, kind of like what Frankie was saying, that uh, you know, you you you you have these feelings that you're not good enough at certain things and and you know it's so much easier just to stay quiet and just you know, you can walk in your calling um and not really walk in your calling. That's right. You know so just just really um dig deeper into what the Lord has called me to do.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

I I I love I love what you just said. Basically, you can walk in your calling but not be walking in your calling.

SPEAKER_01 30:50

You can be living right, you know. I mean you you could be doing everything okay, but are are you are you you know, are you taking it to that next level? To the next level. And and and that's that's something like that.

SPEAKER_00 31:02

I think we can go through the motion.

SPEAKER_01 31:04

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:05

And then I think when we do that, it we become dangerous of being kind of like a spiritually stagnant. Yeah, yeah. You know, and and that's so dangerous because mentally, and I've been there before. I'm just gonna confess that. I I have been there before where you just kind of go from one service to the next service to the next service. And what's so dangerous about this that is, is like your mind gets like this, like a fog. You know, now yeah, you're not thinking clear, you're just being routine.

SPEAKER_03 31:29

Preach to me, brother. Come on, yeah, don't hide it, bro.

SPEAKER_00 31:32

I mean, I'm just telling you, I I've I've been there before. Yeah, I feel like I'm right there right now, Pastor Lee. You you know what, you know what snaps us out of that is come on more concentrated, being more concentrated in our spiritual walk with Christ. Amen, bro. Being more focused to get deeper into the word, more focused to spend more time in prayer, and it pulls us out of that ditch, you know, of just being conforming to just just from one place to the next. I want every step to look different. Brother Daniel, where are you at, brother? What do you want to see God do in your life as you continue to come and serve at ground zero?

SPEAKER_02 32:07

Brother, I want to be that same guy that y'all see every Sunday, every Thursday, every time we get together. I want to make sure I'm that same guy when I leave the building, just like I am when I'm in the building, brother. That's fine, right? And um I want to make sure I'm that same follower of the Lord, a servant set apart for God's use. I want to be that guy in my marriage, in the workplace. I want to make sure I'm that guy all the time. Yeah. I don't want to sew love here, but sow anger somewhere else. That's so good, bro. And I just be faithful in all areas. In all areas. In all areas. I feel like sometimes y'all get the best of me, and then my marriage might get just the rest of me.

SPEAKER_00 32:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:54

You know, something of that name.

SPEAKER_03 32:55

You ain't alone, bro.

SPEAKER_00 32:56

So we we we all fall guilty into that. That's one thing that the Holy Spirit's been speaking to me. I was sharing this with uh brother Ben on the phone the other day. Uh for me to just stay in my lane.

SPEAKER_02 33:09

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 33:10

You know, don't don't look around, see what those people are doing. Don't don't see what that class looks like at another church, you know, what's going on over there. Just it's like the spirit is just telling me, Lee, stay in your lane. Do do what I've called you to do, and in the process of all that, make sure you're loving your wife well and loving your children well. Because I think that as Christians, so many times, especially leaders in the church, we could want to go out and do all these other things. And it's like Erica told me a long time ago, she said, Lee, every time you say yes to something, you're saying no to everything else. That's so good. You you can't be at all these places at the same time. So when you commit to one place, you've decommitted to every other place you could have been at. So I just feel that the Holy Spirit reminded me here over this past week or two, really, uh, just to make sure that we stay focused at CFO Church, make sure that we continue to make it all about God, honor him, keep him first in all things. And really, that's one of the things that I want to see God do in my life, is to make sure uh that he reminds me not to be so busy on a Tuesday night that I'm not intentional about going around and just you know hitting elbows with the guys. Yes, you know what I mean? No matter how large our ministry gets, I want to make sure that I'm always available and I want to make sure that I always make time as a shepherd to go love on the flock.

A Vision For God’s Tangible Presence

SPEAKER_03 34:28

Pastor Lee, can we ask you a question, bro?

SPEAKER_00 34:30

No.

SPEAKER_03 34:31

Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead, brother. Go ahead, go ahead. As a shepherd, a CFO. Yeah. What would you like to see uh happen at ground zero? Like what see what would it be calm?

SPEAKER_00 34:42

Yeah. I want to see it get to a place where the men of God truly are okay with the Holy Spirit raining down on them. So good, bro. I I I I was at a conference years ago where the just the Shekana glory, the the the presence, the Holy Spirit of God, at one time hit every person in the room. And and the best way I can describe it is it was like a it was like a warm blanket that just fell over the arena. We're talking about like fifty, sixty thousand plus people in this place. And it was just this this holy hush. Just just the awe of God. And it was it was amazing. That was beautiful. I was at another place where uh something very similar took took place. That was while someone was preaching. Uh, but but I was at another place at a worship concert and uh very similar, the same thing. Just felt like this warm blanket, man, just resting on everybody. I mean, tens of thousands of people, and even while we're worshiping, and and you could just feel it. You could feel it. And and and I want to I want to see that. I want to see that for our men. I I want them to be able to feel and experience the tangible touch of God, to come in there knowing that I'm gonna meet his presence today in a way that I haven't yet. I love that. You know what I'm saying? Like this, this is what I'm needing for God, and I'm expecting God to give me a word. I'm expecting, I'm expecting to feel refreshed. I'm expecting to walk in this in this redemption and this new life that he gave me. I'm expecting to walk that out here tonight, and I'm expecting to make sure that I'm going to uh give God praise. I I'm expecting myself to do that and not let anything get in the way of me worshiping and praising God and honoring him. So great question. That's that's what I want to see from our guys. I want them all to come down into that sanctuary as they come down those steps and get into the floor there. I I want those guys to come in there knowing it it's about to happen.

SPEAKER_03 36:50

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 36:52

We're about ready to worship him, and and he's he's gonna show up. Amen, bro. He's gonna show up. I mean, we know he's there anyway. We know he's there anyway, but he's gonna he's gonna show up. He's gonna come take our breath away. That's what I want, man. Like, God, just come take our breath away, Father. Make us speechless. Yeah, you know what I mean? Make us something. Make us speechless, fill the altar up like you've already done to side to side, but then just start stretching it backwards, you know what I'm saying? Like, like putting the men such a hunger that not one could stay in their seat, you know. Like everybody's rushing forward to be there with one another in this holy, godly moment, you know, that that people come in there saying, I'm not leaving this place till I get touched. Amen. Yeah, I'm not leaving this place until I know what God has for me from coming here. Amen. So I want people coming to this ground zero with such a great expectation, knowing that that that they're gonna God's gonna meet them there in some way, form, or fashion.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

Man.

SPEAKER_00 37:47

Yes. So that that's that's what I see.

SPEAKER_03 37:49

And that tangible touch is that redefining of masculinity of men of God.

SPEAKER_00 37:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:56

Absolutely. Absolutely. I love that.

Join Us And Final Prayer

SPEAKER_00 37:58

All right, guys. Well, man, we we we're over 40 minutes plus at this point, man. Time flies by. Uh, but I thought it was important that we we jump on here, we get people excited who maybe haven't come to ground zero. We we get some ladies excited out there that that are gonna make sure their husbands get to the next one. Yes, yeah. And then maybe there's other church groups, other men's groups that that are that are local to to Amelia. Uh, I mean, you know, if we're just 30 minutes from Woodlake, 20 minutes really, yeah. Uh an hour from Richmond and um from surrounding counties, it's it's it's worth the ride. And and they can come in there and they can fellowship with us. And yes, uh, I think it'd be a fantastic time. Um, again, the first Tuesday of every month from 6 30 to 8 p.m. at Christ Family Outreach Church, CFO Church. And if you're if you're not within driving distance, go ahead and start something at your own church. Get the men rallied together. It's important. You say, well, we're already doing a Bible study. Well, so are we. But we're seeing that if you can get collectively the men of God together once a month, it makes a huge difference. Yes, it does. Let's pray. Father, we are grateful for what you're doing. We are grateful for the power of your Holy Spirit. What an honor it is that you work in and through our lives, our families. I'm praying for every man that's listening, Father, that you would encourage them to get involved. Lord, I lift up every woman out there, whether, whether it's a wife, whether it's a mother, uh, whether it's a sister who has a brother that needs to come. Father, would you would you just put in them the desire to make sure that the man who they love in their life is at the next ground zero event? God, you are doing amazing things, special things, and you are the one living true God. We thank you. And we ask all this in the mighty name and the precious cleansing, washing, redeeming blood of Jesus Christ and all God's people said. Amen. Amen. And amen. Until next time on Beyond Sunday, stay in the word of God.