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The Hardest Truth a Man Can Face w/ Leonard Tanks
Men of Iron Podcast
The Men of Iron Podcast, a Christian podcast for men, welcomes Pastor Leonard “Tanks” Tanks of Reach City Church in Cleveland, Ohio, for a powerful conversation on redemption, discipleship, men’s ministry, and fitness.
Leonard shares his story of growing up in Cleveland, facing serious charges, encountering God while in jail, and eventually surrendering his life to Jesus. From there, he explains how God used community, prayer, discipleship, and faithful men to transform his life and call him into ministry.
This episode also dives into how Reach City Church is building a disciple-making culture, why men’s ministry has to be more than a quarterly breakfast, and how fitness can become a tool for faithfulness instead of an idol. If you are a pastor, church leader, men’s ministry leader, mentor, or a man looking to grow in your faith, family, fitness, and purpose, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.
Men of Iron exists to change a culture one man at a time by equipping men to know God, know their purpose, and thrive in the Core5: faith, family, friends, fitness, and finances.
Timestamps
00:00 — Leonard Tanks hears the voice of God
00:31 — Growing up in Cleveland and Leonard’s early story
00:56 — Jail, felonies, and the beginning of redemption
03:59 — Score your Core5 and set a goal
04:50 — Reading Scripture in jail and realizing his life needed to change
06:30 — Praying a desperate prayer and making a deal with God
08:15 — Getting released from jail and hearing God speak
09:45 — The power of a praying community
10:37 — Why it’s never too late for God to use a man
11:54 — Reach City Church and planting during COVID
13:30 — Making disciples instead of chasing Sunday attendance
15:05 — Building a disciple-making culture in Cleveland
18:00 — Why discipleship is a culture, not a program
21:25 — Men’s ministry that goes beyond pancakes and events
22:24 — How Monday night discipleship became men’s Bible study
24:20 — Prayer walks, evangelism, and getting men outside the church walls
27:59 — Fitness, faith, and stewarding the body
29:45 — Why physical health matters for pastors, fathers, and leaders
34:00 — How to pursue fitness without making it an idol
37:37 — Advice for men looking for discipleship
38:51 — How church leaders can begin building a discipleship culture
41:39 — The courage to ask another man to walk with you
43:15 — How to connect with Men of Iron
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