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Over the past several years, Mentoring Warriors has held boot camps in two different formats: an 8-week study that walks through foundational biblical principles on relational mentoring, and a weekend format. In total, over 150 men have participated in the mentoring boot camps.
In 2024, Mentoring Warriors introduced the weekend boot camp format. First held in Malawi, Africa, with a group of professional warrior-aged young men (18-30 years old), the weekend venue provides an opportunity for greater fellowship and ways to practice the biblical mentoring principles being taught.
Recently, (Spring 2026), 17 men participated in a Mentoring Warriors Boot Camp Weekend. Here are a few takeaways that might spur you to consider participating in a boot camp.
Peyton, University Freshman
I learned how important it is to have men walking beside one another in a real, tangible way. I saw the effect that mentoring had on the lives of the men around me. I feel like God was telling me that I need to walk alongside other men so that my life may be in service to others.
Craig, Mentor from Texas
The “Mentoring Warriors” boot camp has been a really encouraging experience. The authentic and deliberate use of prayer, time, and guidance, from a well-developed and scriptural based curriculum will assist with mentoring young men back here in Texas! Thank you so much to the “warriors, kings, and sages” for the witness of Christ that you were to us!
Dylan, Construction Project Manager
I didn’t realize how much I needed the boot camp until I got there.
Walking into a space full of men I didn’t know, from completely different walks of life, I didn’t know what to expect. But it didn’t take long to realize something powerful. None of us is as unique in our struggles as we think we are. Different stories, different paths… but a lot of the same battles.
And what stood out the most was this…it didn’t matter where you came from. Every single man there treated you like a brother.
The sessions really made me take a hard look at where I’m at in my own mentoring journey. Sponsoring guys through AA, I’ve always wanted to help, but this opened my eyes to something deeper. I’m not the center of that mentorship. Christ is. And without Him at the center, I’m just trying to do it on my own strength.
I’ve struggled with prayer for a long time. But being there showed me how real and powerful prayer and meditation with Christ actually are. Not just for me, but for the men I’m called to help as well.
The more I grow in Christ and in mentorship, the more it softens my heart. And that’s big for me. I’ve been through a lot and for a long time, those experiences hardened me. But now I can see that Christ was present through all of it, even when I didn’t recognize it. Every moment had a purpose. Every hardship shaped me into who I am today… and who I’m becoming through Him.
I’ve been a part of Dave’s life for 18 years, and watching what he’s built here is something special. This isn’t just a group, it’s a process centered on Christ. A real one. One that meets men where they are and helps bring them into who they’re meant to be.
Most men are trying to do life alone. I know I was.
But we’re not meant to.
We’re meant to walk with Christ and with each other.
This is what real brotherhood looks like.
Parker, 28-year-old Married Professional
Here are my notes from our Lectio Divina time at boot camp over Luke 15:11-24: “I’ve read this prodigal son story many times, but this time felt different. I’ve always related well to the prodigal son with my faith walk, but after reading it, I’ve been both sons in my life. With the prodigal, I always got this picture of the son driving home to his parents’ place in the country. As he pulls up to the long gravel drive, he doesn’t even make it past the cattle guard before his dad arrives in his own truck to hug his son. The son had a God-shaped hole in his heart that he was trying to fill with the world, and once it wasn’t enough, he took his hungry soul to his father.
Luke 6:20-21 talks about those who are poor in Spirit are blessed. Much like this son, I broke down and asked God for help when I was at my lowest. Since then I have felt a bit like the oldest son. He was jealous of the love his brother received and confused why he wasn’t seeing any reward. His father responded with a remark about how he never left him. I’ve seen a dryness in my faith growth recently. Looking at it now, it’s because I was striving. Much like the second son, I was trying to see reward in my works, not my hunger, not my surrender. I see now that to grow, to overcome my sin issues, I need to start every day with 0’s on the scoreboard, with a hungry heart, and a confidence in my identity as a beloved son worthy of my calling.”
Clint, Young Adult Pastor
My takeaway is that the young generation needs the older, and the older generation needs the younger. On the first night, we went around the room and shared about key moments in our lives where God broke through. As we did this, several young men shared their current trials and struggles and how recently they had placed their faith in Jesus to help them get through them. The best part about this was hearing the older men share their stories, and how so many of them were similar to these young men, except they had walked with the Lord for much longer, and their faith stood the test of time. Because of this, they were able to speak into the young man’s life and encourage them in their faith
Throughout the weekend, God was at work through relational mentoring. A scripture kept coming up:
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…
As we walked through the various boot camp sessions, discussing things like:
the path to godly manhood, or how to develop deeper levels of relationships, or the six common issues every man faces, or the value of mentoring the next generation for Christ, there was a supernatural presence that used community to defeat the struggles and sins guys shared.
We were a group of men, some of whom met for the first time at the boot camp, opening up about their lives, the good, bad, and ugly. Shame was defeated in those group settings.
The weekend was safe because the presence of God was there. You could open up, share your dirt, and still be loved by men who are in many ways just like you.
The Lord reminded me that shame is defeated in vulnerability amongst brothers in Christ who have your back. This is at the heart of mentoring the way Jesus did.
Haven’t been to a Boot Camp?
Interested?
Reach out to us at info@mentoring-warriors.com We can keep you posted on the next Boot Camp. (usually held in Spring and Fall).
Or, here’s an option to consider:
Host your own. Both the 8-week study and the weekend formats are portable.
You provide the guys, the setting-venue, and Mentoring Warriors can provide the speakers or train you on how to lead your own.
It’s all about the Lord doing a work for the men in your circles of influence.
So, what’s it going to be?
- Participate in an upcoming Mentoring Warriors Boot Camp.
- Host your own with Mentoring Warriors’ support.
- Sit on your laurels.
Three options.
Choose one.
Warrior On!
David Riffel is the Founder and Executive Director of www.Mentoring-Warriors.com. Having gone through his warrior years (18-30) essentially without a mentor, God has placed in him a heart for warriors, to come alongside them in various ways as they figure out life. David’s newly released book, Mentoring Warriors: Coming Alongside Young Men 18-30, outlines principles for mentoring and gives advice for warriors in six key areas of life: self-management, life skills, education/career, relationships, faith, and identity.
