MW Editor’s Note: Emotional maturity in young men is a game-changer for everything from how you handle your past to your present and future. In a previous Mentoring Warriors’ article, Dealing with Emotional Maturity, we looked at three zones of emotions: red, green, and blue. After reading this article, go […]

MW Editor’s Note.  We sat down with Mentoring Warrior’s Executive Director, David Riffel, to discuss the value of mentoring and how one can get involved in God’s call to reach the next generation for Christ. MW: David, thanks for sitting down to talk about all things mentoring! You’ve shown a […]

Over the course of the summer, I’ve read four books, plus a workbook on desire. (I’ll note those titles at the end of this post.) Each sifts through the often confusing and yet delightful aspects of desire. Culturally, I’ve been influenced to suppress desire. The idea being that desires are […]

Mentoring Warriors Editor’s Note:  MW welcomes Kevin Loop as a guest contributor. Kevin is actively involved in mentoring men for years. Recently, he shared this talk at a fireside event near Wichita.  Welcome Kevin. Men’s Fireside Event  Men, have you ever had the feeling that your life should matter more […]

Ever notice how certain parts of the Bible are skipped over?  Kind of like flyover States. It’s easy to say we believe in the totality of the Word of God, but sometimes, even for me, we fast-forward through certain passages or theological topics. Part of spiritual maturity comes as we […]

Fifty years ago yesterday, my friend, Kevin Cox, was killed in a car-train accident in Kansas. He, along with five others in the car, died. There were eight in the family station wagon. Kevin was taking kids from their church to the local town swimming pool in Cedar Point. Kevin […]

Sam grew up in an otherwise normal family. Sandwiched between two brothers, his childhood was filled with typical boyhood adventures.  Many a night they’d come dirty from head to toe, requiring baths before supper. As Sam grew, his speech became at times incoherent. He stuttered alot and his comprehension in […]

Some of the underlying questions most men have are, “Does my life matter?” “Why am I here, and what am I to be doing with my life?” Those questions do not reveal weakness; rather, they affirm we are created for purpose and belonging. It’s what drives a young boy towards […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Justin Wells to the tribe. He is the owner and craftsman behind Hammer and Spear Knives. Follow this link hsknives .Justin is a twenty-something warrior raising a young family in Missouri. He shares insights every dad needs to know about raising kids. This […]

MW Editor’s Note: One of the essential topics every man faces is his sexuality. For warrior-aged young men, the rise in testosterone throughout their adolescent years can culminate in sexual acts that are either solo or involve others outside of marriage. Even young men who follow Christ wrestle with sexual […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Landen Stevens. In this article, Landen points out the larger issues going on when we, as Christian men, go soft, allowing non-Christian society to squeeze us into its mold. Words To Be Careful Of In history and even today, non-Christians try to tell […]

“We pray the safest kinds of prayers– the ones so passive and vague we’d  never be able to tell if God responded to them.”  Tyler Staton My gut took a punch when I heard that.  Dude, how often do I pray like that instead of how Jesus prayed? “Dear Lord, […]

At Mentoring Warriors, we highly value the Bible. It is a primary way we hear God speak. In Hebrews 4:12, it tells us that God’s Word is “living and active”. The idea behind this is that God still uses His written word to speak to our souls. Here’s how that […]

Deep in the soul of everyone is a desire to be known and loved. This is a gift from God, embedded in each of us from the point of our conception. When we wrestle with strongholds, addictions, anything that claims rights to our soul other than God Himself, we proclaim […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors shares a repost of a three-part podcast produced by Wild at Heart on vital issues facing young men. This three-part series includes interviews by John Eldredge and others on the Wild at Heart team with four young men and two young women; all in their […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors shares a repost of a three-part podcast produced by Wild at Heart on vital issues facing young men. This three-part series includes interviews by John Eldredge and others on the Wild at Heart team with four young men and two young women, all in their […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors shares a repost of a three-part podcast produced by Wild at Heart on vital issues facing young men. This three-part series includes interviews by John Eldredge and others on the Wild at Heart team with four young men and two young women, all in their […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes Jess Carey as a guest contributor. Jess is a podcaster, speaker, and author. One of the top questions asked at Mentoring Warriors is “How can I find a mentor?” Jess’ article aligns with the advice we offer. Whereas her article references young women finding […]

Last time we looked at six signs if you are living a partially-consecrated life with Jesus. The fence-riding halfway life which ends up in a regrettable place.  link This time, we’ll look at four practical signs of living a consecrated life; all in with Jesus. God is jealous. He wants […]

Lying on his dorm room bed, freshman Kyle stared at the dark ceiling, pondering his new chapter of life. On the one hand, he was so done with high school. On the other hand, he wasn’t sure he was up to the demands of university academia.  Sure, State University was […]

Every Spring, Mentoring Warriors hosts a burgers and guns night. Men from their late teens into their senior adult years gather for some meat, mentorship and opportunities to test their marksmanship.  Four stations are set up: target practice, skeet, archery and axe throwing. The grand finale is a marksman challenge […]

Mentoring Warriors Editor’s Note: From time to time, we are asked for guidelines in building healthy mentoring relationships. Here’s an overview. Mentoring Warriors fosters healthy, authentic mentoring relationships based on a Christ-centered approach. It is entirely voluntary by both the mentor and the mentee (warrior). Mentoring Warriors does not guarantee […]

Encouragement has always sounded cheesy to me. A nice thing to say, but frankly weak. You know, a few good words to someone while you put on a half-smile and perhaps place your hand on their shoulder. That image makes me want to vomit!  UGH! Oh, how misinformed I was! […]

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 […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Last time we took a look at the first three stages of spiritual formation (in context of my journey): Belief in God, Life of Discipleship, The Productive Life, and the proverbial Wall. This time,we’ll look at the next three stages. If you have not read Part One, […]

MW Editor’s Note: Because spiritual formation is vital to the health of your life, we are going to walk through this in two parts, looking at six stages of spiritual formation.    A bit of a disclaimer. The Christian life is not some blissful, carefree, easy, walk in the park. […]

Maybe I’m slow at catching on, but lately I’ve discovered new insights into the way God works in our minds. The very neural pathways and synapses that fire millions and billions of times in nanoseconds are not only sustained by God, but if we cooperate with Him, He can rewire […]

It happened.  Blood everywhere.  Excruciating pain.  Spikes driven into flesh.  Gutteral cries.  Horrific! Nauseating.  Totally naked for all to see.  Standing there, watching all this happen.  I am overwhelmed.  He’s suffocating.  Can’t breathe.  Bystanders spew forth their filth, Their utter hatred. He is helpless, I am too. I fall to […]

A group of young adult guys and I met to talk through God’s design for sex in marriage. A few of the men had recently gotten engaged, so their interest in preparing well for sex on their honeymoons was piqued. We had a frank, but healthy conversation, looking at a […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest author Landen Stevens to the tribe. Landen has a deep desire to know God’s Word and how it impacts how we think as men. How you think matters greatly not only in the man you are becoming but in how you will lead […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest author Drew Boa to the Tribe. Drew leads Husband Material Ministries, helping men outgrow porn. He’s the author of the book “Outgrow Porn”. In this article, Drew outlines 10 things guys needed from their fathers but may not have received, and provides answers […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Adam Shoalts is a Canadian Adventurer-Explorer. The Toronto Star calls him “Canada’s Indiana Jones”. He is a historian, archaeologist, geographer, and Explorer in Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. He’s also a father of three sons. This is an article about Adam’s 4000 km trek across […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion of an open letter Brandon Smith wrote to men who call themselves Christ-followers. In Part 1, Brandon described the problem of lust and how it’s affected him. In this conclusion, he offers hope by offering a Christ-centered solution. Acceptance Breaking this cycle begins […]

MW Editor’s Note: Guest author Brandon Smith is back with a two-part series on overcoming lust. In Part 1 Brandon describes the problem many men face. In Part 2, he unpacks the Biblical solution. Welcome back, Brandon! Dear Reader, I was prompted to write this letter in hope of bringing […]

MW Editor’s Note.  Mentoring Warriors welcomes David Nairn to the tribe. David is a strong young man in his twenties who has experienced the ravages of a life lived outside of God. Through Jesus capturing his heart, David has set out to challenge other men to live not by lies […]

On the question of “that boyish bad thing” masturbation MW Editor’s Note. Mentoring Warriors introduces Sam Jolman to the tribe. This is a repost of one of his Substack articles, shared with Sam’s permission. In it he addresses a question that often haunts guys during their manhood journey. This article […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest author Josiah Pratt to the Tribe.  Josiah hails from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. In mentoring several young men at their church, he’s been challenged by the various truths found in Proverbs that speak to godly manhood.  Welcome Josiah! Proverbs 16 is a chapter written […]

I was prepped and wheeled into an operating suite. The surgeon, perfusionist, and entire medical team were in position, ready to perform a CABG on me; Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. Mine ended up being a quadruple.  They switched me over to a heart-lung machine, using potassium in the process, stopping […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest contributor Brandon Smith to the MW tribe.  Brandon has a passion for authenticity in his walk with Jesus and with others.  Check out his thoughts on removing the masks.  Welcome Brandon! Lately I have had the subject of “the masks we wear” on […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes Kondwani Biliati to the MW tribe. Kondwani is a recording artist and producer in Malawi, Africa. We first met at a Mentoring Warriors Boot Camp weekend held on the Malawian Zomba Plateau in Fall 2024. Kondwani wrote the song, Ndabwera Chonse’ (translated into English) […]

Christmas again. There was a time when I dreaded Christmas. Over a decade of pit in the stomach angst.  My joy that everyone told me I should have was nowhere to be found. I shut down in social settings. Checked out while everyone else was having a great time. Inside, […]

MW Editor’s Note.  Mentoring involves one generation speaking the life of God into the next for the purposes of seeing young men and women walk into a life of maturity and healthy relationships with both God and others.  Often in mentoring it’s easy to offer opinions instead of wisdom.  Here […]

Camden sat across from his mentor.  At 19, figuring out life was at times unbearable. He was so confused. University demands, relationships, identity, even issues of his purpose in life overwhelmed him.  Camden tried a lot of different things while in college and to be honest, experimented with substances and […]

Sitting in a weekend conference on authentic relationships, a phrase was used repeatedly that began to soak into my soul: High Trust Environments of Grace If you and I are honest with each other, the depths of our souls long for such.  To put it another way, we long to […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion of a two-part post of a talk Mentoring Warriors’ Executive Director, David Riffel, gave to the Heartland Men’s Leadership group in Wichita. Check out this vital secret to becoming a real man for Christ. My teen years were filled with insecurity, doubt, and […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is part 1 of a talk that Mentoring Warrior’s Executive Director, David Riffel, gave at the Heartland Men’s Leadership meeting in Wichita. Whether you are a mentor or one looking to be mentored, check out this story; it’s something essential for every man. I do not […]

MW Editor’s Note. Mentoring Warriors welcomes Brayden Myers to the tribe. God gave Brayden a vision for seeing our value in Christ and sharing that truth with others. Check out this article on what ALWYS WRTHY means. ALWYS WRTHY was borne out of a vision God gave Brayden for speaking […]

Note to the reader. If I wanted this post to go far, I would write about a crisis in the Western political order. I do have a phone. I know what’s going on. But if you’re like me you’ve read enough about the headline topics. Your soul and your adrenal […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes Blaine Eldredge as a guest contributor. Blaine captures the heart of life through his creative writings. In addition to being the author of the book Paradise King, Blaine, in this post, dives into “how late modernity makes unhappy singles and what the Church should […]

MW Editor’s Note. Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Sam Eldredge. Sam leads Noble Workshops, based in Colorado. He brings his insights through counseling that speaks to holistic healing: body, mind, and spirit. In this article, he addresses loneliness, something we each face.  I am alone, surrounded by a sea of people. […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Justin Wells. Justin is a passionate 20-something, overflowing with his love for the outdoors and Jesus. You can follow Justin Wells on Substack I love rucking. I searched and struggled to find the proper definition of rucking but for those who don’t know, […]

What passion, what zeal, what drive do you have that gets you up every morning, that you can’t get out of your mind? And, does anyone share your same dream? Adam Shoalts, a young Canadian explorer, tells the story in his book, “Alone Against the North-An Expedition into the Unknown”, […]

MW Editor’s Note. Hopefully, you caught Part 1 of guest author Wayne Spencer’s series on self-confidence. You can find that link here. What do you ultimately depend on?  As Christians, we must learn to put our confidence in God, not in ourselves or anything in this fallen world.  Jesus points […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Wayne Spencer as a guest author. Wayne leads Creation Answers and provides great insights every man needs to hear. This post and next will focus on Biblical examples of right and wrong self-confidence that can impact your life. As a young man, I was […]

In a typical year, I’ll read somewhere between ten-plus books. The year of my heart surgery, I read seventeen books! This year started slowly. By the time summer hit, I’d read maybe three books, albeit with about ten more on my list! My thinking was that with me retiring (aka […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes Andy Bogner to the Warrior Tribe as a guest author. Andy is currently working on a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Regent University.  As part of a class on leadership, coaching, and mentoring, Andy reached out to Mentoring Warriors with a series of questions. […]

One of the helpful tools Mentoring Warriors offers in developing a mentoring relationship is the Self-Assessment Tool. Self-Assessment It was developed in conjunction with the writing of the book Mentoring Warriors. Wichita State University’s Department of Psychology completed a beta-test of the Self-Assessment to evaluate the consistency of responses. The good […]

The idea of mentoring has become in vogue. “I have a mentor.”  or “I mentor.”  Noble- or it can be. Just because you use the word mentor doesn’t make you one. Here are five essentials we champion at Mentoring Warriors. 1. Prioritize your imperfect but ongoing walk with Jesus. We […]

Luca and Nora fell in love during college. It was one of those “love at first sight” moments, at least for Luca. Nora, well, it took her a minute, but she quickly came around. By their senior year, they were engaged and planning a wedding. Talking with Luca, there was […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is part 2 of insights into blindness and sight. If you have not, go back and catch part 1 before reading part 2. Jesus heals a man who was born blind in John 9:1-41.  This was in Jerusalem late in Jesus’ ministry at a time when […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Wayne Spencer. His insights, gained through research on both the Bible and science, help us gain a better understanding of what God is doing in our spiritual formation. Be sure to check out this post and the one next week. Jesus performed multiple […]

MW Editor’s Note: Through the astute insights of authors Dan Allender, PhD, and Steve Call, PhD, in their book, “The Deep-Rooted Marriage”, they outline four key factors in what tears a marriage apart and six change agents that the Lord can use to turn things around. This is a two-part […]

MW Editor’s Note: Through the astute insights of authors Dan Allender, PhD, and Steve Call, PhD, in their book, “The Deep-Rooted Marriage”, they outline four key factors in what tears a marriage apart and six change agents that the Lord can use to turn things around. This is a two-part […]

Sitting in on a conversation with several guys, we were talking about what it looks like to follow Jesus. One of the men, Daniel, had some interesting comments. “Jesus isn’t about church or reading the Bible or doing rituals or observing certain days. He’s more about a relational transformation that […]

You have a Bible. If you’re honest, half the time it sits on your nightstand, not out of a lack of desire, but out of not knowing how to study it. Here are three straightforward ways that can get the Bible in front of your face and its supernatural words […]

MW Editor’s note. If you’ve followed Mentoring Warriors, you will notice we focus a lot on the practical living out of one’s faith. Having a holistic view of God impacts every aspect of our manhood journeys. All of this is undergirded by a biblical foundation of core beliefs. As we […]

Officiating the wedding of a young couple my wife and I mentor, we arrived early to prepare. I found the groomsmen getting ready in the church’s basement, ironing shirts and hanging out until the ceremony started. One of the groomsmen, Kepler, and I struck up a conversation about mentoring and […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion of a wedding sermon given by Mentoring Warriors’ Executive Director, David Riffel. Listen for the parallels between Christ and his Church and a husband with his wife  Another passage that associates the relational-redemptive marriage between Jesus (the Bridegroom) and the Bride (his church) […]

MW Editor’s Note: One of the privileges Mentoring Warriors has is officiating weddings of young warriors with their brides! Here is part 1 of a wedding sermon that parallels the relationship Jesus has with the Church (his bride) and the marriage between a husband and wife. Be sure to catch […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes warrior Carson Herbel to the tribe! Carson had an opportunity to speak on the meaning of true Gospel fellowship at a gathering of young adults in Kansas City. You can read the transcript below, listen to Mentoring Warriors’ AI voice (Matthew) read it to […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back guest author and sage, Mike Hearne. Lean into his wisdom, and perhaps you will hear God speaking new things that will become core to your manhood character.   So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built […]

MW Editor’s Note: It’s always exciting to hear a young warrior man about to be married discover God’s picture of sex and marriage. Here are words from such a man.  I’ve been thinking about marriage, sex, and God’s design. Here’s what I’m learning.  Is it completely impossible for me to […]

It’s so easy to categorize Jesus. Jesus gets a time slot. Perhaps a few minutes in the morning while you read the Bible.  Or on Sundays at church for an hour or so. Of course, during small group Bible Study. The rest of your 168-hour week is filled with other […]

MW Editor’s note. If you’ve followed Mentoring Warriors, you will notice we focus a lot on the practical living out of one’s faith. Having a holistic view of God impacts every aspect of our manhood journeys. All of this is undergirded by a biblical foundation of core beliefs. As we […]

Sage-noun a mature or venerable person of sound judgment- Merriam-Webster Venerable-adjective calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments– Merriam-Webster Wisdom gained through the trenches of life.  Whether your manhood journey finds you in your twenties, with all the excitement and mystery of your emerging adulthood; not knowing what is […]

MW Editor’s Note. This post is part of a series that dives deeper into masculine sexuality. Several thoughts come from Sam Jolman’s book, The Sex Talk You Never Got. Warning: without being crass, we will be direct regarding this crucial topic. Reader discretion is advised. Be sure to look up […]

MW Editor’s Note. This post is part of a series that dives deeper into masculine sexuality. Several thoughts come from Sam Jolman’s book, The Sex Talk You Never Got. Warning: without being crass, we will be direct regarding this crucial topic. Reader discretion is advised. Be sure to look up […]

MW Editor’s Note. Of the hundreds of posts on Mentoring Warriors’ website, sexuality is the most searched topic. Wonder why? Perhaps it speaks to the heart and nature of how God has wired us as men. This post is part of a series that dives deeper into masculine sexuality. Several […]

MW. Editor’s Note. Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Justin Wells as a guest author. Justin is passionate about mentoring and it shows in his story of mentoring teenage guys for the past five years. Welcome back, Justin! “Who in the room has a father at home?” was the question I asked […]

Over the past few months, I’ve been centering on the presence of God in my daily life; wanting to be more aware of Him in my days.  Throughout the Scriptures, we read about the presence of God near and upon His people.  My life verse is Galatians 2:20:  “I’ve been […]

Whether you’ve lived a decade or two or have been around for a lot longer, there is gold in your story. Sure, we each have unexpected twists and turns that send us in different directions than we had hoped for, but amidst the difficulties and successes, there’s a deeper story […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Sam Eldredge to the guest author’s tribe. Sam, one of the founding board members for Mentoring Warriors is actively engaged in helping others discover and heal the wounds of their past through the grace of the Gospel. This post is from his blog […]

MW Editor’s note. At the core of healthy mentoring is understanding how trust needs to move from superficial to deeper levels. Each of us ultimately thrives as we are heard, understood and loved. In this four-part series, we will explore the four key levels of relationships. These posts are excerpts […]

MW Editor’s note. At the core of healthy mentoring is understanding how trust needs to move from superficial to deeper levels. Each of us ultimately thrives as we are heard, understood and loved. In this four-part series, we will explore the four key levels of relationships. These posts are excerpts […]

MW Editor’s note. At the core of healthy mentoring is understanding how trust needs to move from superficial to deeper levels. Each of us ultimately thrives as we are heard, understood, and loved. In this four-part series, we will explore the four key levels of relationships. These posts are excerpts […]

MW Editor’s note. At the core of healthy mentoring is understanding how trust needs to move from superficial to deeper levels. Each of us ultimately thrives as we are heard, understood, and loved. In this four-part series, we will explore the four key levels of relationships. These posts are excerpts […]

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:4 ESV What if you ate food as often as you read God’s Word? A 1:1 ratio. Read God’s Word, the Bible, you eat food.  Let’s say you read the Bible […]

MW Editor’s Note:  This is the final part of a glimpse into my journal. I’m pursuing parts of me I’ve never articulated; or at least to what I think the depths here will be penned.  There is a bit of fear and trepidation, for what may be discovered about myself […]

MW Editor’s Note:  This is Part 2 of a glimpse into my journal. I’m pursuing parts of me I’ve never articulated; or at least to what I think the depths here will be penned.  There is a bit of fear and trepidation, for what may be discovered about myself may […]

MW Editor’s Note:  This is a glimpse into my journal. I’m pursuing parts of me I’ve never articulated; or at least to what I think the depths here will be penned.  There is a bit of fear and trepidation, for what may be discovered about myself may be difficult to […]

I’ve been hit numerous times with this thought… Our self-focused mindset is the single greatest internal enemy  towards true success and victory in life.  Despite all our good intentions, playing the part of coming across as good and moral, our intentions are always self-serving. We protect ourselves before we ever […]

MW Editor’s note: This is a two-part article on a very important aspect of a guy’s manhood journey; Self-discovery choices can ruin a man or make him great. Check out part one and be sure to do the inventory at the end of the article. Last time we looked at […]

MW Editor’s note: This is a two-part article on a very important aspect of a guy’s manhood journey; Self-discovery choices can ruin a man or make him great. Check out part one and be sure to look for part two. It happens to virtually every guy. Somewhere between adolescence and […]

When you meet someone, how intently do you look at them? Are your eyes meeting theirs, or do you look away as you talk? It might be a good conversation, but you never truly look at each other face-to-face. Sometimes, a lack of eye contact infers shame, insecurities, and fear […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes back guest contributor Tobie Plett. Tobie offers wisdom on an issue that plagues many warrior-aged men. His personal victories with purity have offered hope to many. Tobie shares insights that might help your manhood journey. Some people say the devil is strongest when you […]

There’s a malady that has overcome Jesus followers; one that we are largely unaware of.  Culture and governments around us are slowly squeezing us out of public circles, relegating our faith to personal matters.  It’s why so many sermons, podcasts, Christian music, and even books are heavy on your personal […]

MW Editor’s Note:  Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest contributor Jacob Hall. Jacob lives and breathes music. At 28, his heart is to rest in and express the love of God to others through song and relationships.  Check out his insights into the way of love. I have seen and experienced the […]

MW Editor’s Note: These are notes taken from a talk Joe Skillen gave at the 2024 Stand Firm Men’s Conference in Wichita, Kansas. Joe is a Teaching and Discipleship Pastor at Ridgepoint Church. G.K Chesterton’s quote on humility goes like this: “Humility is the luxurious art of reducing ourselves.” Humility […]

Silence.  Uncomfortable silence. Awkward.  “Someone say something, please! “ My soul numb by the pain.  What is there to say?   The loss is greater than expected. I’m free-falling into an abyss. The tears dammed up for years begin to flow. Is this how a man deals with loss? Where is […]

There is something unique about how God moves a man. No story is the same, but the way God weaves His presence into the sinews of a man’s soul can change the course of history. A few years ago, Lucas Johnson and I met at a Wild at Heart Men’s […]

From time to time, it’s good to stop and listen to what other guys are saying about having a mentor in their life.  Recently, Mentoring Warriors reached out to eight young men, each who have a mentor. We asked them the following question. “If you could sit down with a […]

“Where do I start?” Jack pondered the next steps after making a major life decision to trust Christ for his eternal destiny.  His conversation with a few close friends helped him see that trusting Jesus is the first step in his growing relationship with the Lord. It’s a great question […]

MW Editor’s Note:  These are notes taken from an opening talk given by Lancaster Mfungwe (Bishop of EBCM) at a Mentoring Warriors mentor training seminar held at the Evangelical Baptist Church of Malawi headquarters in Liwonde, Malawi.  Mentoring is not a new idea of the 21st Century.  There are many […]

On a recent Mentoring Warriors trip to Malawi, Africa, we exchanged our US dollars for Malawian Kwacha. The exchange rate was USD 1.00 equals MK2000(Malawian Kwacha.) I exchanged USD 200 and got MK400,000.  A can of Pepsi costs MK 1485, (about 75 cents USD).   Exchanging funds is one thing, but […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is the conclusion of the two-part series on masturbation. This is taken from the book Mentoring Warriors. You can find the book for purchase at this link. https://mentoring-warriors.com/product/mentoring-warriors-hard-cover/ Lust expresses itself in a host of ways.  Some of us guys have very creative minds.  It takes […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from the book Mentoring Warriors. This week and next we will address an issue that many men struggle with, sexually. You can purchase the book by following this link. https://mentoring-warriors.com/product/mentoring-warriors-hard-cover/ What about it? We’re not talking about M, the infamous director of Mi6 […]

MW Editor’s note; Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest author Joe Savage to the tribe. His insights into waiting will help any man as he learns the true reason to wait. A while back I was invited to speak to a group of men for a Saturday morning breakfast. The only request […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 of a sermon given by Mentoring Warriors’ Executive Director, David Riffel at a village church in Malawi Africa. Listen to Jesus again in verse 31. 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What […]

MW Editor’s Note: This is a two-part post taken from a sermon preached by Mentoring Warrior’s Executive Director, David Riffel, at a village church in Malawi Africa. Be sure to catch part 2 for the conclusion and challenge. If there is one thing that has unfortunately characterized my life, it […]

MW Editor’s Note. Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest writer, Tobie Plett. Tobie is intrigued by God’s Word and how it relates to life. In this post, he opens our eyes to how the enemy captures us through addictions that turn our Christian life into a zombie. I saw this video on […]

MW Editor’s note: Be sure to check out part 1 of this fire pit talk held at a Mentoring Warriors Mountain Man Adventure in Colorado. Every man has an identity; some false, some true. In this part, be sure to do the steps to discover who God says you are […]

MW Editor’s note: This is part 1 of a fire pit talk on identity held at a Mentoring Warriors Mountain Man Adventure in Colorado. Be sure to check out part 2 and do the actions explained. One of the six areas of manhood that we address through Mentoring Warriors is […]

MW Editor’s note: This is part two of an excerpt of teaching Mentoring Warriors presented at Chisomos Theological School in Malawi, Africa. Be sure to check out Part 1 to get the entire story. TIYENI. Let us.  We are. When you think about mentoring in the context of these passages […]

MW Editor’s note: Mentoring Warriors in connection with Emmanuel International Canada is invited to Malawi, Africa for a mentoring intensive. This includes teaching at Chisomos Theological School. The following two posts are excerpts from a specific teaching out of Hebrews 10 on its connection to mentoring. South of the Equator […]

MW Editor’s note. Mentoring Warriors welcomes warrior Parker Findley to the guest author’s tribe. Parker shares some of his journey from false to true identity. In his book “Living Fearlessly” author Jamie Winship tackles the root of fear; our identity. Boiling it down, living with any measure of false identity […]

MW Editor’s note: There are six aspects to your manhood and Jesus has something to say about all of them; all of you. In this post we’ll explore aspects 4-6 and what mentors can do to help a young man grow in his masculinity. You can also go back and […]

MW Editor’s note: There are six aspects to your manhood and Jesus has something to say about all of them; all of you. In this post and next, we’ll explore those six aspects and what mentors can do to help a young man grow in his masculinity. Healthy mentoring is […]

Mentoring Warriors encourages every man to check out this conference on Purity. If you are in the Wichita Metro area, sign up for this event. Mentoring Warriors will have a vendor table at this event. Check it out! Follow this link to sign up and pay.  https://reliancecommunity.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2385429 “Blessed are the […]

July 2015. Our daughter was engaged. Her fiance, Aaron had never been backpacking before; something my son and I enjoy.  We invited him to our family cottage near the infamous Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario Canada.  Algonquin is three times the size of the State of Rhode Island.  There are […]

Demographically, warrior-aged men 18-30 years old, are often the least likely to attend church.  There are exceptions and I know many who are actively involved in their local church. But that’s not the point.   Around 90% of warrior-aged men are as far from church as possible.  Some hate it with […]

On occasion, I’m asked why I journal and what are some tips for getting the most out of it.   Most guys don’t journal. I’ve heard some claim the word “journal” is a cloak for having a diary.  “Diaries are for girls” Diaries may be for girls, but what I’ve figured […]

Somewhere between the ages of 10 to 13, a boy’s pituitary gland wakes up and testosterone fills his veins. Puberty hits and not only does his body increase in size, muscle mass, and body hair, his sexual organs awake. Semen ejaculates through his penis and the entire demeanor of what […]

MW editor’s note:  Before you read this post, go back and read “Marriage Rocks”.   They say it’s the darkest just before dawn.   Josh and Sarah both felt the darkest night of their young marriage. Josh’s stupid choices were like an avalanche at night. Total upheaval. Buried alive. He couldn’t fathom […]

August 27-September 14, 2024 God is up to something great in Malawi!  Through Emmanuel International, (EI) missionaries Scott, and Lorilee MacLean have invested decades in living out Jesus with believers in Africa. The MacLeans are committed to Christian Worldview Development, and often help is needed from the broader Body of […]

There’s a line we each must figure out in life. The line defines us in more ways than we realize. Our manhood maturity rides on this line. So do our relationships with others. Our job success or failure rests on this line.  Get things right, and life moves in a […]

Stumbling across an annual abortion report on our State’s website, I decided to download it for future ponderance. The statistics tell a story. Stories of lives conceived and later terminated before birth.  In fact. something must have changed in our State’s abortion laws such that the number of abortions last […]

MW Editor’s note.  Mentoring Warriors welcomes back Justin Wells to the guest author’s stand.  Justin is 23 from southeast Missouri. He has been making knives since he was 14 and now runs Hammer and Spear Knives.  Justin understands mentoring. He’s investing in young high school guys, showing them the love […]

MW editor’s note. Mentoring Warriors welcomes indie folk artist Samuel Ayling. Hailing from Australia, his moniker is This New Light. Featured on all streaming music services, Sam has forged his niche in the music world; living in his self-converted van and touring Australia with gigs in a variety of venues. […]

MW Editor’s note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes Cadin Limon as a guest contributor. As a warrior turning 25, Cadin shares 25 tips that will help any man regardless of age. Let us know which are your top five from his list. Ringing in a “quarter of a century” birthday only has […]

The past few months have been fast-paced, yet rich in experience. Along with the recent Mentoring Warriors’ eight-week Boot Camp, there’s been an unfolding of new relationships. New stories are being told of young men each on their journeys; some with Jesus, others figuring out if Jesus is all who […]

‭Colossians 3:17 ESV‬ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Throughout a man’s life, his call is to find purpose and meaning beyond himself. It’s innate in us. God put it there.  […]

Here are three ways to pray that get you into a conversational relationship with God.  There are no human qualifications or prerequisites other than to be open to knowing Jesus; not just religiously but in a relationship (it’s called the Gospel). If your prayer life is for the birds, try […]

“All I have learned, I learned from books.” 
― Abraham Lincoln Our minds were created for dialogue. At the core of every book is a conversation the author wants to have with his/her readers. Whether it’s to educate on certain ways the world works or take you on a journey […]

Josef threw his Bible across the room.  “I’m done! No more! This pursuit of God is getting me nowhere! Everything is falling apart. I pray and I still lose my job. I plead with God for a woman to marry and all I get is rejection after rejection. I am […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes coach, podcaster, and speaker Adam Gragg as a guest author. Adam brings 25 years of expertise to the age-old challenge of managing our emotions. Check out this very helpful article. Be sure to follow the links in this article to some great resources that […]

Many years ago, I was part of a loose ongoing discussion about which was more important in following Jesus: love or obedience? Both play a key part in one’s life with Jesus, but which comes first? It might sound like a trivial issue because following Jesus seems hard enough, however, […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes Adam Lutes as a guest author. Adam lays out for us his story of the job hunt and how trusting God through it got him to where he is today. Perhaps your career journey has a similar story. November 16th 2023… Judgment Day. This […]

Ever notice how churches seem to have their greatest weekly attendance on Sundays? Announce a prayer meeting and a fraction show up.  Wonder why?   Prayer, during my childhood, was relegated to meals and bedtime. Prayer during my teen years was minimal at best; of course, unless there was a test […]

Over the past few months I’ve been asking Jesus to search the pain in my heart and show me where the source is coming from … that which longs for delight and validation….and yet even now as an older man I still long for, and rightly so. The Lord pulled […]

Our thinking and conversations are often filled with sayings we attribute to Jesus that he didn’t say. My own theology gets skewed by such well-intended but misapplied sayings.  Here’s a list of five things Jesus did not say (and five things he actually said).  1. Follow your heart.  How often […]

MW Editor’s Note: When it comes to prayer there are often two sides to the story. The person seeking God for an answer and the person or means by which God uses to answer. They come together, neither truly sure what is going on, but are quite aware what is […]

MW Editor’s Note.  Mentoring Warriors welcomes guest author Mike Hearne. Mike’s passion for mentoring and for seeing our lives permeated with the love of Jesus is seen the moment you meet him!  Today’s post offers a week’s worth of time in the Word, focusing on God’s amazing love for you. […]

MW Editor’s Note: Five years ago we launched the Mentoring Warriors’ website. This post is a flashback to one of the early posts about Christmas. The message is still the same. Read on. Loving Christmas I love Christmas! Granted, some of the hoopla gets to me, but all in all, […]

MW Editor’s note: From time to time we run across podcasts or videos that speak directly to the heart of our passion for all things mentoring. This week and next, we introduce to you Dr. Aaron Rock of Windsor Ontario Canada.  Aaron has three young adult sons ranging from 20 […]

MW Editor’s note: From time to time we run across podcasts or videos that speak directly to the heart of our passion for all things mentoring. This week and next, we introduce to you Dr. Aaron Rock of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.  Aaron has three young adult sons ranging from 20 […]

The pressure felt like my mind was going to explode! I had to get a fix! The pain I was feeling was pushing me up against the wall. I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get out of there. My need for an escape made my entire body feel […]

Somewhere along the way from boyhood to manhood, the nature of a guy starts to shift. His awareness of the world around him expands. Adventure, exploration, experimentation.  Not just with physical objects, but with relationships as well. I recall at age 4 throwing a brick in the air, stepping aside, […]

My mother-in-law died. She was 91. Her bout with dementia finally took her feeble 83-pound body.  Living in another country, we started the funeral planning process from 1500 miles away; texting and emails at first, then a phone call here or there. Flights were booked, Airbnb reserved, and coordinated with […]

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30  Israel was in bad shape. Corruption was rampant. Parents were treated with contempt by […]

No parent in their right mind would ever want their kid to use profanity, but the truth of the matter is our broken world is saturated with four-letter words.  You can hardly watch a TV show anymore without there being some form of vulgarity.  The F-word is now prevalent almost […]

Every so often, a phrase comes along that captures an aspect of what it means to walk with Jesus. For many decades, my living for Jesus was more about performance than anything else. Me trying harder. Me maxing out my abilities, leaving me at times exhausted, and depleted, wondering why […]

Deep down, I think we all want to hear from God; at least if his word to us is good. If it’s filled with conviction we tend to avoid anything remotely Jesus.  “Jesus, tell me I’ll meet the girl of my dreams soon!”  “Lord, tell me my next job is […]

As defined by Merriam-Webster: busywork noun : work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps one occupied The definition of what constitutes busy work versus productive work varies in the eye of the beholder.  Whereas God created work before man sinned, work has been impacted […]

MW Editor’s note. We hope you have followed with us on this 3-week fire pit talk about purity of heart and mind. Check out this final part of one of the most vital parts of your manhood. I’ve personally seen young men entrenched in sexual addictions find their way to […]

MW Editor’s note: If you missed last week’s post on Purity of both heart and mind, check it out. Today is the second part of what purity inside and out means for a man. We pick up on the difference between purity of behavior and the purity a man has […]

MW Editor’s Note. This is a 3-part series taken from a firepit talk at a recent Mentoring Warriors Mountain Man Colorado Adventure Trip. Purity in both heart and mind is essential for every man. Your manhood journey needs this. Excited to have you along for the journey together! If we […]

One of the guys I mentor recently graduated from barber school.  He cut my hair many times for practice as part of his class assignment. Looked good! It also gave us many opportunities to talk about life and Jesus and everything in between. Hair. We’re born with it, albeit some […]

Few books have impacted me as much as Michael Thompson’s King Me. So often, we men drift through life not exactly sure where we are headed, or what we are made for. Sure, we might have particular skills or interests, but when life is all said and done, is manhood […]

MW Editor’s note. Last week, guest writer Mark Rogers set us on a challenge considering forgiveness as essential to life. This week, we pick up on where he left off and conclude what essentials we must do with forgiveness. Have you confessed Him as Lord? Do you believe in your […]

MW Editor’s note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes Mark Rogers to the tribe of guest writers. Mark spoke during a Mentoring Warriors Mountain Man Adventure trip to Colorado. This week’s and next’s posts is a compilation of Mark’s thoughts on forgiveness.  Welcome, Mark. “Father, forgive them because they do not know what […]

MW Editor’s Note. Thanks to Mark WInter for his contributions to this article. Mark presented this at a men’s breakfast in Wichita. No one needs to remind you fatherhood is in a crisis. Families are in crisis. Our entire nation is in crisis largely because dads have dropped the ball […]

MW Editor’s Note: Part of your masculine Journey is working through boyhood and young adult wounds. (We each have them.) As author and counselor, Jay Stringer points out, your current behaviors are not random. They began somewhere, and finding their origin is when healing can begin. Mentoring Warriors did a […]

Honestly, the first time I heard that phrase I thought,  “This is for sissies. What man needs to be empathetic? Guys are meant to be tough, strong, and forceful with their words. No way I’ll ever be empathetic.” As soon as that thought crossed my mind, the Lord reminded me […]

“Is there really a thing called sex?” a young twenty-something single guy asked me.  “Look, I know how babies are made and my body has been in raging hormone mode for years, but, to actually find a woman, fall in love, get married, and have sexual intercourse…like is that going […]

One of the signs you are a true follower of Jesus is your measure of faithfulness. In Galatians 5, Paul tells us that faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. That is, if you are a person who willingly yields to the Holy Spirit, then one of the evidences will […]

Sitting in our comfy North American homes, we who call ourselves Jesus followers have a far-off view of persecution. We read about it in the Bible. We know Jesus was persecuted. We know his disciples were beaten up and chained, but as we reason “that was then. Nothing like that […]

“Iron sharpens iron,     and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 ESV Way too many of us men go about life on our own. Solo. No real authentic friends. Come to think of it, we developed this malady somewhere in our teens. Sure, we might have had the guys from the […]

Unexpected. Uncomfortable. Exposed. Embarrassed.  I hate it! Dread it. Loathe it.  Sometimes, people peg you, put you in a box, and won’t let you out of it. Or, maybe the truth is we put ourselves in a box and then project that image construct back on ourselves, thinking that others […]

It happened again. I woke up in the middle of the night, my stomach in knots. My mind racing over a myriad of things going on in life. My inadequacies loom large as I force myself to not look at the clock.  “Jesus, I cast this anxiety on you, again.” […]

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”  Matthew 6:6 ESV Ok, this might sound a bit awkward, but when you consider Jesus’ words about praying in […]

A few years ago a friend of mine was in Juba, South Sudan with two other Americans who were asked to travel to Torit to see a project some nuns were doing to help over one-thousand children. This is the story he shared.  Early on a Friday morning the three […]

Stop calling yourself a Christian.  That word is a religious label placed on people who align with Christianity.  The reality is a lot of people check the box “Christian” when their life has no resemblance to Jesus whatsoever. The real question is, Do you follow Jesus? I didn’t ask, Do […]

You read correctly. ” Whatever books you have that are less than 150 years old, that are Christian-based, toss them.” That’s what a very wise, godly man told me.  “With the exception of someone like C.S. Lewis who wrote about 70-80 years ago, throw your Christian books away.” I could […]

What if you stopped praying for 30 days?  What would happen? Think long and hard about this question. If you notice no difference after 30 days of not praying, it reveals your spiritual life is flat. Virtually non-existent. On the other hand, if you stopped praying for 30 days and […]

As warrior-aged men fall in love, get married, and have children, the time comes when those little bambinos grow up. You graduate from diapers and nursing to crawling, walking, and talking. Personalities come forth and as a dad, you want them to shine as they become young men and young […]

In our chaotic world, the idea of man-love has been hijacked by the Woke view that blurs the lines in a wide gamut of areas from sexuality to entitlement. Gender lines are so confusing that minors (children) are being castrated and mutilated in an attempt to put someone in the […]

Exploring Your Sexual Story1 In a recent post, I surveyed God’s Story of lovingly pursuing his people, and I offered brief thoughts about how your sexuality is meant to tell that story.  Here, we focus on the story your sexuality is already telling, the story of how relationships have shaped […]

MW Editor’s Note: Mentoring Warriors welcomes counselor Andrew Bell to the tribe. His two-part series on your sexual story, along with the Sexual Resources and Writing Prompts found in the Resource Section of this website are intended to bring God’s insight into the beautiful world of God-created sexuality. Embodying the […]

Growing up, I didn’t realize it, but my church had a performance-based bent.  There was an image to maintain. You were a good Christian if you were in church every time the doors were opened. We sang our hymns, memorized our verses, and stayed away from worldly things.  That is […]

“Cheap love. A literal waste of my time!” That’s what I thought when I first heard the term, 25 cent love. You can’t buy much for a quarter these days. Not to mention, love. Yet,  Jesus is all about love.  “Love one another, as I have loved you.”  Jesus. When […]

MW Editor’s note: By the time this article posts, the revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky that has caught the nation may or may not be continuing. Regardless, this spiritual phenomenon has not been seen in America in over fifty years. Read on for some thoughts on what to […]

It’s happened to virtually every newlywed couple I know, including us. Things you either figured would come but perhaps not in the form or fashion you imagined it.  There are three challenges almost every couple has to deal with if they want to see any semblance of marital health: Finances […]

I have heard guys of many ages talk about their “calling” or feeling called to do something. Like many young boys, I always had a picture of who I wanted to be when I grew up in my mind. The problem is that picture was constantly changing. The first job […]

Seeking the Lord is the most important pursuit a man can have. God tells us in Amos 5:4 to “seek him and live.”   Hebrews 11:6 says  And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he […]

It’s probably one of the most awkward procedures a guy can have. A vasectomy. Lying on the table, exposed through a surgical drape. The doctor injects an anesthetic, waits for the area to numb, and with a surgical instrument in hand, he makes a tiny incision. Your two vas deferens […]

“Will you get off my back!” Trevor yelled at his wife. Kate couldn’t believe this was happening again.  “He blows up over the smallest thing. All I asked was if he could take out the trash and he gets so angry. Where is this coming from?” Trevor knew he was […]

Before you write this one off claiming you are not an evangelist, think again. If you claim to follow Jesus, then you are called by Him to spread the word of the Lord to others. In essence, the Gospel is to be ready on your lips when the opportunity arises. […]

Do you feel trapped by porn? In two decades of ministry, I have found that pornography is the single greatest threat to young men who want to live godly and victorious lives. The average boy is exposed to pornography by the time he is in 8th grade. The average Christian […]

Let me be straight up with you. Regardless of your score and regardless of your attitude, you NEED a mentor. I wish there was one of those “That Was Easy” buttons to push and a perfect mentor would suddenly appear! Life does not work that way. It takes intention and […]