Manly Men with Manly Toys Building Godly Men from Little Boys

Manly Men with Manly Toys
Building Godly Men from Little Boys


Every year the men of EV Free Church of Eaton (Colorado) set up camp about 70 miles “west of nowhere.” They have tents of every size and shape as well as campers and trailers. In addition, men bring ATV’s, dirt bikes, rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers and hunting bows. Most importantly, they bring their Bibles and their sons and grandsons.

This past weekend was incredible. There were over 100 men and boys, from Grandfathers to grandsons. Ages ranged from 3 years of age to nearly 80.

Each day, starting after breakfast, men were engaged in the lives of their sons. Whether it was helping them ride a dirt bike or helping them hold a shotgun for the first time, dads were with their sons.

Each evening and on Sunday morning, men sat with their sons, son-in-laws, grandsons and brothers. There was worship, teaching and prayer. Two men stood to respond to an invitation for salvation, while holding their young sons in their arms. Sons watched their dads and grandpa’s kneel in prayer.

Here are some of the other really great things about the weekend.
1. Every dad was a dad to every boy. Think about that for just a moment. Every man there treated every son as his own. That means that every man watched out for every boy there. It means that every man did not hesitate to jump in and help every boy without worrying about whether or not it was “OK.”
2. Every dad could get help and still be a man. The security of the environment for each man to learn in front of his son, if he needed help, and then teach his own son was powerful. Sometimes the most powerful teaching moment for the son came in watching his dad ask for help, learn something new, and then turn and teach him.
3. Men were not afraid or embarrassed to “worship.” NO, I mean really worship—in song and prayer.
4. In addition to the fun, every father and son cut/split wood for the camp; and they participated in preparing, serving or cleaning up after a meal. Everyone was a “stakeholder” in the camp.

A huge “Thank You” to Pastor Craig, Pastor Jeff and the men’s leadership team for allowing me to be a part of this event. This was a weekend I will not forget.

As a note…. Every year the men do the same type of weekend with their daughters and granddaughters. Yes, they bring out the ATVs, rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, hunting bows, dirt bikes. And, yes, the men enjoy worship, teaching and prayer with their daughters and granddaughters.