RAGBRAI: a Ride Across Iowa for Christ, Men and LMM by Doug Haugen
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Lutheran Men in Mission Building Men for Christ Summer 2018 foundations Our vision is for all men to become bold and daring followers of Jesus Christ. Summer 2018 Challenge RAGBRAI: A Ride Across Iowa for Christ, Men and LMM By Doug Haugen MM knows that men’s health is to have great conversations about made up of physical, mental, and faith, and raise awareness and support spiritual components. If any one for LMM. RAGBRAI – The Register’s of the three is squishy, our lives Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa Lare often out of balance. While ministry — takes place July 22-28, 2018. to men should first point people to The almost 500-mile ride goes through Jesus and provide spiritual health care, portions of all three Iowa synods. We we know that being in healthy commu- have 22 riders and five support vol- nity supports mental health, and men unteers on this ride. If you missed the should focus on being as physically opportunity to sign up to ride, you still active and healthy as possible. have the opportunity to support the Lutheran Men in Mission is sponsoring team financially to support the mission TEAM LMM for RAGBRAI 2018. For of LMM and help grow men’s ministry the past several summers, a group of throughout the Lutheran Church. men and women have saddled up for If you talk to the men and women a 7-day non-competitive bike tour riding on TEAM LMM this year, you riding across Iowa. It’s a lot of fun and is a great workout, but is also a chance RAGBRAI, continued on page 5 Doug Haugen and Kyle Pedersen dip their tires in the Missouri River on the western edge of Iowa on the first day of the ride. LMM’s RAGBRAI team of bikers toured Iowa in a 7-day 500-mile scenic ride. Bible, continued on page 3 Lutheran Men in Mission Spring 2018 1 From the Executive Director Rising to the challenges on’t let anyone ever tell you that Iowa is flat. The first RAG- The foundations newsletter is BRAI I rode with team LMM was 2015 with my mountain sent to all who contribute to the ministry of Lutheran Men bike special I had picked up at the local sporting goods in Mission. Your contribution store. That was a heavy bike and I could feel its weight along ensures that foundations will Dwith mine as we chugged up the hills. In 2016 I upgraded my bike continue to be sent to you. only to discover a route that was one steep hill after another. Our vision for foundations is To prepare I trained, I ate well and I had friends who encouraged me and on the ride. I had the that it be a source of personal spiritual growth, as well as a team. With that, I climbed. Even when I am separated from those who encourage, I hear their source of information for those voices to pedal on. involved in congregational men’s ministries. Please contact The steep hills were a grinding challenge, but at the crest of every hill there were rewards — the us to share your stories of sense of accomplishment mixed with the inspiring splendor of picturesque farms wrapped in men’s ministry that we can use rolling fields and rivers. Then, of course, there was the next hill! in future issues, or to let us know what topics and issues When bicycling, three things are essential: you’re interested in seeing Even when I featured in foundations. ■ The right equipment ■ am separated Lutheran Men in Mission The right people 8765 W. Higgins Road ■ Energy and fuel from those who Chicago, IL 60631-4101 lutheranmeninmission.org That is true as well in our ministry. As we look at all that encourage, I hear projecttwelve.net is going on in our families and in our culture today, we see their voices to that producing bold and daring followers of Jesus Christ is a Doug Haugen steep climb indeed. But the reward is healthy men impacting pedal on. Executive Director families and our culture for the generations that follow us. [email protected] 773-380-2566 We have what it takes to make that impact. We are equipped with Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. We have the right people — including you! And we have the fuel of prayer, fellowship Kevin Burke and, yes, funding. Discipling Consultant The great challenge that you read about on the front page is making the ride this year more fun [email protected] 920-562-1411 than ever. I invite you to be a part of the fuel to raise $60,000 by 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, so we can meet the challenge of seeing to it that every man becomes a bold and daring follower of Kyle Pedersen Jesus Christ. Emerging Ministries Consultant With your prayers, and with your gift, you will be with us! [email protected] Doug Haugen, Executive Director Vic Williams Lutheran Men in Mission foundations editor/writer [email protected] [email protected] Kathryn Brewer foundations designer 2 Lutheran Men in Mission Spring 2018 Bold Gathering Goes Digital First-Ever Streaming Event A Success By Kevin Burke uring the Bold Gathering Streaming event on April 14, Kyle Pedersen com- pared foxes and hedgehogs. DHe referred to a story by Isiah Berlin that talks about how the two ani- mals active differently. The fox is, “all over the place.” The hedgehog meanwhile, “does one thing very well… how do we be a hedgehog and focus on that one thing?” LMM overall is figuring out the Last year at our National Gathering, things we do really well and are I told you my goal in my work It was fun hearing putting emphasis on those. Rather of being Simple, Consistent and how men from the than having everyone scattered, the Reproducible. By reproducing, that Board structure has individuals in doesn’t mean we don’t tweak, mod- Carolinas, Ohio, niche areas. Discipleship, Events, ify or try new things. LMM actually Texas, Washington and Emerging Ministries and Network- took our large-scale event, the Bold ing and Communication ministry Gathering, and we modified it. This many other locations groups are each lead by an individ- was done to fulfill some requests, were tuning in and ual that has a passion for that and reach new audiences and share they are focused on it. important messages in the best way engaging the speakers. possible. Speakers for most scenarios men encounter: A Trying something new man’s identity, how groups need Streaming BOLD LMM has never tried to do an to adaptive and open to healthy all-online, mass-audience event like change, and several things were Gathering Event this before. We weren’t even sure Bold Gathering, continued on page 4 Rob Nelson, Wisconsin: “Reaching how to accomplish it, but … we young families and singles knew we needed to try. Thus, — creating vital, open and Bold Gathering Streaming was welcoming community for young launched. We got a core group men, women and children” of leaders together who had Men of Bethany in Nebraska share similar visions. They reached their OYTL experiences out to talented speakers, and asked them to lend their voices Jason Adams streaming from Nevada: “Building communities to our goal. Then on a Saturday online and in real life” morning in a very cool Omaha church building LMM started Ed Nichols, Iowa: “Orphan broadcasting live all across the to Slave to Son” country. John Bustard, Nebraska: “Tips and strategies to effectively The speakers included pastors take men deeper” and lay men. The topics they brought were well crafted, Kyle Pederson, Iowa: “Why change with your men’s ministry is hard” from the heart and related to Lutheran Men in Mission Spring 2018 3 Bold Gathering, continued from page 3 Yes, they were recorded! That is one of the great things about shared about relationships and how these events, and how we are we build those in small groups and building up a bank of recorded electronically. resources. The videos are now available online, 24/7, 365 days Throughout the process of that day, a year! Having a conversation only a very few problems arose. It with a friend and a similar topic was fun hearing how men from the comes and you want to reference Carolinas, Ohio, Texas, Washington an exact speaker statement? Pull and many other locations were it up and watch. Want to start a tuning in and engaging the speak- men’s group meeting by watch- ers. We heard how groups that met ing a Mantalk session and then were asked each other questions discuss what was heard? Pull it and going deeper into the subject up and watch. These are LMM matter. There were eager voices tools now available to you. wanting to know if these speaking We want relationships periods (Mantalk sessions) were And more! being recorded so they could go to build as you hear Due to the success of the event back, re-listen and shared with and great feedback from those influential speakers, others. who registered, LMM is now in the discuss what was said process of planning Bold Gathering and maybe even share Online — Fargo Edition. On Satur- day, October 27, we will offer new a meal. speakers with new topics in similar Mantalk sessions. Details are being drafted out now and speakers are as you hear influential speakers, being asked to prayerfully consider discuss what was said and maybe being a part of this growing event.