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A man is not a stone but bread that has been broken… Not an impenetrable fortress but a river of kindness and compassion… Not a tower of steel but a growing tree that provides covering and bends in the storm… Not a ruler but a servant who humbly seeks the success of others… Not a sign post but a guide who leads through example… Not a sculptor but a gardener who guides and provides an atmosphere for growth… Not a statue but a communicator who speaks from the heart. A man is not an island but a branch, totally dependent upon the living God.
- Roy Lessin
FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES
JESUS CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE
A 4KK men's retreat is first and foremost focused on Jesus Christ and his bride, the church. Everything taught, discussed, and referenced is done to glorify our Savior which in turn edifies and strengthens His church. When men experience the presence of God in light of who they are in Jesus' righteousness, the local church and families are affected in powerful ways. (Ephesians 5:25-27;Galatians 5:1,13)
PRAYER AND THE WORD OF GOD
A 4KK men's retreat draws participants and servants into intercessory prayer for one another. Prayer and the word of God permeates every aspect of the weekend. (Colossians 1:24; Luke 18:1)
SERVANTS
Men who have experienced a 4KK men's retreat are present to serve the participants. A servant's goal is to serve the participants with the mind of Christ Jesus, free from condemnation and full of truth Love mercy and grace. (John 15:12; Philippians 2:5-8)
DISTRACTIONS
In an age where technology, social media, hobbies, and vocations vie for every second of a man's attention, a 4KK men's retreat offers an intentional, extended time away from distractions to quiet the world and provide an opportunity to intentionally listen to the voice of the Father calling them His beloved. (Psalm 46:10)
GOSPEL KNOWLEDGE OF SELF AND GOSPEL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Rarely do men take the time to reflect on their lives and the impact the past has on the present. A 4KK men's retreat is designed to assist men gain a deeper knowledge of themselves, which in turn leads men to experience God in new and life-changing ways. (Psalm 139)
STORY
Life is understood, communicated, and experienced in the context of story. A 4KK men's retreat teaches men to understand and tell their story in light of the good news of Jesus and His story of bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. (Matthew 13)
SELF-PROTECTION VS TRUSTING JESUS
Throughout our live we develop strategies to protect ourselves from further hurts and harms, an attempt to engage the world and others safely. These are essentially ways in which we trust ourselves (and not Jesus) to gain life. During a 4KK men's retreat, men are challenged to pray and seek God's guidance on areas in which they lack trust in God for life, and instead place that trust in themselves. (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4)
A MAN'S THOUGHT LIFE
Many times a man's thought life is steeped in fantasy, longing for and creating an alternate reality. However, while we can evade reality we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality. Our minds need to be renewed and grounded in our identity in Christ, despite what has happened to us or what we have done. A 4KK men's retreat is rooted in the reality of who we are, what we have done, and what Christ ultimately did for us on the cross. (Romans 12:1)
CONFESSION
Healing occurs when men confess their sins to one another and pray for one another. This begins with the servant team, who instead of simply teaching confession, lead by humble example and engage participants with a startling transparent and vulnerable way of life. (James 5:16)
ABIDING RELATIONSHIPS
Men want to know what their "destiny" is in life. A 4KK men's retreat clarifies the beginning steps for each man: living in an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ and with other men who know us fully. (John 15:5; Ephesians 4:25)