MISSION
For King and Kingdom exists to awaken men by partnering with churches, helping to create a culture that inspires, unites, and frees men to pursue their Kingdom destiny.
For King and Kingdom (4KK) exists to equip and train churches to establish a 4KK retreat ministry for the men of their local church.
A 4KK retreat experience is designed to inspire, unite, and free men to pursue their Kingdom destiny in a community of like-minded men. Our vision is to partner with churches, then train and prepare them to establish their own transformational retreat. This retreat ministry will encourage and challenge men to take their gifts of leadership and influence into their churches, their families, and their communities...For King and Kingdom.
4KK provides leadership development, one on one church support, training, and ongoing support materials. Because of this leadership development, 4KK has successfully helped churches implement this transformational retreat experience, changing the lives of their men and strengthening churches.
“We just began to imagine something different than your normal men's retreat, something that offered men the opportunity to be known and to know others in a place of grace..”
- Bruce Dodson, Founder
OUR STORY
In 2005, we began to imagine a discipleship experience for men that would challenge men to follow Christ, while gaining an understanding and commitment to living a life of kingdom purpose. We imagined an experience grounded in the reality of the gospel, informed by understanding our own life stories through the lens of faith, and experienced in a community of grace and acceptance. We came to the conclusion early on that many men in the church have a working knowledge of God to one degree or another, but they have very poor knowledge of self, especially one that is based in reality and the gospel. How better to know yourself than through a guided retelling of your own story in the company of a small group of men that have chosen to take the same journey with you? This, we decided, is what we need to learn how to do in order to help other men do the same.
In 2006, eight men experienced the first For King and Kingdom (4KK) retreat. Since then, hundreds of men have participated in this intense discipleship experience. God is using 4KK to deepen our relationship with Him and each other. It is a catalyst to free men to live into their destiny in the kingdom of God through their leadership in their churches, their families, and their communities.
The world needs Christian churches full of men dedicated and committed to Jesus, and to “making disciples and teaching them all that I have commanded”. Too often, men in the church need something to arouse their hearts, to awaken a sleeping warrior for the King and his Kingdom mission. The church of Jesus needs dangerous men, men of strength and courage that are willing to take great risks for the King and for each other.
That is exactly what a 4KK experience has done and can do for men and for the church!
OUR VISION
In 2030, For King and Kingdom will consist of a thriving network of at least 50 churches that share the DNA of 4KK. This network will consist of partnerships with strategically placed churches, known as “Catalyst Churches”. Ministry leaders from within these churches will invite and mentor new churches, resulting in the exponential expansion of the ministry. As more churches embrace the ministry of 4KK, regions will develop local leadership teams with coordinating regional directors. Regional hubs will be scattered across the country. Regions will receive resources to begin retreats, train leaders, and establish regional coordination teams.
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
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)
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
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
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 in gaining 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 lives, we develop strategies to protect ourselves from further hurts and harms; this is 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 in areas in which they place trust in themselves and lack trust in God for life. (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)
4KK FAMILY
GRACE CHURCH EAST END
COLLECTIVE CHURCH ARKANSAS
FIRST BAPTIST HOT SPRINGS
LAKE VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH
SOUTH BATON ROUGE CHURCH OF CHRIST
THE SUMMIT CHURCH
NEW LIFE CHURCH
LAKE RETREAT MINISTRIES
- Train churches how to facilitate transformational weekend experiences through For King and Kingdom. Often abbreviated 4KK, it believes that "Stronger Men make Stronger Churches." Our vision is that in time there will be a network of hundreds of churches across the US using the training we provide to change the hearts and lives of their people.
- This training occurs at Tucker Lodge, a world-class retreat center located in beautiful central Arkansas. The lodge can be used by the general public for a fee, while non-profits receive a large discount to help them accomplish their respective goals.
TUCKER LODGE
The Tucker Lodge at Degray Lake exists to support organizations in our area that serve the common good. By creating an affordable extraordinary retreat space for non-profits, we hope to encourage the mission of these organizations. Individuals, businesses and corporations can join us in this support by booking their next outing at Tucker Lodge. All proceeds from The Tucker Lodge at Degray Lake are used to support two organizations that serve important needs in our community.