What is Your Son's Faith Doing?
Boys are designed by their Creator to be doers. They need activity and purpose. God intended for boys to be boys. Snakes and snails, hammers and nails, rifles and coonskin caps—that is what boys are made of! Boys grow in character and leadership through activity and experience. Exploring the outdoors, experiencing adventure, and applying skills to meet the needs of others - that is the stuff men are made of.
Trail Life USA CEO, Mark Hancock explains, "Adam was not created in the beauty and security of the Garden of Eden. He was created in the wild, and placed in the garden with a mission. He was to go, ‘fill the earth and subdue it.’ God made man to explore, conquer, lead, face dangers, and overcome obstacles with the tools, heart, and power God instilled in him as a man."
A year of pandemic and hybrid classrooms disrupted traditional learning models. Parents who spent more time at home with their children are became increasingly aware of the shortcomings of both modern classroom and virtual learning settings for teaching important life lessons.
According to the 2020 American Family Survey, parents are not just concerned about academic learning. Increasingly they are seeing a gap in spiritual learning as well. According to the survey, only 36% of parents believed churches were serving their sons well. Something is missing for young men.
It's not internet, homework, organization, or mental effort; it's activity, purpose, and action. That is why Trail Life is partnering with churches across the country to provide clear ways for boys and men to put faith into action.
Reading and hearing about God are imperative, but the muscles of faith are strengthened through action - not mere mental assent. James 2:17 states, ‘Faith without works is dead.’
Boys experience God through service and adventure. As they rub shoulders with mentors, face challenges together, and pray and see answers, faith becomes act-ual. Instead of knowing intellectually about God, boys come to know God.
At Trail Life, we are teaching boys to fulfill God’s purpose and obey His commands each time we put them in a situation where they must solve problems and overcome the difficulties life throws at them.
As boys are challenged through service and adventure - as they take responsibility, pray, persevere, solve problems, see biblical truths lived out, overcome adversity, and experience God through answered prayer - they strengthen muscles of character, leadership, and faith. What is your son's faith doing?
