Trail Life USA Blog

Mentoring

Mark Hancock Nov 29, 2020

Walking the Ministry Tightrope: Religious Freedom, Child Safety, & Gender Confusion

Pastors and ministry leaders: Raise your hand if college or seminary prepared you for protecting children from abuse, religious liberty battles or the culture war over gender and sexuality. No? Well, you’re certainly not alone! As America seems to be transitioning to a post-Christian era, our…

Jay Payleitner Sep 01, 2020

Mentoring

Cultivating Confident Overcomers

"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." - Theodore Roosevelt The world needs more good men. And you've been given the task to help build one. What a privilege! As a dad of four grown sons, I want to share three dad-friendly ideas to help you grow bold men of character…

Ryan Sanders Aug 12, 2020

Mentoring

Building Men: Milestones on the Journey to Manhood

On the journey to manhood, boys need to be a part of a mission bigger than themselves. They need significant challenges. They need men who can cast vision, celebrate milestones, and help them see who they can become. A group of leaders in Trail Life Troop TX-1160 were able to help the boys in their…

Steve Meyer and 1 more Jul 19, 2020

Mentoring, Troop Adventures, Masculinity

Mettle on the Mountain: A Story of Courage and Providence

"Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." - Romans 5:3-4 The weather on the mountain was brutal. The windchill was at four degrees below zero. Forty mile per hour winds hurled snow and ice pellets straight down the mountain. Whiteout conditions had set in. One…

Stephen Ashton Mar 30, 2020

Mentoring, Parenting, Let Boys be Boys, Masculinity

3 Keys to Growing Confident Men of Character

1. Cultivate Relationships Boys need dads who remember the world of backyard matchbox cars. Who can recall the time when dirt roads were carved from mulch beds, rocks became doughnut shops, cars drove to the tops of trees, and perils awaited in the grass jungles.

Stephen Ashton Mar 04, 2020

Mentoring, Parenting

The Outdoor Son of God

"Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." Luke 5:16 My master was a Man, who knew The rush of rain, the drip of dew, The wistful whisper of the breeze, Night's magic and its mysteries.

Dennis Rainey Feb 04, 2020

Mentoring, Parenting, Trail Life USA, Masculinity, Raising Godly Boys

A Call to Courageous Manhood

Boyhood is a time of daring adventure, exploration, action and personal growth – that’s why adventure is a fundamental part of Trail Life’s mission. Adventure is a terrific way to capture the heart of a boy and teach important life lessons. Boys need godly men to lead the way. A boy without a…

Daniel Huerta - Focus on the Family Jan 07, 2020

Mentoring, Parenting, Trail Life USA

Everyday Heroes

And then I caught the lesson God was telling me - 'Do you trust me like that? Will you step with boldness into the life of another?' Are you willing to notice others, connect with them, and become an everyday hero as you build into their lives? We each have our own assignments. As I trust, God is…

Stephen Ashton Dec 21, 2019

Mentoring, Masculinity

Christmas Masculinity

Christmas is a remarkable opportunity to talk with boys and young men about the example of Christ. What did it mean for him to become a man? What character traits did he display? What was unique about the life he lived? What implications does his life have for us as men?