You are not handed a book and wished well. You are placed in a cohort, trained in major concepts during a daylong seminar, and held to it for six months as you work through the program with the same men who were in the room with you.
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Men per cohort
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Cohort Kickoff
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Weeks of Discipleship Training
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Per weekly meeting
ONE DAY, THEN SIX MONTHS
The Cohort Kickoff is a one-day experience at a host church. It places participants in a cohort of no more than ten men who meet once a week for six months. The Kickoff teaches each cohort how to work together so they can disciple each other through the Discipled Warriors Handbook lessons.
The design encourages participants to form close bonds with other men in the church, which increases learning and improves congregational unity.
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A SATURDAY OF TEACHING AND TRAINING
Men are placed into cohorts, taught biblically-based truths about the spiritual warfare all men experience, and trained on practicing those truths under the supervision of Discipled Warriors cadre. The cohorts are fed chef-prepared meals in between the full day of teaching and training.
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TWENTY-SIX WEEKS, TWO HOURS PER WEEK
Beginning the week after the Cohort Kickoff, each cohort meets at the church at a time of their choosing to review what they learned. Every man takes his turn leading and facilitating the other men in his cohort through a lesson in the Discipled Warriors Handbook. All men learn how to support the leader and facilitator.
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ONE NIGHT, AT THE CLOSE
All cohorts come together for a single Completion Ceremony at the church. The men, their families and their guests share a chef-prepared dinner. Then each man is presented with a Certificate of Completion signed by the men in his cohort, and a Discipled Warriors shirt specific to his church and cohort.
The Cohort Kickoff is the start. These four things are what make it stick after the room empties.
A cohort of ten men or fewer forms from a single congregation and in one day is given the tools necessary to build a cohort through six months of training.
Two hours a week, at a time the cohort chooses for itself, held at the church. Each meeting reviews the teaching, and a different man leads it each time using the documents provided for that topic.
Ten men or fewer is the cap for a reason: below it nobody can quietly disappear. The men know what each of them committed to, and they expect an honest answer when they ask about it the following week.
Men learn to pray with authority and to talk to their brothers about what they are actually fighting. Participants consistently name this as the part they did not expect and would not give up.
Time commitment
Highlighted responses collected from men after the teaching and training.
WHAT LEARNING DID YOU FIND VALUABLE?
“Focus on being the leader of my family. I think I lost sight of that. Building a group of men to support and encourage each other is very valuable. I liked declaring my space for prayer. This is something that helps men in a time when we are under attack. It's worth doing.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
“This has been one of the best experiences in my life.”
WHAT LEARNING DID YOU FIND VALUABLE?
“Understanding my role as a man and leader and the responsibilities that come with that. Knowing that I need to be a good steward of all God has put me in control of.”
WHAT LEARNING DID YOU FIND VALUABLE?
“Image bearers, a new way of looking at people. Role of husband with no excuses.”
WHAT LEARNING DID YOU FIND VALUABLE?
“How to get authority when praying and how to talk with brothers about problems you are having.”
WHAT LEARNING DID YOU FIND VALUABLE?
“A deep look at the creation and how I fit into God's creation. My role, my wife's role and my family.”
WHAT WERE THE STRENGTHS OF THE LESSONS?
“Lessons provided insight into the word of God and his commands for us as men. They challenged me to look at my life and identify areas where I need to make some changes.”
WHAT WERE THE STRENGTHS OF THE LESSONS?
“The truth of the bible and its creation. The servant's heart made clearer my duties as a child of God. Reminding me to love my wife unconditionally.”
WHAT WERE THE STRENGTHS OF THE LESSONS?
“Knowing The Creator, where everything begins and from where all direction and power come. Getting our heart right because that's where all of our issues come from. Then knowing what we're being asked or expected to do.”
WHAT WERE THE STRENGTHS OF THE LESSONS?
“Backed by scripture.”
WHAT WERE THE STRENGTHS OF THE LESSONS?
“Very easy to understand. Full of valuable information. Based on Scripture.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
“It was an amazing and thought provoking event that really teaches why and how men need to lead.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
“Great opportunity to get to know other men in the church.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
“I needed this to help show me how I have drifted from God and it has helped me see how I can get back on track in my walk with Christ.”
One cohort is ten men or fewer, drawn from a single congregation. The cap exists so that no man can hide and every man gets a turn to lead.
The Cohort-building Program begins with a one-day Kickoff, followed by weekly meetings across six months.
On your own church campus. Men are taught and fed in their own building, which is part of why the program strengthens congregational unity rather than pulling men away.
Nothing directly. The cost is $2,500 per cohort of ten men or fewer, and it is paid by the church. The cost to the participant is time.
No. Participants are provided the documents they need to present each weekly topic, and every man leads his brothers through a lesson in turn. Most men lead for the first time in their lives during the program.
All cohorts join a single Completion Ceremony at the church. Men, their families and their guests share a chef-prepared dinner, and each man receives a Certificate of Completion signed by the men in his cohort and a Discipled Warriors shirt specific to his church and cohort.
Whether you are a man wanting to join a cohort or a leader wanting to start one at your church, this is the same first step. Ray will come back to you personally.
Ten willing men who finish well will recruit the next twenty better than any announcement from the front.
