Wake Up Call Message on Take-away after Man-date Forum

Wake Up Call Message: Take-home after Man-date Forum

Introduction

This year, as we celebrated Father’s Day, I received a special invitation to engage with a group of young men on a Christian platform. The theme for the forum was simple but profound: Building A Hardy Man; A man who knows himself, embraces responsibility and endures hardship from society perspective.

In the warmth of our fellowship, discussions unfolded revealing the very heartbeat of manhood and the silent cries that often go unheard.

The Problem

During our group conversations, one major truth stood out: men are natural risk-takers, but many lack the right information during their transition from boys to men.

This is perhaps one of the greatest challenges our society continues to overlook. At the age of eighteen, boys are suddenly expected to step fully into manhood, equipped and ready for life’s responsibilities. But how can they stand firm when no one has taken the time to prepare them?

Society often assumes that young men automatically understand what it means to be responsible — to work, build a family, and serve at the altar. Yet, the old men, fathers, and mentors who should guide them through this delicate transition are often absent or unavailable for these critical life lessons.

The Challenge

What challenged me most was realizing that the same struggles I faced over twenty years ago are still alive today. Listening to these young men, many in their twenties, describe the very scenarios I endured was both humbling and alarming.

This reaffirmed my passion and urgency for the Bridge Gap Lessons Orientation Program — a mission to close the mentorship gap that exists between generations in parenting and guardianship. It is painfully clear where we are as a society, and more importantly, where we must go.

The Solution

It is not enough to meet once a year during Man-date events. We have a continuous mandate to educate, mentor, and walk alongside young men—not just spiritually but holistically.

Before we usher them into the world of physical investments, senior men must first invest themselves in spiritual investment tooling — equipping young men to understand:

• Manifestation: Understanding their God-given purpose.
• Mission: Embracing their unique assignment on earth.
• Ministry: Serving God and others with their gifts.
• Manifesto: Defining personal guiding principles for life.

From the Mandate Hub, we must invest in developing comprehensive curriculums and discussion topics that can educate men of all ages on these crucial pillars.

The Conclusion: Investment Formula for Manhood

The solution requires a twofold investment approach—Spiritual and Physical—following a simple formula:

Investment = Capital + Time + Consistency + Knowledge

Spiritually, young men must be enlightened on:

• Investment in people and planet earth
• Human and financial capital stewardship
• Timeline and timetable planning
• Consistent power and authority utilization
• The knowledge of good and evil that exists within every person

Physically, young men must be empowered by:

• Practical investment guides
• Working capital management
• Time management and prioritization
• Consistent focus and discipline
• Knowledge application in real-life situations

As referenced in Ezekiel 48:1-35, we are all called to build our personal and professional Holy Cities — sacred places where The Lord is present (Jehovah Shammah).

Key Verse:

"…And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE."
— Ezekiel 48:35 (NIV)