Dear Leader,

A trusted friend and Men's Discipleship Leader in our area lives by this mantra: "Relentless forward progress."

He is an endurance sport athlete, and he understands the power of perseverance, as I wrote about a few months ago. I have watched him fall short of his goals, I have seen him struggle to overcome injuries and hardships, and I am inspired by his will to relentlessly progress forward.

When perseverance is coupled with passion for long-term goals, we call this grit. It appears that grit is one of the greatest factors for success, and grit requires the willingness to fail. 

Recently, I re-connected with a pastor with whom I had previously consulted. He admitted that the plan he had for his church failed. While I understand the discouragement that can come with this, I applaud him for his humility.

It is hard to admit when we fall short. It can be even harder to ask for help. But failure doesn't have to be the end of the story if we refuse to give up.

There are any number of reasons why our efforts may fail, but let it not be because we lack grit.

If you are short on passion, I hope to inspire you that calling men to the adventure of pursuing Christ wholeheartedly is a valuable endeavor.

If you struggle with persevering, I offer myself to grit it out alongside you. We may fail at times, but we will keep going to see men transformed by God's grace.

In Christ,

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WORKING FOR YOU
Man in the Mirror started with a focus on Cultural Christians - men who were seeking the god they wanted rather than the God who is. As we saw passionate men inspired through Promise Keepers returning home to churches that were unprepared for them, we began equipping these churches with resources. When there were not enough leaders to implement these resources, we initiated the Area Director role to raise up, train, and guide leaders in the local churches. Now, as more and more young men are leaving or disinterested in Christianity, we are calling on and equipping mature Christian men to pursue them as Spiritual Fathers. Over the years, Man in the Mirror has addressed the current cultural needs impacting the Kingdom, and we will continue to do so to help every church disciple every man.	Perhaps the greatest weakness men currently face is that they lead unexamined lives.

YOUR ACTION STEP: Examine your long-term goals

On September 24, 2020, Chloe Dygert was dominating the time-trial for the Cycling World Championships. She was already a two-time Olympic medalist and had won numerous World Championships, among other races. She was at the top of her game, but on this day something went wrong. Going through a turn, Chloe lost control of her bike and went over a guardrail, suffering a devastating injury to her left quadriceps. When her coach reached her, she asked if she was done. She meant for the race. He thought she was done cycling for good. Yet, Dygert was no stranger to overcoming adversity, and after two long years of recovery which involved other significant health issues, Chloe is once again commanding the roads on her bike. I have had the honor of knowing Chloe since she was a young jr. high student, and I have followed her career with awe. If there is anyone who embodies grit, it is her. When asked about overcoming the challenges, she said "I go back to my faith and I think of this being just God’s plan. And as much as I don’t agree with it all the time, I know that in the end I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing in his terms." She has her eyes set on another World Championship, the Tour De France, and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Passion. Perseverance. Long-term goals. Chloe's relentless forward progress inspires me to never give up on the road God has prepared for me.

GO DEEPER WITH THIS POST FROM THE MAN IN THE MIRROR BLOG What Great Leaders Are Like and How to Be One What makes a man a great leader? Discover some of the key traits of leadership and how to employ them. By Patrick Morley, Man in the Mirror Founder. Originally published in 2001. Now and then, God calls a man to a task so big that few can equal the challenge. Above all else, these men... Continue Reading →

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