“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:8-10, NIV)

1 Peter 5:8-10 delivers a sober warning, call to action and an enduring promise for men. The passage begins with a call to be alert and watchful because we are being hunted like prey. The devil is described as a roaring lion on the prowl for someone to devour. Let your mind travel to an African plain of unsuspecting antelope grazing on the tall grass as a lion readies to pounce the weakest one. Peter is commanding our attention to a real and present danger lurking in pursuit. Our awareness leads to active resistance that is rooted in faith. Our individual and collective lives are engulfed in this war of brokenness. The battle spills into every aspect of our lives, with our marriages, families and communities as the prey. The result is a personal and corporate suffering that God never intends.

However, God’s heart is for restoration – To take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for His good purposes. And while He calls us to be active participants in the fight, it is the Lord who is the ultimate victor. It is He who intervenes to restore and make us strong, firm and steadfast in His grace.

This promise is the inspiration behind our theme of “Restore” for 2020. Not reserving this powerful, and timely, theme to just one night, we formally introduce The RESTORE Series – a line-up of events over the next several months focused on God’s heart to restore men, their marriages, families and communities.

The series begins with “A Night Out” on Friday, August 21 at Petra Church in New Holland, PA. The night features a BBQ meal, silent auction and drive-in movie experience. The following weekend is the “Real Men. Talk. Men’s Conference” taking place in Tampa Bay, FL. This half-day men’s conference focuses on the restoration of biblical manhood. The final event is the “Family Values Workshop” which provides resources for couples to evaluate and set biblical values for their marriage and parenting. (Time and Location, TBD). Register via the links to any or all of the events, above!

And don’t miss out on a Special Edition line of RESTORE(D) apparel available for only a brief period of time! Pre-order today. Proclaim this truth for yourself and use the opportunity to bring hope to those around you.