Pastors Call Men to be “Dangerous”
by Bob Tolson, Rocky Mountain Area Representative
and pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado
Ken Fulton issues challenge to become kingdom men
“Count me in!” Bob Tolson, pastor of Immanuel Evangelical Church, did not hesitate when asked to host a small group of pastors. The focus — disciple-making. CCCC member Ken Fulton, serving with The Navigators’ Church Discipleship Ministry, invited Bob to join him, along with two young pastors in northeastern Colorado. Soon other pastors heard about the group and wanted to join. The group currently consists of eight pastors, including CCCC pastor Mark Weinstein from Wiggins Community Church. These pastors have bonded with a common goal. The discipleship model of 2 Timothy 2:2 defined their purpose — “to pass on what they had learned to faithful men who will be able to teach others.” Meeting monthly, they explored what a disciple is and how to make them. At one meeting, Ken suggested using a ministry tool to motivate their men toward growth — a “Dangerous Man Day.”
Bob Tolson tells how to ‘Guard Your Heart, Guard Your Home’ in his workshop
The Dangerous Man Day ministry was started seven years ago by Al Larson, a Navigator team member of Ken’s. Al wanted a larger event that would serve as a catalyst to ongoing spiritual growth — a place where he could bring men in his neighborhood. The unusual name came from the fact that Jesus was regarded as being dangerous (Luke 23:5). While men are all too often destructive, this event was calling them to be dangerous for good — dangerous for God! Catching this common vision, these pastors became the event team to launch a Dangerous Man Day for the men in their churches. The excitement began to spread as they also promoted the event to other pastors in northeastern Colorado.
Dangerous Man Day began early on a Saturday morning. Enthusiasm was high as twelve pastors, along with nearly 100 of their men, arrived at the Fort Morgan Nazarene Church. The event began with worship and a compelling message on “The Call to be Kingdom Men.” Then from a list of ten workshops, men chose three workshops to attend throughout the day. These workshops related to the roles in which men are called to be Kingdom Men, including their home, work, church and world. How to Have a Daily Appointment with God, Daring to Disciple Your Family, Guard Your Home — Guard Your Heart, Millennial Men — Young Men Becoming Kingdom Men and The Marriage Adventure were some workshop titles. These local pastors and the Dangerous Man
Men discuss application questions from a general session message
Day national team joined together to present the workshops. The day ended with a final message on “The Impact of Kingdom Men” along with 100 men offering songs of worship and praise to God, with the inspiring theme hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
Dangerous Man Day provided a place where pastors joined forces in equipping their men to become Kingdom Men. Instead of being up in front, pastors could sit and talk with their men, creating life-on-life time. This is priceless in building relationships for disciple-making in the days to come. Often big events have limited long term life transformation. The strength of this event was having pastors as the lead men. Equipped by their small group times before Dangerous Man Day, they were already beginning life-on-life discipleship relationships with men in their churches. These same pastors would continue impacting their men with “next steps” after Dangerous Man Day.
The pastors’ small group that sparked this event continues to meet. Together they strive to fulfill God’s command to make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19–20). They praise God for making them a powerful team, marching to further the Kingdom of God.
