Men’s Formation Groups

Interested in joining a men’s formation group?  Sometimes they are referred to as a “small group”.  (If you are interested, I can connect you with a group in your area or teach you how to start one on your own.)

If you are in the Colorado Springs area, a new group will be meeting weekly.  Any man is welcome to join, at anytime.  The format of the meetings follows the highly tested and proven model created by The King’s Men.  No matter what stage of life a man is in, no matter his education or experience, no matter his marital status or career, a formation group is good for every man.  A small formation group is intended to be multifaceted.  Men may experience some or all of the following from being in a small group: friendship, accountability, challenge, spiritual fortitude, fraternity, strength, encouragement, purpose, virtue!

The meetings typically go something like this:

• Group prayer – the Rosary is suggested. 15-20 minutes.
• Discussion based on a masculine resource.  30-45 minutes.  (Masculine resources might be “Boys to Men: The Transforming Power of Virtue”, “Be a Man!”, an encyclical/papal letter, “Signposts” or something similar.)  The discussion time is facilitated by a leader and kept on-time by the time keeper.  The discussion is not a “teaching moment”, but a formation moment where each man has time to share if he so desires.
• The 4-Cs.  Commit, Confess, Challenge, Confirm.  Each week, each man makes a commitment to something he is going to do over the next week.  The next week, he comes back and “confesses” how he did with his commitment.  This process continues each week.  If a man needs to be challenged, another man may do so.  If a man deserves to be confirmed, another man may do so. 30 minutes.
• Closing prayer, including each man’s intentions. 5 minutes.
• Total meeting should be 1.5 hrs or less.

Groups should be kept to no more than 10-12 men.  Once a group grows too large, it should be split into two separate groups.  This is done so that each man has the ability to share, seek guidance, be formed and grow personally.  If a group is too large, it stifles men’s ability to grow.

For more information on formation groups, especially the Colorado Springs group, contact me at Dave@TheKingsMen.org.