The Garden Men's Ministry

CALLING ALL GRILLMEISTERS! We need a few guys to help on the grill at the Love Bakersfield event this Saturday, 6/8 from 10-12. Shoot me a PM or text 661-333-7888 if we can count on you. Please share this post with guys you know.
Thanks, Pastor Mark.

“Worry is an act of faith. It is a deep-seated belief in worst-case scenarios. Worry Is not rooted in reality but does affect our reality.” -Erwin Raphael McManus, The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path to Inner Peace

It was amazing! “God wants our attention.” -Steve Kliewer

Guys…don’t miss Men’s Breakfast this Saturday. Our brother Steve Kliewer will be sharing an amazing story of how God is opening doors of powerful ministry in the middle of his fight with a debilitating disease. See you at 9am at The Garden (coffee’s on at 8 😜).

Who’s into fly fishing? Who wants to get into it? Hit me up!
Not just trout…our own Dewey Compton recently caught this largemouth.

Special Invite to Garden Men!!! DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT.
Register at www.valleybaptist.org-EVENTS. Did I mention that dinner is free?

Always the first Saturday of the month. Join us!

Hi Guys!
What a great time we had at Man Camp! Great times of worship and hearing from the Lord, time building relationships with other men who love Jesus, and fantastic food. Have you ever been to a church retreat and been served ribeyes? Anthony Gallegos and Bryon Vanderhoff…you guys went over the top! Much thanks to the whole crew and the Garden Men’s Leadership team.

Followed that up with what I hear was a quality Men’s Breakfast the following Saturday with Mario Garcia and Tai Quan sharing powerful testimonies. Sorry I missed but I was celebrating 30 years of wedded bliss with my beautiful bride in Hawaii. Groan now.

Next on the calendar is the June Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, June 3, 8:30-10:00 in the Children’s Building. Russell Duke is back from illness (thank you, Lord) and will pick up the reins. Please join us if you can…bring your sons. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A RAFFLE TO HELP WITH COSTS. IF YOU HAVE ANY UNUSED “MAN STUFF” YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, HIT ME UP.

Other events we are looking into for summer are Outreach at Oasis (7/15), Dodger game (tbd), Ziplines at Santa Margarita (tbd). Watch your email for info…also we are on The Garden Men’s Ministry on Facebook. If you have ideas for events, hit me up!

God bless…see you soon!
Mark

https://youtu.be/k2YfH7Hj-wI

Man Camp 2023 Register Today! https://forms.gle/rU6g1FBgpx4Heixs7Join us for a powerful weekend of worship, fellowship, and recreation at the Men's Camp happening on April...

We’ve got 30 registrations but still missing a lot of names of guys who have said they are going. REMINDER: Registration will be closed on Monday, 4/24. Don’t put it off…get in!

From a friend:
Many people young and old suffer with mental and emotional pain. Depending on what is bringing it can impact the heart even more. You may never escape it. You never expected it, planned for it nor saw it coming. It may never resolve.
I too know this anguish of the soul and mind.
The pain is there but one may find refuge in the heart of God who accepts you as you are and has no part in blaming or adding more hurt.
Regardless, you can fold under it or set your compass and sails for better winds and a place you can hide in the shadows of the Almighty.
He isn’t asking questions. He knows. He cares, doesn’t add to your pain and He has healing and hope where none else offers.
Don’t give up. Lean into His side.
Breathe. Rest your mind.

Man Camp is just around the corner!!! Registration will close on Monday, 4/24, so don’t put it off any longer. Use the QR code on the attached flyer to get more info and to register. If you want to register the old school way, or need other info, send email or text (info is on flyer). And don’t forget to SHARE THIS POST ON YOUR TIMELINE!

MEN OF THE GARDEN! Our in-house security detail is a bit depleted. We need some men to provide security for our church campus for the last 3 Greenhouse Wednesday nights of the season—April 12, 19, 26 for hours 615-830pm. This is not sophisticated security work…just a number of guys maintaining a presence and keeping eyes on our property.

If this is something you can do, please reply to this email or contact Mario Garcia at (626) 388-8196.

Fathers are commissioned to be courageous they don’t have the luxury retreating in the face of danger. Fathers are called to run towards the sound of trouble, and engage hostility that is perpetuated against their families. They are first to danger! They send a loud message to all hostiles that there will be resistance to hurting this family...there will be a noble defender ready to protect this linage.

Our own deep sense of spiritual inadequacy will not be defeated in retreat, it will only be dethroned as we press in to God and learn how to destroy the works of the devil.

Our personal victories become our family’s corporate covering. Every foe we defeat in our own life is one less foe they will have to face in theirs.

Whenever our children catch us having a private conversation with God in prayer, they capture a glimpse into power of the age to come that’s being infused into the family trust.

If we hide our battles from our children, they won’t be prepared to win theirs when they leave our home. On the other hand, inviting our kids to view our struggles in life, gives them a front roll seat in academy of future victories.

MEN! So much happening in April so we will start with Mens Breakfast on the first day of the month! We’ll be giving information on MAN CAMP at the end of the month, plus we spend a couple of hours making the house look purdy for Easter Sunday (work clothes, gloves, yard tools helpful). Join us Saturday! Questions about Mens Breakfast? Hit up Pastor Mark, 661-333-7888.

This is wisdom that goes for whatever your work is…

Dads! Take your kids fishing today.

Here’s a thought that has occurred to me in light of recent revival fires. Real transformation at the altar will reveal itself outside the church.
”Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction…” -James 1:27

Guys! Here’s some opportunities to show that revival fire is burning in you:
WEDNESDAY 8:30am - ?? Meet at 2700 San Emidio to do prep work for Saturday.
FRIDAY 8:30am - Meet at Hope Village (2116 P St) for work previously planned for Wednesday. Change is due to rain & muddy site.
SATURDAY 9-1030am. Men’s Breakfast-NO CHANGE HERE!
SATURDAY 11:00 - ?? Back to 2700 San Emidio. Painting, cleaning, and yard clean up.

Reply, text or message me if you can help Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. Remember, I love all y’all!
Pastor Mark
661-333-7888

This SATURDAY! Work crew will leave from here to bless a sister in the church with some much needed cleanup and repairs. Message Pastor Mark, 661-333-7888 with your intention to join us.

Pastor Will bringing the fire this morning! Don’t forget, guys!

Hey Guys!
It’s going down this Saturday out at Lee Shaw’s barn. Get a buddy and your young men and come on out.

Good Monday Morning, Men!
We had a great Men’s Breakfast last Saturday. Good grub and good time hanging together. We introduced a new season Men’s Rooted Small Groups and there is plenty of room for you. Groups all days--morning, noon, or night—all flavors.

If you want in, REPLY here or send me a text. If you and one other brother want to form a “group,” hit me up. We are going to be reading The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith. (If you don’t like to read…there’s an audible version.)

Let me know asap and I’ll get you hooked up!

Have a blessed week!
Mark
661-333-7888

Let’s man up in 2023! Come out Saturday morning for some mangrub and be encouraged to CONNECT. If we keep doing what we’re doing we’ll keep getting what we’re getting…is that acceptable to you? Wear work clothes and demo tools (argh argh) if you want to help demo the ramps and walkways at Hope Village afterwards.

No more whupped pups…

I heard Victor speak this morning and it was great ”man stuff.” Take a listen and let me know what you think. -Pastor Mark S. Thompson

The Victor Marx Podcast: Strength, Courage, Spirit, & Manhood Click here to listen to The Victor Marx Podcast.

Men, are you interested in who God is as revealed by Jesus? Give us 8 weeks as we are led by James Bryan Smith as we read together his book, The Great and Beautiful God. Here’s an excerpt from the Introduction:

The book you have in your hand is the first book in The Apprentice Series, which along with two other books form a “curriculum for Christlikeness.” The aim of this first book is to help people discover the God Jesus revealed. Each chapter deals with false concepts and the true one, namely, the narrative of Jesus. Each chapter also contains a soul-training exercise to help imbed the narrative of Jesus more deeply into our minds, bodies and souls. These exercises are not meant to make you more religious or impress God. They are meant to help you see and understand the world as Jesus did. At the end of the chapter there is a page that highlights the main ideas in the chapter. Throughout each chapter are questions that can be used for individual reflection or group interaction and discussion.

Interested in joining us? Contact Pastor Mark S. Thompson.

MEN! You’re invited to join together with other like-minded men to seek the fullness of Christ in our lives. Are you in?

STARTING SOON!!! CONTACT A LEADER OR PASTOR MARK…NOW!