The Origins of Warrior Training

 

     Forged on the grassy fields of a Bible Camp in Minnesota, Warrior Trainining is an answer to the age-old question:
         How do you spark meaningful interaction among groups of teenage boys?

   It began as just another week. The buses rolled up the long gravel driveway and came crunching to a stop out in front of the dining hall. As the counsellors mustered their courage and the chaperones counted heads one more time, there was a pause... one last moment of pristine northwoods peace. Then the doors blew open and dozens of kids spilled out. 

   Wild joy and energy spread throughout the camp as the little ones immediately began running around in circles, laughing excitedly and fully engaged. The teenage girls quickly followed suit, and we could see community forming among them before we even rang the dinner bell. The young men, however... Day four rolled around and their walls were still up.

   We were at a loss with this particular group of guys. We'd tried every question. We'd used every ice-breaker in our toolbox.

Convinced that they were hopeless, we threw our hands up and sent them out onto the game field with a small arsenal of foam weapons.  Our only instruction: Don't actually kill each other. 

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    Two hours later they came back inside; bruised, sweating, and smiling from ear to ear.  We watched in amazement as this same group of boys that had two short hours ago been mute and cold as statues was suddenly shoulder deep in dialogue about manhood and purpose.  They were looking each other straight in the eye and passionately discussing what the Church is supposed to be and how God might be calling them to take part.

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     We knew it right then.  It was guy language.

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     These boys weren't hopeless at all.  We were just completely failing to speak their language. And we are guys! 

   

    Lesson learned.​

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