Council Grove Christian Church

4/30/26
Servants of God,
“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”
-Proverbs 29:2
 
There needs to be less groaning in the world. Bad men bring bad results into the world and the average person knows it. The founders of our nation knew that personal virtue is more important than political skill. They were swimming in a culture that was saturated with the influence of the Puritans. Puritans were protestant Christians who came to the new world with the goal of establishing a society that could shine the light of righteousness into the world. The metaphor of a city set on a hill came to represent their intentions. The American republic did not pop up like a mushroom. It took decades of thinking, praying, writing and acting courageously before there was ever an official declaration of their intent to establish a new nation. Our nation was birthed by men who were both clear-minded and courageous.
 
I write today from the Sangre de Cristo Seminary near Westcliffe, Colorado. Twenty-eight men ten years and older, have come here to become better men through worship and work. Better men can make a better world. We are here to be instruments in the redeemer’s hands. We are attempting to focus on the blessings of 250 years of national liberty and the important part Christians and Christianity have played in giving birth to and preserving our nation.
 
Fourteen years ago we began an annual men’s retreat we call “Men to the Mountains”. We missed one trip due to the Covid debacle so this makes trip number thirteen. We pray, teach, work and share Christian fellowship. Our physical tasks are geared to maintaining the facilities of the seminary. Our spiritual tasks are all intended to be part of training each of us in righteousness. We have been doing this long enough now that at least one man on this trip first came as a boy. Today he is the leader of a work crew doing some of the same things he did as a child. Boys grow up and are men before we know it. Our intent in all the ministries of our congregation is to facilitate Holy Spirit directed growth in every person. This retreat is simply one small way to grow righteous men. We want to be part of making the world rejoice, not groan.
 
A big thank you to all of you who have been a part in making this trip possible. Some of you have prayed others contributed financially. Some have taken on additional tasks so the men here—young and old—can worship and work and grow into more Christ-exalting manhood.
 
Embracing the Lordship of Jesus is an ongoing adventure. We band of brothers are embracing this opportunity to grow in grace and knowledge. Please continue to pray for us and our mission here.
 
Blessings,
 
Pastor John
Coram Deo