Real Men: Fellowship In Discipleship
“For only being 32 years old, it feels like I have already lived a lot of life. I have seen and experienced a lot of things no one my age should see or experience. But, if it was not for the path I traveled, I would have not found the Lord or my FIND group. I did not realize what I was missing in life until I met Clint Harrington and my FIND brothers (AO Warriors small group). My life has been turned around completely with having the AO Warriors, Clint, my family and close friends. They even helped me achieve a goal that I thought was unattainable, which is living a transformed, sober life.
I was raised Catholic, and I did the ordinary things day to day but unfortunately shelved my relationship with God when I was 10 years old. Until I was about 31 years old, I didn’t attend church regularly and didn’t pray much. Not that I wasn’t a believer, I just never gave my faith the attention it needed. Being an avid fisherman and hunter, I would find myself reflecting and praying on those trips and I thought that was enough along with only praying for only for what I wanted and for things to happen.
Starting in my teens, life was a whirlwind for me - alcohol, partying, getting into debt, legal trouble, depression and a suicide attempt. I had zero faith and no balance in life, and I always knew in the back of my mind I was not living right - always pushing my luck and placing God in the back seat. It wasn’t until 2022 that I started going to church to attempt mending my strained relationship with our Father. I met my girlfriend, Katy, that year and we started to attend Houston’s First Baptist with her family where I met her mother, Jennifer. Jennifer is one of the most God-fearing women I have ever met and has a real genuine relationship with God, and she teaches her own women’s bible study. I started asking her questions about God and my faith. One night after dinner, I asked her about when I might have my “God moment”. I wondered when I would have my encounter with Him - like a revelation. She explained that it’s not forced, and I have to let it happen naturally. I kept attending church, but old sinful habits still surfaced at times. On October 15, 2022, I got hit by a drunk driver. My truck was totaled, but I somehow made it out with just a scratch from a wreck I shouldn’t have survived. After that experience I began making time for God daily thanking Him for everything and was grateful for still being alive. I sensed He had a higher purpose for me.
In June of 2023 I got invited to go on a fishing trip to beautiful place called the Chandeleur Islands. Little did I know this was God’s plan finally coming to light on this trip. The first night on the trip I got to meet Clint and we talked and visited and became buddies instantly. At the end of the night, I noticed a FIND sticker on Clint’s phone and I asked him about it. He gave me a rundown of FIND and encouraged me to check out the website. I went back to my room and looked it up and was intrigued. Two full days of fishing later, Clint and I were unwinding on the patio of our floating house, and I asked more questions about FIND, my story, and my faith. He said, “I’ll tell you what. When we get back home, let’s do breakfast. I know a good place and when can sit down and really talk. Fast forward 3 weeks, Clint and I are sitting down at Sam’s Diner which I learned to be “headquarters” for many vital FIND meetings. Clint shared his full testimony, which freed me to share mine with him. While I opened my heart to him, I could feel my eyes fill up with my tears and I was overwhelmed and accepted in love. No shame, just freedom. For the first time in life, I truly felt accepted by a “stranger” who welcomed me in his life despite all my hardships and mistakes. At the end of breakfast, he asked me to pray for 24 hours about plugging into the next FIND group that was forming. The next day, I told him, that was all in!
On November 18, 2023 my life changed forever. I got to meet the guys in my new FIND group along with some FIND Shepherds and other leaders. A week later my group started meeting and we started out with everyone giving their personal testimonies. I went second. I was scared to do mine, but at the end of it I felt like God was giving me a big hug and my eight new brothers at the table that morning had nothing but love to give. It felt like a huge weight was off my shoulders. Between bonding with these guys, and also joining FIND Recovery (12 Step group), I started to feel a new peace about being a beloved child of God. The Holy Spirit was transforming me!
It was January 27, 2024 that I took my last drink of alcohol and fully committed to remove the demon of alcohol from my life. Six days later, I attended the annual FIND Retreat at Stoney Creek Ranch. The first night I got there I was scared and overwhelmed. I quickly found my FIND (AO Warrior) brother Chris and stuck by him as I began to meet other people. I remember meeting guys from other groups, and they were saying “welcome, brutha, we are glad you made it!”. I was like, okay you barely know me! But, they were still so warm and welcoming. The next morning I woke up feeling overwhelmed and standoffish like I didn’t belong there. I prayed and prayed that those feelings would go away. That morning we had our first assembly session. I walked in and sat next to someone I knew and he could tell instantly I wasn’t myself. I told him how I felt and that I didn’t think I deserved to be there, but he reassured me to be patient, wait on God, and it would be ok. David Dendy was the retreat speaker, and he gave an amazing message about taking our “mat” with us (Mark 2: 1-12). Our sins are forgiven, we have been restored and healed, now go take your mat as evidence of your transformation in Christ. Instantly I was in tears. Everything came out, and I could feel the Christ telling me, “Richard, this is your moment, here is your revelation, I am here and have always been, and I am not going anywhere.” It was what I was waiting for! God got a firm hold of me and I returned that grasp, and I’m not letting go! When David Dendy was done talking, I immediately jumped up and gave my friend Auston a hug. I walked up to Clint and thanked him and gave him a big hug and told him it finally happened. I approached David Dendy and gave him a big hug thanked and him briefly told him my story. He told me he loved me and he was glad his message spoke to me. From then on, I have been a different person – freedom, peace, joy. I had so much fun the rest of that retreat. I began to meet and talk to more people, and everyone was so kind and supportive. I realized we were all there for the same reason.
I thank God for FIND and what our Father is doing through this ministry to transform lives. The mission statement, “Transforming men through Jesus Christ in authentic, weekly fellowship in discipleship” couldn’t be real and true in my life. I’m excited to see what else He will do through my AO Warrior brothers in FIND in the years to come. He’s not finished with me, yet!”
RIchard worships at Houston’s First Baptist. He has been a Lead Engineer with CBRE in Houston, Texas for the past nine years, and he’s an avid fisherman and hunter.
FIND seeks to transform men through Jesus Christ in authentic, weekly Fellowship in Discipleship. Real Men…Real Discipleship
This testimonial and many others from FIND men can be found at: https://finddiscipleship.org/testimonials/
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday, May 17th – PULL for Discipleship Clay Shoot at Greater Houston Sports Club
Want to get plugged in? FIND out more by visiting our website at https://finddiscipleship.org/interest-form/ or cruise our website at www.FINDdiscipleship.org
“I have been in my FIND group, BBC, for 10 years together with Glen, JT, Billy, Alex, Brad, Wade, and Robert. The primary reason that I am a member of a FIND group is that I have learned that my life goes much better if I build deep relationships with other men and meet with them regularly so that we can share life’s highs and lows together. I have done life alone and the results I got were addiction and heart disease that almost killed me (both of them). God did not make us to do life alone. Jesus did not model or teach us to do life as a lone ranger. When I have a group of men that know me deeply and whom I know deeply then I am ready to deal much more successfully with whatever comes my way. On my own my experience has shown me that I will surely fail.
When I am connected well with others I am set up for success. Why? Because I have these 7 men to support me, pray for me, encourage me, comfort me (and confront me) when I need it most and for whom I can also do those same things for them when they need it. The only way this happens is when I meet with them regularly over a long period of time to develop the chemistry and safety where I can get real with them when something is off in my life. Which will happen, it is never a question of if but only when. I have experienced job loss, business failure, slips in my addiction, marriage troubles, issues with aging parents, parenting challenges with my kids and more since I have been in my FIND group. If I hadn’t cultivated those relationships they would not be there when I needed them and I would have likely failed when confronted with these challenges. There is a lot at stake in facing these moments well because I am a husband, father, mentor, and friend and so a failure in my life has ripple effects in the lives of others.
Thankfully, I have my FIND group and it has served me very well over the years when I have needed God to speak into my life through other men who care about me and know me well. These relationships within my FIND group together with those in my married life group, recovery meetings and the network and service opportunities that I have there, work that Steph and I do with Affair Recovery in being a mentor couple for others dealing with infidelity, attendance and service work in my church, etc. has resulted in my personal transformation into a more “Christ-like” man. And my life goes much better (not necessarily easier) when I do it this way.
The evidence that I see and experience that shows that I am a different person these days is I ask for help now, am more vulnerable and can share about my feelings when appropriate, I am a better listener and more curious about others than before, I am able to even think of the needs of those around me much less put them ahead of my own (still working on that) and most important the quality of my relationships with God and others are much better. I will continue to be in a FIND group for the rest of my life because I believe without a doubt that God made me to do this life in deep community and FIND is one of the primary places I do that.”
Mickey and his family worship at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church where he serves as the Membership Elder. He is married to his lovely wife Stephanie and father to Zach, Emma and Luke. He attended the Texas A&M University and is currently a CEO at Vistage Worldwide in Houston, Texas.
FinD seeks to transform men through Jesus Christ in authentic, weekly Fellowship in Discipleship. Real Men…Real Discipleship
This testimonial and many others from FinD men can be found at: https://finddiscipleship.org/testimonials/
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Want to get plugged in? FIND out more by visiting our website at https://finddiscipleship.org/interest-form/ or cruise our website at www.FINDdiscipleship.org
Barclay Branch (The 23rd)
“I first heard about FinD through the Chapelwood UMC men’s ministry, but also from my friend, Tim Thomas, who is a fellow Tejas Vaquero. A year or so later, I ventured to one of my favorite breakfast spots, Sam’s Deli Diner (aka FinD Headquarters). Clint Harrington was having breakfast with Tom Douthit (Toolbox Ministries). When I walked in, Clint asked me about the Vaqueros sticker on my truck because he had seen a similar sticker on Tim Thomas’ truck. Tim just happens to be in Clint’s small group, the SOBs. From that simple connection, Clint asked me to join Tom and him for breakfast.
Over breakfast, Clint shared his testimony with Tom and me, and I shared some of mine with them. Lots of parallels. I felt a strong desire to join a FinD group after that unexpectedly vulnerable moment. My wife was a little concerned at first about the time commitment, but I eventually won her approval trusting that God would provide the margin if it was His will.
After a few months, my FinD group formed, and we called ourselves The 23rd. We are the 23rd group in FinD, and we all agreed that Psalm 23 is one of our favorite passages in the Word. We have been now for 3 years. I had no idea how impactful these men, our weekly fellowship, bible study would be for me. These guys are truly my family. I feel a connection to them that is almost impossible to explain, but the word “TRANSFORMATIONAL” is what first comes to mind.
In June 2022, my dad passed away. It was a brutal season in my life, but my FinD brothers rallied around me in unbelievable ways. Through them, I felt the very hand of Jesus Christ strongly grasping my own hand walking me through that valley. To say I look forward to meeting with them each week is a vast understatement. I prioritize my time with them around any other obstacle that gets in the way. I’m diving deeper into my Bible reading than ever before, and my intimacy with Jesus Christ is at an all time high in my faith journey. It’s empowered me to shine His light into other facets of my life like the Vaqueros where I’m often honored to lead Bible studies and group prayers. Iron sharpens iron, and the men of the 23rd have surely sharpened me. Wanting to pay this gift forward, I have a passion to share my faith more freely and introduce men into FinD. That’s probably why I’m on the FinD Shepherd team now (https://finddiscipleship.org/meet-the-shepherds/)!
In closing, if you’re considering plugging into a FinD group, don’t wait. I wish I would have jumped in even sooner. It’s a game changer.”
Barclay and his family worship at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. He is married to his lovely wife Lauri, who has helped him raise his daughter Shelby. He attended the University of Houston and is currently a manager at Western Concrete Pumping in Houston, Texas.
FinD seeks to transform men through Jesus Christ in authentic, weekly Fellowship in Discipleship. Real Men…Real Discipleship
This testimonial and many others from FinD men can be found at: https://finddiscipleship.org/testimonials/
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Want to get plugged in? FinD out more by visiting our website at https://finddiscipleship.org/interest-form/ or cruise our website at www.FinDdiscipleship.org.
“I woke up this morning and had a long conversation with God about my FinD small group (FisH - Friends in Service to Him). Our group formed seven years ago in 2016. As usual, it was enlightening. He made me see just how much I have let the enemy into my head. I am sad to say that I let the enemy lie to me and convince me that this group wasn’t as important as it should be to me. He convinced me that I wasn’t getting fed, and I didn’t need to be “committed”. He convinced me to be selfish. He convinced me to only think about me.
God also reminded me what the truth is. The truth is this is His group, he put this FinD together as a gift and blessing to all of us. The truth is that I have not done a very good job nurturing this gift that God has blessed me with. As usual, when I make selfish choices, I fail. It is not just about me getting fed, it is about what I allow God to do through me to feed the group.
He also reminded me what each of these guys mean to me. We have been thru a lot over the last 7 years and I love each and everyone of them like they brothers they are. They all know my heart. They know what makes me good and my struggles. They have allowed me to be vulnerable and have helped me heal from things that were painful and traumatic. I regret that I allowed Satan to pull me away.
I also know that many in this group are struggling with some of the same thoughts. We started a conversation about it yesterday after our incredible discussion on Psalms. I know that none of us wants to waste this gift that our Father has given us. We need to develop a direction that everyone is comfortable with and commit to it. The enemy wants to separate and isolate. He wants us to be discouraged and resentful.”
Ed and his family are currently members at MDPC. ED is a member of FinD's FisH group. He is married to his lovely wife Kami, a dad to Carter and Cody. He is a graduate of TCU 91’. He works for Coventry Homes as its Vice President of Operations for the Houston Division.
FinD seeks to transform men through Jesus Christ in authentic, weekly Fellowship in Discipleship. Real Men…Real Discipleship
This testimonial and many others from FinD men can be found at: https://finddiscipleship.org/testimonials/
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Want to get plugged in? FinD out more by visiting our website at https://finddiscipleship.org/interest-form/ or cruise our website at www.FinDdiscipleship.org.
Growing up my father would constantly remind our family that the three most important things in life are, "God, Family, Friends. In that order." After he passed away a few years ago, I realized I needed to prioritize my relationship with Christ and that I needed to do more than just attend church on Sundays and pray before bed. Not long after, a friend from my neighborhood reached out about joining a small group. After hearing about it, as well as a follow up breakfast with Clint, I knew this was something I wanted to do......however, what I didn't know was just how much I would need FinD and my small group ReFinD.
Our group has been together for two and a half years and we have already seen many highs and lows. In May of last year, my oldest daughter (11 at the time) suffered a stroke on Mother's Day, was diagnosed with Moyamoya disease, and has since had multiple brain surgeries. I'm happy to report that she is currently a 7th grader at MMS and is doing very well (Praise God!), but as you can imagine the past 17 months have been very difficult. Through all of this, my ReFinD group and FinD were constantly there to support me and my family: endless texts and calls, guys showing up unannounced to landscape my yard, gifts and encouraging letters for my daughter, meals offered, etc... It is very comforting to know that whatever life throws our way, we have brothers unified in Christ that will be there to help us along.
I'm beyond thankful that the Lord has placed my ReFinD brothers in my life. We all have different stories, come from different backgrounds, are in different stages of life, and may have varying opinions on different topics. However, we are all united and ReFinD (see what I did there?) in Christ. We encourage each other to be good Christian fathers, husbands, and friends. I would highly encourage anyone that is not in a Christian group to FinD one! Life can and will be hard at times. Having a group of men, rooted in the love for Christ that offer support, accountability and love, is and has been such a blessing!
Danny and his family worship at MDUMC. He is married to his lovely wife Adriane, a father to Meredith, Marshall, and Madeline, and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He is Head of East Gas at EDF Trading North America, LLC
FinD seeks to transform men through Jesus Christ in authentic, weekly Fellowship in Discipleship.
This testimonial and many others from FinD men can be found at: https://finddiscipleship.org/calendar/
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Real Men…Real Discipleship
Want to get plugged in? FinD out more by visiting our website at https://finddiscipleship.org/interest-form/ or contact us at info@FinDdiscipleship.org.