“The Gathering has given me the opportunity to share life one-on-one with men younger than me. My own spiritual journey has been enhanced because these men are willing and eager to share my life lessons and experiences. This encourages me to strive harder to apply Biblical truth to be a positive role model for them. As a senior citizen in Springfield, these men have given me much hope and excitement for our city, and our future in general.”​

“I have been in recovery for 9 years and I found that many relationships that start in recovery can be fleeting. With Young Guns and my Locker Room, I have been able to establish relationships and support systems that are lasting. This impacted my life spiritually, personally, and professionally. I am so excited to connect more guys to The Gathering so they can have a similar experience.”

“This amazing group of men has encouraged me through the toughest time of my life. When I didn’t see God’s grace, my new friends re-introduced me to Jesus through their grace, understanding, and prayers. I remember being completely vulnerable and not one of them judged me. They actually loved me more. Later, another member expressed how my vulnerability inspired him to be open and vulnerable to us. Being able to relate to one another’s struggles while learning and growing together is more than I ever hoped for.”

“In my Locker Room, we draw on each other’s strengths. We ask questions, share our experiences, and pass on wisdom. We learn from one another and constantly encourage each other to stay the course, run the race and fight the good fight at home and in the workplace.”

“Brock is a leader and I feel that his time with Young Guns and Locker Room has shown him how to lead with a servants heart! Our biggest growth, as a family, would be tithing. God showed us how blessed we truly are! Our first 10% always goes to our church! Brock’s time with The Gathering has opened his eyes and given him a new perspective that many people are not able to achieve.”

“2017 and 2018 have been very difficult. But, even though things looked grim, I have been able to reconnect and deepen some friendships with guys in The Gathering. We are now meeting weekly or bi-weekly to talk and pray for each other. We enjoy time together watching football, having cookouts, and going out to eat. I came to realize that I needed to get back to surrounding myself with Godly people that would build me back up and encourage me rather than complain and tear me down.”

“During my time in The Gathering I have seen grace and watched guys take advantage of the no judgment zone. We get real and embrace each other for who we are, for our differences, and our unique stories. We have come to realize that we are all brothers in Christ and we are all in this together.”

“I quickly realized that I was coming out of a pretty dark season and needed some guys looking the same direction, towards Jesus. I noticed that I had grown super judgmental in almost every way towards people in the church. The Gathering gave me a new perspective and relit my initial passion for God while recalibrating who I was as a brother in Christ. It has been a long time since I felt that I was a working member of the body of Christ. I honestly value who God made me to be more now than before.”

“The Gathering encourages me to ask a lot of questions. But, it also equips me with answers and direction. I have gained perspective from other men, strategies from their personal experiences, practical action steps from books, and truth from biblical principles. I feel as though my Locker Room exists to help guide each other through life’s highs and lows and toward God.”

“Locker Rooms are a resource for personal growth. It has given me a safe place to process struggles and situations in my life that I could not talk about before. It takes a lot to be able to give your testimony and tattoo your struggles on your forehead. The Gathering has become a place where I can do that, a place I can open up and be real without fear of judgment. Now, I can talk about them and help others who are experiencing similar situations.”

“There is no denying that Scott has grown immensely in the past year, and I believe Young Guns has played a big role in that. They encourage each other, challenge each other and hold each other accountable. I’ve noticed a big change in the way he spends his time and what he’s investing his time in. God and family have taken a much bigger priority, and he constantly reminds himself to choose those things first.”

“Young Guns is not just a part of my spiritual life- it has become the foundation of my spiritual life. Every man in my group is intentional about using it as a stepping stone to continuing and bettering their relationships. I have learned that we cannot remove ourselves from our community, we must remain active, sharing the word and growing our faith.”