The Brotherhood of The Book
“The story of our journey”
September 13, 2012 – Raising a God Fearing Generation – RGFG, was born. We started with eleven men and met at the gym of Gateway Community Church. Often we would entice men to come by having a pancake and eggs breakfast with coffee. We began reading the book, “Raising a Modern Day Knight” and started doing “Blessing Ceremonies” for our sons. Within the first month, we developed our BMW prayer tradition to end our Gatherings. We were off to a good start with no guarantee of success long term.
September, 2013. Year 2. Our email list had grown to 46 men and we were doing a blessing ceremony nearly every month. We averaged between five to eight men a Saturday. In November we had our first “Coining Ceremony.” We continued to share life together, pray for each other as work, marriages and teenage kids gave us reason to pause, shed some tears and pray together. We were growing closer but still had a lot of growing and maturing to travel through.
September, 2014. Year 3. “Blessing Ceremonies”. We moved our location from Gateway Community Church to Panera Bread off 164th Ave. We continued to perform “Blessing Ceremonies” for our sons. In January, we started the tradition called “One Word / One Verse” for the year. It was an instant success. Our group was growing closer as we traveled through many personal trials including marriages, kids and death of family members. In June of 2014 we changed our name from “Raising a God Fearing Generation” to “The Dads Group.” The reason being, no one, and I mean no one could remember the name of our group after nearly three years. We needed something much more simple to call ourselves.
September, 2015. Year 4. Study – Sharing favorite verses. Michael Bailey had been telling me to be patient with the group. “It takes three years for a men’s group to gel.” His words could not have been more prophetic. When we completed three years, everyone looked at each other and “we just knew.” We knew that we would survive and grow deeper with God and each other that September of 2015. In November we changed the name of the group again from “The Dads Group” to “The Brotherhood of The Book.” It was more reflective of what our group was growing into. From January on, we began to encourage each man to read our Bibles daily. “Rhythm the Book – Read” was born. Our group was taking a plunge into the deep end of the pool.
September, 2016. Year 5. Study – “Living Prayer” by Dennis Fuqua. Our group turns four and the rhythms had expanded from one to four. Rhythm The Book, Talk to Papa, Engage the Nudge, Be the Blessing – Read – Pray – Grow – Bless. “Talk to Papa – Pray” became our lead rhythm we focused on for the school year. As a result, we spent our Gatherings going over The Lord’s Prayer. We covered the book called, “Living Prayer” by Dennis Fuqua. Dennis lived close to Panera Bread and he happen to overhear what we were doing. He suggested his book and came and lead us through parts of it throughout the year. Little did we know that Dennis leads Prayer Summits all over the world. God was good to us that year. We were growing deeper with each passing month.
September, 2017. Year 6. Study – 2 Peter 1:5-8. Our group turns five and we spent the year covering the third rhythm “Engage the Nudge – Grow.” Our passage for the year was 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” We devoted a month to cover each character quality and we continued to grow deeper with God and each other.
September, 2018. Year 7. Study – “The Forgotten Blessing” by Arron Fruh. Our group turned six and we spend the year learning the fourth rhythm “Be The Blessing – Bless”. We read through the book, “The Forgotten Blessing” by Arron Fruh. By July of 2020 we had set up a Gmail account and a Slack account for our group and began to move all our announcements onto this new platform. Up til now, I had sent out all announcements via texts. Very long texts. Too long texts. I had multiple text threads that did not allow all the men to talk to all the other men of the group. We needed a better way to connect and allow all the men to communicate with each other. We had no idea how important this new platform would be needed to help our group grow, survive and thrive through a very challenging season that would be just around the corner.
September, 2019. Year 8. Study – “Overcoming Temptation” by John Owen. Our group turned seven and we added two more rhythms to discover together, “Rhythm The Book, Talk to Papa, Engage the Nudge, Be the Blessing, Guard Your Heart, Stick the Landing – Read – Pray – Grow – Bless – Protect – Win. For the year, we attempt to cover the book, “Overcoming Temptation” by John Owen and it seemed to be a bit of a challenge for most. By March of 2020, COVID had begun to lock things down. We decided to pause our study of John Owen’s book. Instead we set up a Zoom account and started having “Weekly Fireside Chats” complete with testimonies. We had several picnics on Wednesday evenings at Hathaway Park during the summer of 2020 to help us meet together in a safe place. It helped us get through a rough year. As I watched people in general and men in specific, I began to discover that we needed to add one last rhythm to our list, “Follow The Star – Pursue.” Our list of rhythms were complete. “Follow the Star, Rhythm The Book, Talk to Papa, Engage the Nudge, Be the Blessing, Guard Your Heart, Stick the Landing. Pursue – Read – Pray – Grow – Bless – Protect – Win. It would be the list of rhythms that might come to define us and our heart for our group and our families.
September, 2020. Year 9. Study – “Living Life Backwards” by David Gibson. We begin meeting at Chris Veley’s “Big Blue Barn” for the first time. It gaves us the perfect place to meet, make breakfast, talk and drink coffee with other men. We covered the rhythm, “Stick The Landing – Win” by reading the book, “Living Life Backwards” by David Gibson. It was a book that covered the truths of a life welled lived found in Ecclesiastes. It was a hit with the guys. Just the right length and depth to keep us all engaged all year long and we finished the book. Praise Jesus.
September, 2021. Year 10. Study – “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer. We work through the first rhythm that we had yet to cover, “Follow The Star – Pursue.” We read the book, “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer. This just might have been the most important year ever for us as a group and The Brotherhood of The Book. We were all coming off the pandemic and still a bit in shock. In January of 2022, Mike came up with the The Brotherhood Challenge Coin. It was created to give us something special that we could hold on to. We gave them out to the guys March of 2022. It was a little disjointed and looking back, we could have done it a little better.
September, 2022. Year 11. Study – 1 Peter. Michael Bailey helps lead our group through a 20 lesson study of 1 Peter. It was a great study with so much that we needed to cover in being men of God. Jim Dodson came alongside and began helping us by overseeing the breakfast. What a blessing that has been. In January of 2023 that we launched our own web site, the-brotherhood-of-the-book.org. In April of 2023, Mike Collins developed a silver challenge coin called, “The Seven Rhythms” challenge coin. It’s different than the gold one. Mike also preached through the first four rhythms at The Dudes at The Dunes Men’s Retreat in Long Beach Washington. Finally, we consolidated our text threads on Signal. It was a busy year.
September, 2023. Year 12. Study – 2 Peter. Micheal Bailey leads us through a 15 week lesson plan through 2 Peter. Micheal has developed into one of the best, if not the best, small group men’s Bible study leader we have ever had. He keeps things simple, straightforward and well developed for all of us to follow. Mike Collins was able to preach a second time at The Dudes at The Dunes Men’s Retreat in Long Beach Washington during April of 2024. He completed preaching through the last three rhythms in the series.
September, 2024. Year 13. Study – “Psalms and Proverbs.” Micheal Bailey had a number of chapters in the book of Proverbs that he wanted to cover with the men. We decided to have him teach once a month covering a section of Proverbs while two other guys taught through their favorite Psalm for the month. It was a delight to have a host of other men teach the group through their favorite Psalm. Mike Collins was able to speak at The Father Son Retreat at Trout Creek Bible Camp in March of 2025. It was a condensed version of The Seven Rhythms. They have asked him to come back in 2026 and go more in depth on how to bless others.
September, 2025. Year 14. Study – “Parables, Beatitudes & Attitudes”. Micheal Bailey wants to lead the men through a parable once a month. Mike Collins is coming alongside of him and teaching through a Beatitude & Attitude once a month. James Castruccio will be leading us through a time of sharing once a month. Trying out a slightly new format. We will also be looking to formalize the process by which men will receive a bronze coin, a silver coin and a gold coin. Showing up for breakfast and being feed is not the point. Becoming more like Christ through transformation is!
Romans 8:29, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Luke 6:45, “Out of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
The Beatitudes & Attitudes. Matthew 5:3-12.
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . Humility
2. Blessed are those that mourn . . . Repentance
3. Blessed are the meek . . . Gentleness
4. Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness . . . Obedience
5. Blessed are the merciful . . . Forgiveness
6. Blessed are the pure in heart . . . Integrity
7. Blessed are the peacemakers . . . Reconciliation
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted . . . Courage
Questions to ponder . . .
1. Which attitude scares you the most?
2. Why is Humility first and Courage last?
3. Can you see a progression?
4. Where are you in the progression?
5. Who needs to come with you on this journey?
6. How might we fill the Baptismal at Gateway?
“Because of Christ we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation – an aroma redolent with life.”
2 Corinthians 2:15