Suffer Better Initiative

10/12/2026

The Refiner. October 2 to 4. Burnsville, North Carolina.

Seven men came up into the mountains for three days. Not to get away from their work, but to stop performing long enough to be honest with God and with each other.

Saturday we climbed Mount Mitchell. Twelve miles, thirty-seven hundred feet. At mile four we stopped and read Psalm 139 and Psalm 131, and another men’s group from another church happened to be camped right there, and one of them knew the psalm by heart. A good reminder that this work is not ours alone.

At the summit God opened the clouds just long enough.

Saturday night each man wrote down one thing to leave on that mountain and put it in the fire. Sunday morning we worshiped and we prayed for each other and then we drove home.

These are men who carry a lot and are used to being the one others lean on. For three days nobody had to be that.

Romans 5:3-5.

09/27/2026

Nobody accidentally ends up on that mountain. You choose it. You walk into the wilderness on purpose, knowing it will cost more than you want to pay, knowing it will expose whatever you have been carrying quietly.

These men chose it.

Now the work starts, and it is not only miles. Scripture. Rhythm. Restraint. The long obedience of learning that strength is received, never possessed.

Proud of these four. Pray for them.

“Were not our hearts burning within us?”
Luke 24:32

Burning Way. First cohort.

07/06/2026

Introducing Burning Way.

Training builds endurance.

Christ builds the man.

Burning Way is a year-long discipleship journey for Christian endurance athletes who want their training to shape more than race results.

Because the finish line isn’t the goal.

Christ is.

“Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road?” — Luke 24:32

04/13/2026

We stepped onto the trail.

We carried weight.
We walked together.

The Lord met us there.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Romans 5:3–5

04/06/2026

Everything accounted for.
Nothing left loose.

We prayed over the miles ahead.

We step onto the trail in a few days.

Pisgah National Forest
April 9–11

Romans 5:3–5

04/05/2026

03/23/2026

In a few weeks, a group of young men will step onto this trail.

They’ll carry weight.
They’ll walk together.
They’ll face things that comfort usually hides.

There are no shortcuts out there.
Only the next step.

Iron Forge is not about finishing.

It’s about what gets formed along the way.

Pisgah National Forest
April 9–11

Romans 5:3–5

03/16/2026

Iron Forge this April is now fully funded.

Because of the generosity of many people, the equipment and supplies needed for the trek have now been secured.

That support means something important.

Participation is not determined by someone’s ability to pay.

The young men preparing for this hike will step onto the trail because the path was made open to them.

We’re grateful for the people who quietly stepped forward to make that possible.

Now the focus turns fully to preparation for the miles ahead.

Pisgah National Forest
April 9–11

Romans 5:3–5

03/09/2026

In April, a group of young men will step onto the trail.

Not for a race.
Not for a badge.

For formation.

Fathers and mentors will walk with them.
Scripture will anchor the miles.
And the trail will reveal what comfort often hides.

Iron Forge.

03/02/2026

“Only you know how many times you wanted to quit.
And only you know what it will take to overcome the next thing in front of you.

Quitting is easy.
Persevering — praying for strength and finishing what’s been given to you — that’s where formation happens.”
— Brad, father on Iron Forge

Iron sharpens iron.
Proverbs 27:17