The Forge

06/04/2026

Which one of these illustrates you today? Check out the full session on our YouTube chanel to learn how to push past passivity.

05/22/2026

05/21/2026

Celebrating an incredible Lunch & Learn today as men gathered together, shared a meal, and were challenged to push past passivity and step boldly into the calling God has for them.

If you’re ready to grow alongside other men and take the next step in your faith, we’d love to have you at the next Forge gathering.

05/19/2026

Men are nearly 4x more likely to die by su***de than women.
Yet only 40% of men with a mental illness receive any treatment.
That’s not a willpower problem. That’s a system built on silence.
Research identifies three layers of stigma that keep men from getting help: Self-stigma — internalizing shame about the struggle. Professional stigma — fear that coworkers will see them as weak. Cultural stigma — a world that still says “man up” when men are falling apart.
The percentage of men reporting zero close friendships has jumped from 3% to 15% in the last three decades.
Isolation isn’t strength. It’s a death sentence dressed up as independence.
Scripture saw this coming.
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” — Proverbs 11:14
God never designed men to carry it alone. He designed them to be known.
At The Forge, we create the kind of space where men don’t have to perform, pretend, or power through.
Biblical counsel. Trusted brotherhood. Real help.
This is Mental Health Awareness Month. But for us, it’s every month.
Take the first step → theforge.org
MoreGoodDaysTogether

05/19/2026

Men are nearly 4x more likely to die by su***de than women.
Yet only 40% of men with a mental illness receive any treatment.
That's not a willpower problem.
That's a system built on silence.
Research identifies three layers of stigma that keep men from getting help:
Self-stigma — internalizing shame about the struggle.
Professional stigma — fear that coworkers will see them as weak.
Cultural stigma — a world that still says "man up" when men are falling apart.
The percentage of men reporting zero close friendships has jumped from 3% to 15% in the last three decades.
Isolation isn't strength. It's a death sentence dressed up as independence.
Scripture saw this coming.
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." — Proverbs 11:14
God never designed men to carry it alone. He designed them to be known.
At The Forge, we create the kind of space where men don't have to perform, pretend, or power through.
Biblical counsel. Trusted brotherhood. Real help.
This is Mental Health Awareness Month.
But for us, it's every month.
Take the first step → theforge.org

05/15/2026

Basketball at The Forge | Olathe, KS
Run the court. Then go deeper.
Every Wednesday night, men are lacing up and showing up — not just to compete, but to connect. Pick-up basketball at The Forge is where healthy competition meets real conversation.
We play hard for about 90 minutes. Then we cool down and open up — talking through the stuff that actually matters. Troubles. Triumphs. Faith. The things most men never say out loud in a locker room.
Because the best friendships between men aren’t built in comfort — they’re built shoulder to shoulder, doing something together. And some of the most honest conversations happen after you’ve been guarding each other for an hour.
You don’t need to be great at basketball. You just need to be willing to show up.
“Two are better than one… if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
📍 Santa Fe Trail Middle School — 1100 N Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, KS
📅 Wednesdays | 7:30–9:00 PM
Bring your game. Leave with brothers.
Register at the link in bio.
Olathe KansasCity IronSharpensIron

05/14/2026

Basketball at The Forge | Olathe, KS
Run the court. Then go deeper.
Every Wednesday night, men are lacing up and showing up — not just to compete, but to connect. Pick-up basketball at The Forge is where healthy competition meets real conversation.
We play hard for about 90 minutes. Then we cool down and open up — talking through the stuff that actually matters. Troubles. Triumphs. Faith. The things most men never say out loud in a locker room.
Because the best friendships between men aren't built in comfort — they're built shoulder to shoulder, doing something together. And some of the most honest conversations happen after you've been guarding each other for an hour.
You don't need to be great at basketball. You just need to be willing to show up.
"Two are better than one… if either of them falls down, one can help the other up." — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
📍 Santa Fe Trail Middle School — 1100 N Ridgeview Rd, Olathe, KS
📅 Wednesdays | 7:30–9:00 PM
Bring your game. Leave with brothers.
Register at the link in bio.

05/13/2026

Forge Discipleship | Gardner, KS

Information doesn't transform a man. Relationships do.
Podcasts, sermons, and books can fill your head — but they can't look you in the eye and ask how you're really doing. They can't pray with you when your marriage is struggling.

They can't sit with you when life gets heavy.
That's what Forge Discipleship is for.

Every Wednesday morning, men in Gardner are gathering before the day starts — not to perform, not to impress — but to be sharpened. To open Scripture together, pray for one another, and walk through life with brothers who actually know what's going on beneath the surface.

30 minutes. Before the world gets loud. Just men, the Word, and honest prayer.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17
📍 Rooted Landscape — 435 E Main St, Gardner, KS
📅 Wednesdays | 6:15–6:45 AM
For more info, contact John Blackburn at [email protected]
Come as you are. Leave sharper than you came.
4.6Extended

05/12/2026

You've tried to stop. You've prayed about it. You've made promises to God in the dark. And still — it comes back.

What if the missing piece isn't willpower? What if it's not more discipline or more prayer in isolation?

What if it's brotherhood?

Romans 6:16 says, "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey?" Addiction — whether it's alcohol, po*******hy, anger, or numbing out — holds a man captive. And it thrives in secrecy.

James 1:14-15 describes how it works: "Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin." Like a toxic seed, it grows in the dark.

But James 5:16 gives us the antidote: "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."

Healing was never designed to happen in isolation. It was designed for brotherhood — where confession leads to freedom, not judgment. Where honesty leads to healing, not shame.

At The Forge, we create that kind of space. Not a room full of perfect men — a room full of honest ones.

You don't have to white-knuckle it anymore.

theforge.org

05/11/2026

Game Nights at The Forge
Some of the best conversations between men don't start with "how are you doing" — they start with "whose turn is it?"
Game Nights at The Forge are more than a night out. They're where friendships get built — the real kind. The kind where laughter turns into honest conversation, and a casual evening becomes a space where men can share life, talk through challenges, and know they're not carrying it alone.
Whether you're a seasoned strategist or just looking for a reason to get out of the house — there's a seat at the table for you.
What to expect:
→ A fresh lineup of games each week
→ Organized gameplay that wraps up on time
→ A trusted environment where real conversations happen
📍 Cardboard Corner Cafe — 9240 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS
📅 Tuesday, May 12 | 7:00–9:00 PM
No pressure. No agenda. Just good games and better brotherhood.
Come as you are. We'll save you a seat.
theforge.org/events