Battalion offers something beyond the scope of most church youth groups. It plants the Word of God deep in the hearts of young men, nurturing it through strong peer relationships and a safe, supportive environment guided by committed adult leaders.
Honestly, my boys don’t see it this way. They see a fun group of young men that they love to be around. They see a weekly hangout with friends and super fun group games. But behind all that, week by week, I believe the intentionality and serving nature that the Battalion leaders provide is doing its work. For this, I am abundantly grateful.
My name is Sam. My wife Nicki and I have four kids. Our oldest sons, Whitaker (14) and Thaddeus (13), attend Battalion 8093. Raising these young men is a joy and a challenge. As parents, we are grateful for whatever help we can get. We eagerly bring them to every youth program our church offers. But I believe Battalion is different than the average church youth group.
Years ago, a young man in our church started to attend Battalion 8093. We heard bits and pieces about what they did, but I never paid much attention. As the years progressed, more young men began to attend. Finally, 2 years ago, my two oldest sons decided to try it. Initially, I was curious about the weekly meeting and asked questions about what they did. Finally, I decided to go myself to see firsthand.
Their mantra is: “We are a leadership laboratory.” From a distance, that sounds well and good (it is easy to be skeptical). But after watching Battalion in action, that is exactly what they are accomplishing.
The most glaring example of this leadership laboratory is each week’s squad time led by corporals and lance corporals. Don’t let these fancy titles fool you, corporals and lance corporals are 15-to-18-year-old young men who lead a full 30-minute discussion every week. This squad time involves bible study, scripture memory, and prayer. During the rest of the week, they reach out to actively connect with the young men in their squads. The first year, my sons’ squad leader went out of his way to drive my boys to the Battalion meeting. Even now, their leaders eagerly offer rides at any time. Throughout the week, they are calling or texting my sons, encouraging them to complete the memory verse or check in regarding the prayer request for the week. I am super grateful for the influence of these young men on my two younger men.
