We stand atop a hard-pack snowdrift on the shore of the deepest lake in the world. Nestled within Siberia’s mountains, Lake Baikal is a mile deep and contains 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. The sun peeks over the mountains behind 
us, illuminating a vast expanse of snow and ice. We silently contemplate the task before us.
Bob breaks the somber moment with a nervous laugh, “What do you think, can we do it?”
“Let’s unpack the gear,” I answer, and we head to the car at the edge of the forest. Grabbing skis and heaving backpacks onto our shoulders, we step out on the ice. “That’s our compass.” I point to the dark peak sticking out of the distant morning haze. “Tonight, we should be at the foot of that mountain.”
Pasha, the youngest and strongest, asks, ”Any idea of the distance?”
“Not exactly. I estimate around 35 km.”
Bob’s moving warily over the ice. “How thick is this?”
“Local fishermen say it’s more than a meter. Look over there. See that car moving? Fishermen are checking their nets.”
“Huge trucks drive across this lake,” Pasha assures him. We head into the white yonder.
After a while, Bob asks, “Tell me again, why are we doing this?”
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It all began with a small group of young guys who gathered at our home every Friday night despite the harsh Siberian winter and limited transportation. Our co-worker Greg started the group and entrusted it to me before I even saw the need for it.
As the oldest of nine brothers, I had plenty of know-how about guys: all that testosterone, energy, the constant need for buckets of food. So we competed on the pull-up bar, shared meals and life stories, built trust, and studied God’s Blueprint for man in His creation of Adam to find out what God had in mind for us. As trust grew, the guys opened up about their shattered families, deep father wounds, and disillusionment with life. It became obvious they weren’t coming just for my wife’s good cooking; they were in need of orientation and a father figure.
After that long winter, we realized that masculine character is best forged in the field, under difficult conditions, with challenges beyond our limits, mustering together the resolve to overcome them. We took ropes to the cliffs, snowboards to the mountains, rubber boats to the rivers, and sleds across the frozen lake. What started with 60 km ice treks grew to 320 km and eventually a 600 km crossing. Together, we served in churches, camps, and conferences, applying the same principles we’d learned in the forge: to face challenges, overcome obstacles, and step up to our God-given potential. And so the Men’s Forge was founded and keeps on changing lives.
Knowing these guys as friends, brothers, and real men is a rare privilege. Now it’s their turn to train the next generation in the ways of a man.
Robert Lewis and his team provided me with good, practical content for this ministry. Robert’s deep understanding of the male nature makes his material applicable to any man at any stage of life. This focused ministry has touched and changed the hearts of men across the planet. https://www.mensfraternity.com
Men’s Forge originated within the Good News Church in Siberia. These brothers and sisters supported us faithfully in prayer and encouragement, helping us organize meetings, conferences, outdoor events, and welcoming us back on shore or in town with enthusiasm and a warm meal.
Of course, I couldn’t have served in this way without the support of Susan and our daughters, Rebecca and Melanie. They sacrificed so much for us all: countless meals made and sinks of dishes washed, prayers spoken as we hiked through ice shoals and mountains unable to get news to them, little notes of encouragement given as we traveled, words of comfort and courage spoken to concerned wives and mothers — always with joy and a smile. My humble thanks from us all.
