24 - Preparing Boys to Become Men (with Dr. Pete Frank)

In this episode, Graham interviews Dr. Pete Frank about an awesome program he and his wife Amy created for boys called Gateway on the Journey to Manhood. Pete is an accomplished economist and serves as the provost for Grove City College in Grove City, PA. Today's topic is all about Gateway -- where it came from, why it's so beneficial for boys as they grow into men and how you can get one started in your own community.

In this episode, we cover:

Male role models in the culture, and the confusion there is about what a man is, as well as wanting to put a definition around it.
How Amy & Pete created the framework for Gateway, based on God's Word, and including practical skills.
Building community into the program and dovetailing this into what's happening in other areas, including the church.
How Gateway is different from Boy Scouts.
A look at 2 Peter chapter 1, the Scripture the program is based on, and the value of the character qualities listed there -- virtue, perseverance, self-control, etc. His divine power has given us all we need.
Practical skills the program incorporates, such as car maintenance and home repairs. Also, how valuable it is to incorporate men in the community.
The value of accountability and what Gateway called a "challenge coach."
The power of ceremony and how Gateway builds this in and helps mark a moment in a boy's life on their journey to becoming a man. It's so easy for boys to grow up and not ever really know WHEN they became a man. Gateway provides a really helpful marker.
Logistics of how you can set this up in your community with other boys and men.

Scripture read & referenced:

2 Peter 1:3-8: "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (ESV)

Links & Resources

To contact Dr. Pete Frank
- Or, drop us a line at grahamandkatie@strategicfamilies.com, and we would love to help you get started as well.
  Click here to order a copy of the GateWay handbook (or here for a black & white copy).

Music:

Intro: Life of a Traveler, by Black Rhomb (License #3565685)
Outtro: Avocado Street, by Wes Hutchinson (Courtesy of YouTube Music)

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