Circle of men at Men's retreat in New YorkCircle of men at Men's retreat in New York
Friedenswald 2017Friedenswald 2017
Ontarioretreat1Ontarioretreat1
Walk in the woodsWalk in the woods
Sunset DockSunset Dock

 

JoinMen

Gathering men and promoting their growth

JoinMen provides retreats and resources from an Anabaptist perspective to promote healthy masculinity, Christian formation and community. We desire that all men find a place of belonging among men who are strong, loving and wise as we follow Jesus in building God's shalom.  

 Mennonite Men Retreats

Retreats provide opportunities for men to gather together and engage issues in community. More than an event, these experiences are also meant to encourage participants to be part of an ongoing men's group and growth process.

Retreat themes we offer congregations, men's groups and retreat centers include:

  • Healthy Masculinity: On Being a Man

  • Celebrating God's Unlimited Love

  • Peaceful Warriors: Seeking God's Shalom

  • Making Peace with Conflict

  • Wounded Lovers: Embracing our Sexuality

  • Good Grief: Tending our Wounds and Losses

  • Male Initiation: Helping Boys Become Men

  • Second Half: Making our Later Life Count

  • Sports and Spirituality

  • Doing Business: Integrating Work and Faith

  • Up and Down: A Man's Spiritual Path

  • Re-envisioning Masculinity

For more information or to schedule a retreat, contact Don Neufeld (DonN@mennonitemen.org) in Canada or Steve Thomas (SteveT@mennonitemen.org) in the United States.


Men's Rites of Passage

For most men, the question of what it means to be a man is perplexing. Most men have a longing for the support and guidance of other men in their journey towards masculinity, maturity, and a deeper experience with God. Opening the door to this journey can start with the Men's Rites of Passage (MROP) retreat. This retreat can help awaken men to the adventure and mystery of their own masculinity, their deep spirituality, and their life's purpose.

An increasing number of Mennonite men are being transformed as they participate in this intensive 5 day experience in a wilderness setting based on dying and rising in Christ. Originally created by Fr. Richard Rohr, this retreat is led by elders with Illuman. For more information about Men's Rites of Passage and Journey of Illumination click here or contact Steve Thomas at SteveT@mennonitemen.org.

 Stories

 

 

Participants explore being a "Real Man" at Convention
Book study group explores healthy masculinity
Zoom Conversation on Racial Reconciliation on January 23, 2021

 Events
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Mennonite Men Events during Covid

In order to stay safe, we have postponed most in-person events due to Covid-19. If your church or group would like to do a socially distanced event, an outdoor event, hold an online retreat, have a speaker join your church on a Sunday via Zoom or other virtual method, or hold another type of virtual event with Mennonite Men, let us know and we'd be glad to work with you!

 Upcoming

 

 

Where and how can I plant trees to help restore God's earth?Where and how can I plant trees to help restore God's earth?Conference Workshop2021-10-14T04:00:00Z2021-10-16T04:00:00ZAnabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)Steve Thomas ​Steve Thomas, U.S. Coordintor of Mennonite Men and Certified Arborist, will present a workshop on where and how to plant trees on Friday, Oct 15 as part of AMBS' conference "Rooted and Grounded A Conference on Land and Christian Discipleship."
Embracing Healthy Masculinity: Forming Our Identity as MenEmbracing Healthy Masculinity: Forming Our Identity as MenMen's Retreat2021-10-22T04:00:00Z2021-10-24T04:00:00ZReba Place Church: 535 Custer Ave. Evanston, IL 60202Steve Thomas
Part #1: WebinarPart #1: WebinarKnowing Your Narrative: Unpacking Our Stories of Masculinity and Equity 2021-10-26T04:00:00Z2021-10-26T04:00:00ZOnlineBen Tapper, AMBS, Steve Thomas (Open to all genders) This educational event will unpack some of the ways that patriarchy and white supremacy have been interwoven over the years, and help participants dissect their own narratives so that they can see when they’re being influenced by either.
Part #2: On-campus eventPart #2: On-campus eventKnowing Your Narrative: Unpacking Our Stories of Masculinity and Equity2021-11-06T04:00:00Z2021-11-06T04:00:00ZAnabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS)Ben Tapper, Nekeisha Alexis-Baker, Jamie Pitts, Steve Thomas (Open to those who identify as men or male and to a small group of women/non-binary invitees) This event will consist of story-telling. We will help unpack the narratives of masculinity so that participants can recognize when and where they may be holding onto stories and tropes that undermine their core beliefs or their desired values.
Part #3: WebinarPart #3: WebinarKnowing Your Narrative: Unpacking Our Stories of Masculinity and Equity2021-11-16T05:00:00Z2021-11-16T05:00:00ZOnlineBen Tapper, AMBS, Steve Thomas (Open to all who attended the Nov. 6 daylong event) This event will include reflection time, Q&A and resource sharing for those who want to do a deeper dive the themes of the previous two Knowing Your Narrative events.
Oregon Eco-excursion: Exploring Sustainable Forestry to Protect God's EarthOregon Eco-excursion: Exploring Sustainable Forestry to Protect God's EarthMen's Excursion2022-06-11T04:00:00Z2022-06-18T04:00:00ZZena Forest in Salem, Oregon Steve Thomas
Amazon Adventure: Exploring Reforestation as a Natural Climate SolutionAmazon Adventure: Exploring Reforestation as a Natural Climate SolutionInternational Trip2023-03-25T04:00:00Z2023-04-02T04:00:00ZEcuadorSteve Thomas

 Recent

 

 

Be a (Good) Man: Characteristics of Healthy MasculinityBe a (Good) Man: Characteristics of Healthy MasculinityMennonite Convention 2021 Workshop2021-07-08T04:00:00Z7/8/2021 4:00:00 AMMennoCon21, Cincinnati, OHSteve Thomas
Plant Trees to Slow Climate Change and Restore God's EarthPlant Trees to Slow Climate Change and Restore God's EarthMennonite Convention 2021 Workshop2021-07-07T04:00:00Z7/7/2021 4:00:00 AMMennoCon21, Cincinnati, OHSteve Thomas
Bethany Christian Schools / Mennonite Men Tree PlantingBethany Christian Schools / Mennonite Men Tree PlantingThree Rivers Farm Tree Planting2021-04-27T04:00:00Z4/27/2021 4:00:00 AMThree Rivers, MI
IN-MI MALEs / Mennonite Men Tree PlantingIN-MI MALEs / Mennonite Men Tree PlantingEarth Day Tree Planting2021-04-22T04:00:00Z4/22/2021 4:00:00 AMIndiana Toll Road

 Resources

​Mennonite Men provides and promotes resources for individuals and groups.  We support the formation of men's groups with resources for conversation, growth and action.


New Study Guide and Kindle edition now available for Peaceful at Heart

Peaceful at Heart Study Guide cover.jpg

We are pleased to announce that a study guide for the book Peaceful at Heart is now available! Written by Dan Epp-Tiessen, Associate Professor of Bible at Canadian Mennonite University, and published in partnership with Mennonite Central Committee, Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, and Be in Christ Canada, this study guide is a great resource to facilitate much-needed conversations about masculinity, church, and our Christian faith. Download the study guide here.


A Kindle edition of the book Peaceful at Heart: Anabaptist Reflections on Healthy Masculinity is also now available. While the print version of the book has been available for some time, readers can now access the book digitally as well. Peaceful at Heart provides a uniquely Anabaptist voice to resource our discussions of healthy masculinity, whether individually or collectively in a book study group. Rather than supporting patriarchy and nationalism commonly advanced in traditional Christian thought, this volume draws on the experiences of various contributors to present an Anabaptist perspective of faith that invites men to experience God's call to live at peace and be peacemakers. Further details and sources for purchasing this resource can be found here.


Other JoinMen Resources

Simply click on the links below to download PDFs of these resources. 

Most of our Mennonite Men publications are free of charge. If you are able to contribute any amount for these resources of value to you, we invite your donation on the Support page. Consider supporting us as we support you.

Check out resources that MennoMedia offers, such as the "Upside-Down Living" series.

Watch for additional print materials and audio/visual resources in the future.