It was the start of a new school year, and the teacher was calling out the names of students in the fresh third-grade class. She said, "Where's Gene?" The excited little boy raised his hand. The teacher said, "You'll probably be a mess just like your brothers were."

Gene's face flushed with embarrassment. A few years earlier, he had been molested by his grandfather. His dad was no longer around, and then the teacher put the final negative word on him.

For years, Gene dealt with negative self-image and all that comes with it as a fatherless boy. He gained weight, did drugs, and moved through his teenage years without purpose.

Then he went to a youth group at a local church. He met Jesus as his savior. Something new began to stir in his heart. That church had men...

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