This is a real place, perhaps a tension, in which many of us live. We cannot choose whom God restores. So often we say, “Oh, that man would be a tremendous Christian.” Or, “That man has talent—he could really influence a lot of people if he followed Christ.” Yet God has always accepted "whosoever will."
It’s not about where you’ve been or what you’ve done. It’s about Who you’re following.
So often, the men God uses are so far removed from the man we would choose for God to use that we become confused. But God isn’t confused—He is in the restoration, redemption, and renewal business.
Here's the friction in pastoring and leading men—we decide to love every man who walks through the door. We chose to love them all—but we can't choose who walks through the door. That's a heavy thought, and where many of us stumble.
That is why love is not merely an emotion. Love is a command. Love is an act of the will. Jesus has placed within us His Spirit—the Spirit of grace-giving love, encompassing love, embracing love. Therefore, we can love our city, our neighborhoods, our families, and our communities without first qualifying the people we are loving.
“For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16).
God is love, and love always gives.
Three keys in leading and restoring the hearts of men, as part of the CMN Brotherhood.
1. Authentic leaders see potential where others see history
God rarely chooses the obvious candidate. Moses was a fugitive. David was overlooked. Peter was impulsive. Paul persecuted the Church. You can add you and me to this list.
Leadership in God’s kingdom means looking past a person’s past and seeing God’s future for them.
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
A restoration-minded leader asks: What could this person become in Christ?
2. Authentic leaders create environments where broken men can be rebuilt
Church leadership is not about managing perfect men—it is about shepherding men who are in the process of discipleship.
Every men's group, event, coffee or open church door is an environment for God’s restoring grace. Leaders cultivate a culture where repentance, healing, and transformation are possible.
“A bruised reed He will not break.” — Isaiah 42:3
Great leaders do not throw away men who are wounded. They help restore them to strength.
3. Authentic leaders obey His command to love—not the impulse to judge
Jesus did not tell us to evaluate who deserves grace. He commanded us to love without first qualifying that man according to our personal standards. You can't clean fish you haven't caught.
“A new command I give you: Love one another.” — John 13:34
Leadership in the kingdom means loving men before and as they are transformed by Christ. Trusting that God’s love working through us is often the very element that brings their transformation.
Serving others means we are not gatekeepers deciding who belongs. We are generous stewards of God's grace, helping restore whoever God sends to us.
God is always and forever doing what He has always done—taking the most unlikely of men and restoring them into powerful warriors for Christ.
This is the CMN Brotherhood. This is what we do.
