Joshua’s Men – Developing Future Leaders

January 2017 will begin the 30th year of an intensive leadership development process called Joshua’s Men.

In 1987 I launched the first group of seven guys having no idea that nearly thirty years later hundreds of churches and thousands of men would have gone through the program. Many churches have been leading Joshua’s Men Groups for years.

It’s so cool to experience something that God chose to put His favor upon, and continues, and I had little to do with it except to obey his voice when He asked me to start the first group.

There’s nothing new under the sun, but God ignited a spark within me to develop next generation leaders. At the time I served on staff under John Maxwell, and of course he was doing an incredible job developing the leaders who were leading. God asked me to begin to develop the potential leaders, to find the ones not yet leading and invest in them.

Joshua's Men - Developing Future Leaders - Dan Reiland

Download The Free Program

Before I continue and tell you a little about the actual process, I have good news for you. The entire curriculum, including a recent MP3 where I talk about how to start and lead a group is available to you for free. Joshua’s Men is available on 12Stone’s Free Resource Website. What’s included:

  • Overview, How Tos, FAQs, Mission Statement
  • Intro Packets
  • 12 months of leader guides, participant guides, and supplementary material

You can get all the depth and detail you want as you look over the material, but I’ll give a brief overview in this post.

The Process

Joshua’s Men is a one-year leadership intensive. It’s a transformational process that results in more and better leaders in your church. That’s the simple and clear vision, to invest in and develop more leaders.

It’s not a discipleship group, it’s a leadership development process, even though much of the material deepens their spiritual walk. From a 3-day fast in January to understanding what servant leadership is truly about.

Over the years, church leaders have chosen to use Joshua’s Men for both potential leaders, and to develop the leaders who are currently leading.

The idea is not one of “the more, the better”. Leadership development is not like a church service where we want to see every chair full. You select a small group. If you have a large church, maybe two or three groups. Start small. Most churches start with one.

Joshua’s men is designed for married men, ideally ages 25-40. However, that’s a guideline not a hard and fast rule.

The Rhythm

Each group meets once a month for four hours and tackles a different topic each month, each topic with a leadership bias. The topics range from spiritual life to marriage and family. There is a different book each month, including projects, study guides and how the prayer partner system works.

There are also two retreats – January and June. In those two months the retreat takes the place of the regular meeting. The communication retreat is always a highlight where the guys each deliver an 18 minute message and are coached by the rest of the group! It’s a fantastic experience. All leaders must learn to communicate better, starting with their families to their colleagues at work. That’s an example of the emphasis for one month.

Get Started

You can start a Joshua’s Men group any month you like but I recommend January. If you are interested, start now. Start thinking about who you would invite and try to have the group formed by Thanksgiving. Then have your Kick-Off Retreat in January.

I strongly encourage you to review all the material before to select and invite even the first guy.

Life Changing

I wish we had time to sit down over a cup of coffee so I could tell you stories for hours about the guys I know who have gone through “J-Men”. So much life change! And equally as encouraging, stories about the guys who lead a group! Whenever you connect a catalytic leader, with a group of hungry guys (who have potential and want to be there), and add the Holy Spirit to the mix, I’ve never seen it not work. Lives are changed for good! One of my favorite things is listening to the wives of the guys tell how their husbands have changed as leaders in their home, at work and in the church!

I’m fired up to start year 30 in just a few months!

16 thoughts on “Joshua’s Men – Developing Future Leaders”

  1. This sounds so solid–exciting to think about for young men. Do you know of any similar resources for developing the gifts of young women? I’m an executive pastor in the Pacific NW and would love to see the gifts of women developed for service. I’ve found Christian women’s groups are sometimes a quirky fit for women in full-time ministry or careers, and it seems a shame to overlook their wiring, gifts, and calling. I would love to lead other women to navigate their gifts with the gracious attitudes of servant leaders.

    1. Hi Anthony,

      We don’t have any audio teachings for Joshua’s Men, as each month is a group discussion lead by a leader. The one audio piece available on the Resource is of Dan describing the entire process. We pray you’ll find this useful!

      – Alex @ 12Stone

  2. Do you have a list of books that have been substituted for the original lists? Can you send a list of all the books that have used over the years?

    Thanks.

  3. Marcus Fisher - Joshua Men 2019 - WV

    Is there a network for Joshua Men to integrate into so that all the J Men across the world can connect? I would be happy to organize one if there isn’t one already, just need to start some where is all.

  4. Brother Dan Reiland
    First may I introduce myself. My Name is Roger Rinker and years ago I was an associate Pastor to Randy Landis of Life Church Allentown, Pa.. In fact you held a leadership training session at his church at that time. I don’t recall what year it was but it was while you were doing this seminar that you stayed at our home and it was there you finished writing your first book.

    My wife Nancy and I are still in the ministry and have established a number of churches in Mexico. At present we have a Feeding Program for the less fortunate and supply over 1000 meals per month.

    Bringing you up to date. Years ago I led a Joshua’s men ministry group which was very successful. I am currently attending a church, here in Pennsylvania and have been approached by the senior pastor to lead a men’s mentoring group. Upon searching thru my records of Joshua’s Men material I had in storage I came to the realization that all these records were lost in a flood.

    Bro Dan. I am praying believing you are my source of information that can lead me to where or whom I might contact to acquire this information.
    Thank You for your assistance in this matter and May God continue Blessing you and your ministry.

    1. Message to Dan Reiland
      I am searching for the Joshua Men curriculum as I used it in the past for a Men’s Ministry and would like to use it again.
      Please Advise as to where I can obtain it.

      Roger Rinker

  5. The links are broken. Would it be possible for you to fix it so we can access the curriculum?
    Thank you for your time.
    -Dan Pfohl

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