Ministries

to Boys in BC

CSB is a MEN’S MINISTRY to the boys of the local church and community

Ministry - Definition:   Ministry is what we do to serve the needs of others.

Program - Definition:   Program is the tool we use to do “ministry”.

In British Columbia, CSB supports three major ministries of men to boys and young men: Battalion for teenaged guys - 12 to 18; Stockade for boys 8 to 12; and Tree Climbers / Tadpoles for boys 4 to 8 years old.

 

The local church take full authority over these ministries—CSB will give the church its full support (including resources, training, and encouragement) but it is only as the local church takes on its authority to present the Gospel to the next generations that they get the full blessing of discipling boys for Christ.

 

Click on the icon below for program / ministry details:

In BC, Battalion is the fastest growing and most stable ministry to boys that we have. Men love it, and boys grow in their manhood through it.

The best Battalions in Canada are in BC, and it is through the dedicated efforts of mature Christian men that the ministry continues to thrive locally and in distant communities.

It’s not about “program”, it’s about ministry. It’s about discipling a guy—guiding a young man - as he grows in his walk with Jesus Christ.

Teenaged guys are young MEN. They want to be men, and they want to be treated like men. Battalion does this through the example of Christian leaders, through challenging activities, through shared interests, and through independent lives dedicated lived for Christ.

Almost every Brigade church in BC has a Stockade. It’s the training ground for Christian men. Every man starts as a boy and Stockade is where Christian men are being built.

 

When is a boy most able to memorize Scripture? During the Stockade years. When is a boy most capable of learning and incorporating Christian values? During the Stockade years. When is a boy most influenced by men? During the Stockade years. When does a boy most need the guidance of Christian men? During the Stockade years.

 

Men in BC are influencing hundreds of boys through Stockade, preparing them for a life lived for Christ.

 

And, it’s not just boys. Where a Stockade exists without a Battalion, teenaged guys are encouraged to take on man-sized responsibilities as full leaders: Junior Rangers.

 

And, then there’s the “men” themselves—the older leaders. Because Stockade connects so many men in a common cause, the Stockade becomes a building zone for men’s ministry.

The weekly meeting is an exciting time of discovery about God, His Word, His World, and

His Adventure for life.

Stockades in BC are also involved in

Father and Son Campouts, Indoor Trackmeets, Shape N Race Derbies, sports events,

service projects

and much, much more.

Tree Climbers and Tadpoles don’t necessarily run by the book here in BC. The same is true for any of the CSB ministries and it’s one of their strengths. However, Tree Climbers seems to be quite adaptable in the ways it is being presented here.

 

Tadpoles is a younger version of the Tree Climber ministry. It is  designed for the dad and his son (daughters, too). See details below:

Here’s what some of the CSB churches have been

doing with their Tree Climber and Tadpole aged boys:

 

Church Example One—the by-the-book program:

These efforts are putting dads and their sons together on a weekly basis. One or two men from the local church act as coordinators, or helpers. Where dads are unavailable, another man from the church, or family, is enlisted for each boy. This is the IDEAL program and produces the best results.

 

Church Example Two—the dad-child variation:

It is absolutely correct to put children, male and female, with their dads. Tree Climbers and Tadpoles encourages this, but secular society is making this less acceptable. Dads must build relationships with all their kids, but in BC, we see few churches using the father-child model. This is partially explained by CSB’s association with GEMS; an organization that has programs for 4-7 year old girls.

 

Church Example Three—the few-dads variation:

Where only a few dads are available and not enough men are found in the church, the Tree Climber Coordinator has elected to focus on more group activities. The dads who do attend spend time one-on-one with their sons.

 

Church Example Four—the no-dads variation:

Where no dads are available, churches have decided to go with a junior Stockade type of program with a lot less structure, simpler games, very simple projects and a lot of drop-in guests: firemen, pilots, etc.

 

Church Example Five—the Stockade variation:

When the number of boys doesn’t seem to support a fully separate Tree Climber group, the leaders have the younger boys meet with the Stockade for the opening activities and then break away for the rest of the meeting. Dads are encouraged to be involved. This has been a very successful variation in BC.

 

Church Example Six—the extended-age-range variation:

Because the age group of the Tree Climber/Tadpole programs tend to overlap the girls ministries, several churches have elected to extend the age range of Tree Climbers to include 5 year olds, thus making Tree Climbers for boys ages 5 to 7, or Grades K to 2. This, too, has been a great success.

 

Church Example Seven—the problem variation:

Where Tree Climber units have been seen to fail, the common thread seems to be the inclusion of Tree Climber boys in Stockade activities that are too demanding, and in Story Circles that don’t speak to the boys at their level of understanding. You can get away with adding 7 year olds, but Tree Climbers need to be separated from the Stockade for many of the activities.

Tree Climbers and Tadpoles are an excellent start to the CSB ministry in any church. In Tree Climbers and Tadpoles dads relate one-on-one with their boys. As their sons move into  Stockade, the dads tend to become Rangers, often shepherding a group of other men’s sons; the son is connecting with other men and boys. When the boy joins Battalion, his dad can come along but the boy is now becoming independent from his parents and is looking for the counsel of other men and peers. This is the normal growth to maturity that most boys will experience.