Posts
Men’s Training Camp: Blowing Rock 2026
Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education
This year’s Men’s Training Camp was once again hosted in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina at the Blowing Rock Conference Center. The purpose of these weekends is to build bonds of brotherhood, help men become sharper tools in God’s hands, and to worship God together. The theme of this year was “Christian Masculinity in a Toxic World,” and the lectures presented reflected this important theme.
Men from nine different states arrived on Friday afternoon, February 13th, coming together for dinner, then the introductory session. Sabbath morning offered time to relax, enjoy God’s creation, and partake in a shared breakfast. Services started at 10:00am, and, after lunch, four of the visiting ministers presented important and helpful lectures on the topic of masculinity in a toxic world. After dinner, the men participated in a rousing game of Jeopardy based on the topics presented earlier, and headed to bed before the last day’s activities.
The next morning, the men listened to six sessions before sharing a last lunch, and heading off to their homes. This year’s Men’s Training Camp in Blowing Rock, NC was a successful and invigorating opportunity for the men of the Church to develop better friendships and learn to be better men for both their families and their congregations.
David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.
Men’s Training Camp – Delavan, Wisconsin
51 men, ranging in age from 16 to 91, from congregations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, assembled June 11–13 for the Upper Midwest Men’s Training Camp in Delavan, Wisconsin. Presentations, workshops, interactive breakout sessions and split sermons addressed the societal challenges facing adult and young men, fulfilling our Creators’ intent, making a contribution to the Body, defending the truth, organization and time management, building a strong marriage, understanding the challenges our children are being exposed to, and mentoring the next generation. Meals and free time provided plenty of opportunities for the men to mix, build bonds, support and encourage each other. The men left reinforced in their roles, armed and ready to apply what they learned, and to be the kind of men, husbands, fathers and Christians God wants them to be.—Bob Rodzaj