✝️ MTM at 1: Little is much when God is in it

Good morning, my brothers! One year ago, I handed Jesus my “five loaves and two fish” ... a simple idea for a newsletter that felt impossibly small against the vast hunger of Christian men seeking authentic biblical masculinity. Today, 52 weeks later, we’re watching Him feed 42,000 men across 38 states (and one guy in Dubai) with those same humble offerings. The disciples asked, “How far will they go among so many?” We’re still marveling at the answer. Let’s go!

This week’s manly topics (6-min read):

 🎂 REFLECTION This is MTM’s first anniversary (woo hoo!) so we are looking back on an amazing year and looking ahead to what God has for us (thanks for being a part of it!)
📰  NEWS We move into the second part of our exploration of the power of short-term goal setting as a motivation to build habits that fortify our health and resilience.
🎁 OFFER 1440 News returns to offer the MTM fraternity their free, daily news service (plus weekend deep dives that are really interesting!)

REFLECTION
Five Loaves, Two Fish, and 42,000 Men Fed

Today marks our 52nd issue. One year of watching Jesus take what felt like impossibly inadequate offerings and multiply them into something that defies explanation.

When I think about this journey, I can’t help but see myself in that unnamed boy from John 6 who offered his small lunch to Jesus when faced with 5,000 hungry men. The disciples looked at five barley loaves and two small fish and asked the obvious question: “How far will they go among so many?”

That’s exactly how I felt one year ago.

The Hunger in the Crowd

In the spring of 2024, I was seeking a weekly newsletter that met the needs of Christian men where they were, with a holistic approach. I sought something with biblically based teaching and practical tips for treating my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), acknowledging that there is value in physical training (1 Timothy 4:8).

I couldn't find one... and slowly realized I had the same spiritual hunger that drove those 5,000 men to follow Jesus across the Sea of Galilee. I didn’t think I was the only one. There had to be other Christian men wandering, seeking nourishment, looking for authentic teaching about biblical masculinity.

But who was going to feed them?

“Here is a Boy …”

In late June of 2024, during my morning time with Jesus, I heard Him speak clearly: “There is no newsletter like what you’re looking for, and you’re not alone in wanting one. The need is great. I sent you to find one because I want you to write it.”

I felt like that boy Andrew brought to Jesus. What I could offer seemed laughably inadequate.  “Me? Are you sure? I’m not a writer, Lord. Who else can do this? I’m a nobody. Who’d want to hear from me?”

But just like Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish,” I found myself saying, “Here I am, Lord, with a heart that wants to serve You. Take my hunger and desire and do what You want with them.”

His response was the same as it was 2,000 years ago: “Bring them here to me.”

“You don’t need to write the newsletter.  I will. I need you to show up and be available and let Me write it through you.”

Jesus Takes What You Have

Over the following weeks, the calling became clearer. I talked with my wife, and she was encouraging. I began to understand the challenges I had faced, the struggles I’d walked through, the lessons God had taught me ... these were my five loaves and two fish.

But I was also learning what that boy learned: Jesus doesn’t need much to work with. He just needs what you have, offered with faith. 

As I shared the idea with close friends, it resonated deeply with them. The desire for more intimacy with God and authentic community with other men was universal. The crowd was already gathering, already hungry.

God’s Math

Before I could even think about “how far will they go among so many,” God taught me His math works differently than mine.

You see, I’m an entrepreneur by nature. An A-type, goal-oriented guy. I love to swing for the fences. I’ve measured success as growth and numbers for most of my adult life. Up and to the right has been my mantra.

But God’s plan was different: “One man, Will. If you impact the life of one man through your newsletter, you will be successful in My eyes.”

It was like Jesus saying to that boy, “I’m not asking you to feed 5,000. I’m asking you to give Me what you have and trust Me with the rest.”

One man, Lord, one man. I don't have to worry about the impossible math or the results. I just have to offer what I have and watch You multiply it.

The Multiplication Begins

The Lord assembled His team: Jeremy, our editor; Brad, our digital strategy expert; Kieran and Isaac, fellow Christian newsletter writers; Pastor Paul and Thad, ministry leaders as advisors. None of us quite understood what we were walking into.

Every Monday morning when I sit to write, my prayer is the same as that boy’s offering: “I am just the pen, Lord. You are the writer. Here are my five loaves and two fish. Do with them what only You can do.”

And week after week, we’ve watched the miracle unfold. God doing what only He can do.

Gathering the Leftovers

Fifty-two weeks later, here’s what Jesus has done with our small offering:

• 42,000 men from 38 states are receiving the newsletter weekly

• Approximately 50% open and read every issue

• Thousands have emailed or commented about life transformation

• Partnerships are forming with other ministries addressing men’s specific needs in purity, relationships, community, addiction, and spiritual growth

I’ll be honest, the numbers still blow my mind. But they shouldn’t. Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Jesus who fed 5,000 with a boy’s meager offering is still in the multiplication business.

And just like that day by the Sea of Galilee, there are leftovers. “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” The blessing continues to spread, multiplying and feeding more people than we ever imagined.

Your Five Loaves and Two Fish

Here’s what I’ve learned about how God’s multiplication works: He’s still looking for ordinary people with small offerings who are willing to trust Him with seemingly impossible assignments.

The question isn’t whether you have enough. The question is whether you’ll bring what you have to Jesus. And maybe you sense that the Lord is asking you to take the next step with More The Man, from subscriber to active participant.

As we enter our second year, I want to invite you to be part of this multiplication miracle in three ways:

Bring Your Prayers

Like that crowd sitting on the grass, position yourself to receive what God wants to do:

• Pray that our team would continue to offer our small gifts with faith, trusting Him for the multiplication

• Pray that He would bring the men He wants to feed through this ministry

• Pray that we would never forget we’re just the boy with the lunch ... Jesus is the one doing the work

Bring Your Influence

You are Andrew in this story. You know hungry men. Bring them to Jesus (by way of MTM):

• Share MTM with brothers in Christ, your small group, or those seeking authentic biblical masculinity

• Consider sharing with your pastor for wider distribution among the men of your church

• Introduce MTM to podcast hosts and platforms where hungry men might be listening

Here is the subscribe link to share: https://moretheman.com/subscribe

Bring Your Resources

Even the boy’s family had to pack that lunch. Someone had to provide the barley and fish. God will bless whatever you have to give:

• Prayerfully consider joining us financially, monthly or one-time, as the practical needs continue to grow

• Introduce us to individuals or foundations who might want to partner with what God is doing through MTM.

All donations are tax-deductible through our 501(c)3 status.

The Heart of the Miracle

Brother, if God is stirring your heart as you read this, you’re feeling the same invitation that boy felt when Andrew brought him to Jesus. There's no pressure, no guilt ... just an invitation to be part of something only God can do.

What are your five loaves and two fish? What small offering is in your hands that you’ve been thinking is “not enough”?

Bring them to Jesus. Let Him take them, bless them, and watch what happens.

The crowd is still hungry. The need is still great. But we serve the same Jesus who specializes in making much from little, feeding multitudes from humble offerings, and gathering up the leftovers so nothing is wasted.

One man at a time. One newsletter at a time. One miracle at a time.

Always trusting Him to do what only He can do.

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THIS JUST IN
📣 NEWS FROM AROUND THE WEB 📣

Training
“For physical training is of some value …” 1 Timothy 4:8

The Science of Short-Term Success 🧵 2/3 Your 1-4-6-12 Method Ready to put short-term goal science into action? Here’s your research-backed roadmap.

• Week 1: Assessment – Write down your current activity level and one thing you enjoyed doing physically in the past. No judgment, just honest inventory.

• Weeks 2-4: Habit Formation – Choose one simple, repeatable action: "Walk 15 minutes after dinner Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday" or “Do 10 push-ups every morning before coffee.” Focus purely on consistency. Habit formation takes 2-4 weeks of regular practice.

• Weeks 4-6: Bridge Period – Continue your established habit while browsing local events 6-8 weeks out. Charity walks, church leagues, or beginner obstacle courses work perfectly. Register for something that sounds enjoyable, not intimidating.

• Weeks 6-12: Event Training – Your habit becomes the foundation for event-specific preparation. Three weekly activities, gradually progressing.

Track completion, not performance. Mark “Yes” or “No” for each planned session on your phone’s calendar. Research shows this simple binary tracking method produces better adherence than complex metrics. The beauty of this framework: every phase builds on the previous one, creating sustainable momentum toward bigger goals.

Relationships
“Two are better than one ...” Ecclesiastes 4:9

We know the danger termites pose to our wooden dwellings but what about our marriages? Irritability, grudges, ingratitude, secrecy … termites. We learn to live with these micro-sorrows long enough and recovering that early joy and closeness seems impossible. Here is an article from Dr. Mike Bechtle about the way he dealt with the termites in his marriage that gives help and hope to guys like us who are trying to represent Christ in our marriages. Courtesy Focus on the Family