Click here to view pictures from the event

I’ve had a range of emotions since the Easter Party in Paradise ended but I mainly feel grateful. Grateful to be part of a community of High Impact Men who continually chose initiative over passivity. Grateful to assist God’s victory through our Easter Party. Our efforts in hosting the event were like passing God the ball and witnessing His 3-point glory shot seconds before the buzzer. #Swish

Paradise is Fort Mill’s predominantly black neighborhood that has a rising poverty level. Our Easter Party will gather people of diverse racial and economic backgrounds to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Hours before the Easter Party, the evil one tried to discourage the event in more ways than I can explain. He looked into the future and saw the blessings that God planned for our time with community, so he threw hurdles at us. In the middle of the evil’s plot, God kept whispering “I’ve ordained this event to unite my people. I will provide the needed provisions and protection, so keep going.”

We answered His calling. I arrived at Steele Street Park at 2 PM for set up and saw shovel flags flying, dozens of HIMs hustling to get things done. More HIMs arrived with purpose saying “Let’s get to work.” HIMs set up the egg hunting areas, hung banners, put party music in rotation and set up areas for the food and face painting. Some of the children from the community helped to set up for the party. Their involvement in setting up the event positively impacted everyone. Within no time, the park was set up and completely decorated with an Easter theme.

People from the community started to arrive at 3 PM. Within minutes, the parking lot was more than full with hundreds of children and their families in attendance. It was great to see people from all walks of life gather together and have amazing fellowship. People from diverse economic and religious backgrounds came to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Black, white, Asian and Hispanic families were in attendance. We were laser-focused on Paradise so our signs were posted in that community only. However, we were blessed with families who attended from the greater Fort Mill area, Rock Hill, Lancaster and Indian Land. That shows God’s reach because our 10 posters and 50 signs in Paradise, alone, could not attract attendees from such a large area.

An hour after the 3K eggs, 30 pizzas, 100 baskets, 10 bunnies and mountains of cupcakes and face paint were gone, the community stayed for continued fellowship which made the Pax feel right at home. It was powerful to see such a diverse group of people together smiling, laughing and showing each other love in one event as one community.

Several families expressed their appreciation for you all hosting the event. One mom said “those F3 men are good people who are authentic.” The children asked “when is F3 coming back?” A twenty something year-old said, “I want to be with the men of F3, they can show me how to rise above poverty.” As I gathered myself, emotionally, I told them that we’ll return soon to be in community with them and to support their escape from poverty.

We had great fellowship with several black men in the community. More than a handful of the local men expressed an interest in joining F3. We are having discussions with Bolt about the soft-launch of our workouts in Paradise. Several HIMs like WhatDid and TPS are following up with their EHs from the event. A young man named Reed will post at The Armory with YHC tomorrow. Having Chicken Hawk on Q for that workout puts the perfect bow on that blessing.

There are countless HIMs to thank for the success of our Easter Party In Paradise. They provided pre-filled eggs, showed up early for event setup, stayed later for clean up, staged eggs, painted children’s faces, played music, EH’d possible FNGs, hung flyers, gathered and gave out food and made reservations for the bunnies.

Several HIMs were overjoyed after the event and did not want end our fellowship with the community (including YHC). Seeing HIMs loving on all of God’s people groups made it obvious that our work in the community is not done. It became clear that this event was not a service project, it was a catalyst to something bigger. We are brainstorming other ideas to further our engagement, fellowship and impact with the community. Please send me your ideas on ways we can impact the people of our greater community. Stay tuned for pre-blasts regarding future opportunities to stay involved in these life-changing efforts.

Peace,

Deacon

Do you have something you love so much you can’t help but share it and talk about it? Some like cars, sports teams, vacations…etc….etc Whatever it is, it fills us with joy/happiness and when we talk about it, we could talk for days. As me and 11 other PAX made our way around The Fort. Oh and yes….we all love F3 and talk about it a ton!

The Thang:

Drill Bit Warm Up
1)SSHs-15
2)hillbilly walkers-15
3)squats-15
4)mountain climbers-15
5)Moroccan night club-15
6)broad jump backpedal-10

7) Plank with Hops

Playground Partners
1) pull-ups /lap
2) dips/lap
3) step ups/lap

4) Carolina Dry Docks

Hillside Rodeo
1) up 7 Bombjacks
2) down 1 derkin

Soccer field Fun
Crazy 8’s – Partner runs while Partner does exercise
1) flutters
2) Peter Parker
3) hello dollys
4) Parker Peters
5) Freddy Mercurys
6) Mak Tar Shi
7) American Hammer
8) big boy sit up

Escalator to Heaven
1) partner carry-2 lights
2) wheel barrow -2 lights
3) bear crawls- 2 lights

So the PAX and I had lots of fun discussing all this things we all love to talk about, “The” Carolina, Carolina Blue, Clemson Tigers, and our FNG Jeggings was first to mention God was most to him to talk about. YHC wrapped up with I love to talk about Jesus and all things that point to him. I use to “love me some me” and everything revolved around me, but once I got into relationship with the one who gave it all for me, I could not help but fall in love with what he did for me so I could live abundantly and talk about it as much as possible. He did all of it for you too!

Thanks Ginsu for the lead and The Fort is the motherland. Love that AO and all the history!

Peace!
Cake Boss

F3 will host an Easter Party in the Paradise community on 4/1/17. Paradise is Fort Mill’s predominantly black community that has a rising poverty level.This Easter Party will gather people of different racial and economic backgrounds to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Your participation will help to break social barriers and further our positive impact.

Call To Action:

——————–

– Provide 24 eggs that are pre-filled with candy and coins for the children in Paradise, or

– Make a monetary donation to help purchase Easter Eggs via Chicken Hawk’s Paypal Account (paypal.me/BrianBrenner), or

– Volunteer to support the event and connect with the community. Contact the HIMs below for volunteer opportunities.

How To Donate Easter Eggs:

—————————————

Bring your Easter Eggs to an AO on 3/18/17 (Saturday) and give them to the Q. Qs will bring the eggs to WhatDid who will be at WEP until 9 AM. If you would like to donate Easter Eggs but cannot attend a workout on 3/18/17, please contact the HIMs shown below.

Easter Party Logistics:

——————————-

– Date –> 4/1/17

– Time –> 3 PM to 5 PM. Set up at 2 PM. Our start time avoids conflicts with other Easter-related events (e.g. the Eggstravaganza).

– Location –> Steele Street Park at 600 Steele Street, Fort Mill, SC (see map here)

– Attractions –> Petting zoo, face painting, bubble machines, Easter Egg hunt, cake, pizza

Who Can Attend The Easter Party?

———————————————–

Pax only. Some 2.0s and Ms will volunteer via select service areas (e.g. face painting).

HIMs Leading This Event – By Service Area:

———————————————————–

– Deacon (@careervaluebook) –> Q

– Chicken Hawk (@F3_Chicken_Hawk) –> Food

– DaVinci (@DeeDubCLT) –> Face Painting

– WhatDid (@bmac29) –> Set Up/Clean Up/Egg Staging

– Tesh (@tesh_F3) –> Promotions

– TPS (@tpsrobj, call 704-907-1463) –> Supplies

– Flat Tire (@CThompson74) –> Welcome/EH Team

Our Easter Party in Paradise is a great opportunity to engage, pray and have fun with the community. Spread the word!

For more information, contact Deacon (Will Uter) at will.uter@careervaluebook.com or 704-208-6935.

We have kicked off the new year at Children’s Attention Home down in Rock Hill!

There was a meet and greet on January 28 where some of the area PAX met the wonderful young men there, got to know each other, let them know what F3 means and what it stands for, and then bestowed upon them their F3 names. That was a wonderful day!

Then on February 11 we had our first workout led by Destiny and I tell you he set the bar high! He Q’d a perfect balance of exercise and wisdom, working the mind, body, heart, and soul all at once. It was after the COT that the young men at CAH renamed the AO from “Justice League” to a new name that I feel fits one of our objectives……”Guidance”.

The definition of “Guidance” is advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, especially as given by someone in a position of authority or influence. It is also the directing of the motion or position of something towards a goal or objective.

That is exactly what we as F3 Nation intend to do, and this is where the young men need your help for the impact will be greater in numbers than alone. I know there is alot of curiosity towards CAH, that the young men down there may not be within your comfort zone. Well it is time to step out of that comfort zone and embrace them. The young men there are in their early teens, at a vulnerable stage of great influence (good or bad). Life thrust upon them a situation that they did not ask for, and they need our love, time, support, strength, wisdom……our Guidance. Each one of them are smart, witty, and funny, but they are a close knit group working to get through life at CAH together and you can tell they lean on each other, some are hesitant to open up to outsiders. They are not too different than some of us PAX in that they sometimes feel that they have to carry their burdens themselves and solve their own problems. They need to know that there are people out in the world they can rely on, they can trust to ‘have their back’ and lift them up when they are down. Within each one of them, hidden beneath their burdens, is a Leader and HIM. Some just do not know or realize this. This is where we as HIMs need to be Intentional and lead them through our example via the mission, principles, and foundations of F3. Now I humbly ask all area PAX and HIMs to come support this great and worthy cause.

General info for posting:

• The first workout was 2/11 as mentioned led by Destiny (Awesome job!), then the workouts are every other Saturday starting 2/18 (2/18, 3/4, 3/18, and so on).
• Workouts start at 4pm prompt so arrive early to prep
• For directions, contact NASA, Reborn, or Chicken Hawk
• They do not want the street address or directions to their site posted online
• Pictures or videos of the young men there are not allowed
• Do not initiate hugs and if you receive one, reciprocate with a ‘bro hug’ with hips turned away
• These are teen boys – bring your sense of humor for they have one for sure (nothing like a fart mid-LSS to get the giggles going).
• 2.0’s are allowed – and encouraged – as long as they are boys over 12

If you want to Q a workout:

• Q schedule is on the Rock Hill tab on the Google Docs link https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mfnvJ9faf5NVFU9afWW4IDWBxJglS-4YFzZx39RGa4M/edit#gid=1726409880
• Keep it to 45 minutes as usual
• Explain F3 and give the disclaimer at the beginning of each workout as usual
• This is not a high-intensity PAX beatdown or CSAUP – these are teens in collective average shape. One does have an asthma condition that we monitor.
• DO NOT resort to field or court games such as basketball, soccer, tennis, etc. Please stick to moderate bootcamp style workouts. Avoid a run-only workout as well. If you want to bring objects like blocks, etc, for your workout – keep in mind the age and strength of the kids. Make it challenging yet attainable by them.
• BE CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN…..but at the same time we want these young me to be challenged physically and mentally while achieving the goals you set for them.
• Keep in mind the PAX will be there to encourage, support, motivate when the workout gets challenging – that needs to be experienced by them first hand.
• ALWAYS pick up the 6 as usual – that is a key learning point for them.
• We will be able to use the areas around the home which include Winthop University lake, the field at First Christian Church, the field behind the factory nearby, and the CAH grounds themselves.
• In order to give them rest times – use the power of your words. Hold a short devotion incorporating the Monthly Theme that our regions are using; speak about what F3 means to you and what it has done in your life; or give them an example of a rough time in your life and how you overcame it. You can do this more than once during the workout – before the workout, after the COP, during your Thang, and before/after the COT. Keep in mind words are just words but if they have meaning, emotion, intention – they become much more powerful and impactful.
• Engage the young men – when using your words, get them involved in the discussions through questions. Let them show you how intelligent they can be.
• Pictures or videos of the young men there are not allowed
• For the Name-O-Rama – please use only first names, ages, and then F3 name
• Post a BackBlast!! I’d like this done within 48 hrs. This is marketing of the workout to build interest throughout the regions. Update 2/27/2017 – Guidance is now live on the F3 web! It is now listed on the Rock Hill website for posting and reading backblasts.

As Reborn so eloquently put it in his New Vision for Children’s Attention Home – Thank you all for the support you have provided in the past and we look forward to this new venture at the Children’s Attention Home. Please be praying that God will bless our efforts there so that we can build up young males that will one day be leaders in the community and beyond.
Read more – http://f3nation.com/2017/01/07/new-vision-for-childrens-attention-home/

Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved. These young men need our strength, our commitment, our effort to bring out the Leaders that lie within.

I hope to see you all at Guidance. Thank you and God bless.

Aye!
-NASA