George Sawyer - The Resurrection of Authentic Manhood: Restoring Gods Original Design

The plane was coming into the final approach to land in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While others were preparing for their departure, gearing up to jump out of their seats, grab their bags and go, my spirit was listening. I can only describe it as a deposit, a word of knowledge. I sensed God speaking to me three statements:

I want you to build a movement to resurrect authentic manhood.

Focus on a mans purpose, and he will cast off those things that restrain him.

The purposes of a mans heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Proverbs 20:5

In the ordinary moment of a commute, God spoke to me.

I immediately had two follow-up questions.

What are the purposes of a man?

I thought I knew, but in reality, I had no real understanding of what Gods original intention for man was.

My father did not raise me. I had no example of an authentic man in my life. Although God had blessed me with a wonderful wife and three children, I hadnt clearly defined authentic manhood for my own life.

So, I looked deeply into the verse that echoed in my spirit, The purposes of a mans heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

The Hebrew word translated as man in that verse is iysh. It means masculine; definitively male, as opposed to a female. Proverbs 20:5 is clearly speaking of authentic manhood. The defined maleness of iysh can be categorized into five distinct purposes: Man has an adventurous spirit. He has an entrepreneurial drive. He is gallant in relationships. He is faithful in character, and he is philanthropic in cause (desiring to leave a legacy).

As I speak to men around the world these five purposes resonate within themnot because we are attempting to make them something they are not, but because we are speaking clearly to what they already are. When men hear about authentic manhood, they lean forward into a ready stanceready for action, ready to change.

I asked God my second follow-up question.

How do you build a movement?

Building a movement is very different than building a company or a ministry. Building a movement requires a completely different mindset. A movement is birthed out of the actions of people who influence culture and communicate a shared ideology for determined results. The process is fourfold: build your platform, expand your reach, gather your tribe, and change the culture.

After receiving this challenge from God, I shared what I had heard with a few trusted family members and friends. I believe its always wise to take a few days to muse over any message and check it out. With one accord it was confirmed that I had heard from God.

My next step was to invite a small group of ministers and businessmen to a gathering to announce the launch of FivestarMan. I asked George Sawyer to speak at the event. I had known George Sawyer for eighteen years at the time. He is the lead pastor of a great church in Decatur, Alabama, a church known for its passionate pursuit of winning souls. Thousands of people have experienced life change at Calvary Assembly.

After I had shared the concept of FivestarMan with George, he implemented the message and strategy at Calvary. It has worked! Thousands of men have changed their lives and stepped up to be the husbands and fathers God intended them to be. Although it is a simple strategy, the FivestarMan Initiative works. Hundreds of churches are implementing it. George and Calvary Assembly were the first to test it.

When George spoke to that small gathering to launch Fivestar-Man, he spoke the message that you are about to read. When I heard it, I realized that God had given him a clarion calla challenging message that every man needs to hear. The Resurrection of Authentic Manhood is a clear and distinguished call to men to step out of the grave of dead manhood and walk into the lives God originally intended for them to live.