This might seem obvious, but you need men to show up. As you consider who you would invite, and how many, be aware of what each man might bring to the table, both good and less-than-helpful. Some men are not in a personal place that will allow them to connect with an RP experience. They could bring distraction and derail the whole experience for everyone. They could try to take over. They might over-spiritualize everything as a show. They might disengage entirely. Aim for men who are ready to connect and participate in what you are planning for them. 

Additionally, a blanket invitation to a large group of men is generally less effective. Consider making personal invites that are sincere and genuine. "I want you" is very different than "I want some guys."

We strongly recommend starting small. This guide was designed for a group of 5-6 attendees, including yourself. While many churchy men's events aim for as many men as possible as a marker of success, a smaller group can offer a better means of digging a more solid foundation for a longer-lived and better connected community. If you have more than 5 men attending, we recommend splitting the larger group into a series of smaller groups (in which case, you will need to have additional facilitators, who, ideally, are trained in a similar way you have been).

If you read Brotherhood Primer, you'll remember the chapter on how important the physical space is to men connecting. 

As you get men together, try to find a space that is untame, not sterile. Masculine, not feminine. Beautiful, not bland. This could be in the mountains, on a beach, deep in the woods, or even in the middle of a city. 

It also needs to be away. Far enough away that it's not too easy to go home, but ideally not so far that it is a barrier to attendance. Sometimes a 90+ minute drive is what is needed in order for men to unplug from normal life and enter a new space. 

The other component of creating space has to do with the atmosphere. We will give you some ground rules and boundaries for men to read together and sign, in order to make sure the space is safe and sacred. These help men know they can bring themselves and be men together throughout the weekend. 

Lastly, don't forget the logistics of food. Feel free to hand this off to another person, or take it on. If you can help it, don't skimp on food. Try to surprise people a bit. We have a value in RP we like to refer to as "No Rubber Chicken" which refers to the disappointingly rubbery chicken that is the experience at some catered events. And don't worry about getting overly flamboyant- sometimes simple is actually best. 

Story is what sets apart RP from just about every other men's event guys have ever attended. It is a deep pool that requires vulnerability, fuses the bonds of brotherhood, and brings healing to souls. You can't not do it. 

We encourage small groups of men telling their stories to each other. Each man is given 30 minutes or so, along with 10-15 minutes for curiosity questions from the group. 

Those stories shouldn't be a flyover of their lives, necessarily, nor their salvation testimony, though both may happen within that time. Rather, we want to encourage the men to dive deeper through the grid of Events, Emotions, and Interpretations.

In the resources, we give you a printable guide that you can read out loud in order to set up the context and invite men into it. We also give you questions to aid in modeling Awareness, Curiosity, and Kindness. 

In RP, we like to facilitate 3 things: Experience, Story, and Blessing. As you are creating space for story, don't forget to give some of the time to a very important part of the weekend: Fun.

Some of that fun might be captured in the location you choose to do your experience- maybe you are camping. Maybe you get an AirBnB in an epic location. Maybe you are on a yacht. 

But some of the fun can be organized or crafted. Maybe you play poker. Maybe you take a 4-wheeling excursion, or go deep-sea fishing, or do some axe throwing, or go golfing, or roadtrip the Bourbon Trail, or do a Lord of the Rings movie marathon with foods from Middle Earth. Regardless, you want to make sure the weekend has an element of doing something together.

The point of the fun is twofold. 1. It attracts men to actually join you. 2. It can open up pathways to tap into story. As men step outside of their comfort zones, younger parts of them start to show up. 

Ah, blessing. By now you've likely been part of multiple blessing ceremonies. It's a staple of RP experiences. Men exercising their superpower of words on behalf of other men is healing and needed. 

For most of the guys attending, blessing is a foreign concept, so be mindful that inviting them into a blessing ceremony will feel awkward for them, at first. 

In the resources, we are giving you a printable pdf guide that will include some notes for setting up the blessing time well.

 You have probably heard us talk about scripts before. They are the avenues of a journey that has been walked many times before. A script that has been spoke or experienced enough times that it is familiar to you, generally around your own shame, disappointment, or felt need to compensate.

For this to be a good experience for you, personally, we want to encourage you to pause and ask yourself the question: What scripts am I carrying into this Brotherhood Weekend, or even into the potential idea of it?

Pay attention to and stay present to yourself as best you can.   

What are you afraid of? What are you hopeful for? How does that feel vulnerable? What might you be inclined to do in situations that trigger you? How would you like to respond?