The Work Before the Boys Arrive
On KOZ Saturdays, long before the boys show up, the men are already preparing the ground in prayer. Gear is set out, firewood stacked, and fishing poles leaned against the truck. Yet the most important work isn’t in the tools, it’s in the soil of the heart. Every month, single moms pull up and drop off their sons. Some hold back tears, some show their exhaustion, and others silently pray that this day will give their boy something they cannot. Although we may not know every story, we do know this: the boys often carry burdens far heavier than they should.
Why Prayer Comes First
That is why KOZ men focus on preparing the ground in prayer. They ask God to break up the hard places, heal the wounds of fatherlessness, soften anger or fear, and make ready the soil for seeds of truth, courage, and hope. While the men unload chairs or sharpen a hatchet, they are also doing holy work. These small acts set the stage for a boy to encounter God through creation, through brotherhood, and through the steady presence of men who care.
Men Who Stand in the Gap
KOZ men are men who prepare. They pray over the dirt before the first footprint lands on it. They stand in the gap for single moms, believing that God can take a Saturday morning in the woods and change the course of a boy’s life. This is the lasting power of preparing the ground in prayer.
Scripture to Stand On
“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 13:8-9
A Simple Prayer
Lord, we don’t know what these boys are carrying, but You do. Prepare their hearts like good soil. Remove the thorns, soften the hard ground, and let the seeds of Your Word take root and grow strong. Use us, Lord, as men who stand ready in prayer and presence. Amen.
Learn More & Get Involved
Want to see how KOZ is changing boys’ lives? Visit our KOZ Stories.
Interested in starting a group? See how to begin HERE.
