The Power of Speaking Life Into a Boy

There are some lessons you can’t teach from a classroom. You have to teach them sitting on a porch before sunrise, walking down a trail, or casting a fishing line into a quiet pond while the rest of the world is still asleep. One of my favorite things about KOZ is introducing boys to the early morning.

During the summer, it’s not uncommon for boys to stay up late and sleep until noon. I get it. They’re on summer break, but when we gather for a KOZ Saturday or campout, we do something different. When the sun comes up, we’re getting up. We’re showing them when they can do hard things, they can see something beautiful.

Why Early Mornings Matter for Boys

There’s something special about the morning that you just can’t experience any other time of day. The air is cool, the woods are quiet and the birds are waking up. Before the phones start buzzing and the distractions begin, there’s an opportunity to simply slow down and notice what God has created. I think every boy needs to experience that.

Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had with boys didn’t happen around a table. They happened walking a trail before breakfast or sitting beside a pond waiting for fish to bite. Those quiet moments create space for relationships to grow, they create space to listen, and they create space to hear from God. That’s one of the reasons we encourage our KOZ leaders to plan activities early in the morning whenever possible.

Whether it’s a hike, fishing, shooting sports, or simply sharing a cup of hot chocolate around a campfire, mornings have a way of shaping boys differently than the middle of a busy afternoon.

Teach Boys Who God Says They Are

One of the ideas I shared in this week’s KOZ Raw is something we’ve done with boys that has become incredibly meaningful. It’s called the White Stone Ceremony. In Revelation 2:17, Jesus says: “To the one who conquers… I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written…”

I love that picture. God doesn’t simply forgive us, he gives us a new identity, a fresh beginning and a new name.

You don’t have to buy expensive supplies to make this meaningful. Go outside and find small white stones that fit in a boy’s pocket. Then write words on them that reflect the character you see God developing in that young man.

Words like:

Courageous
Strong
Faithful
Leader
Honest
Protector
Servant
Wise

At the end of your KOZ Saturday or campout, hand each boy a stone and explain what that word represents and tell him why you chose it. He’ll probably keep that stone far longer than you expect. More importantly, he’ll remember the man who spoke those words over his life.

The Right Nickname Can Shape a Boy

Words matter and many of us carry labels that were given to us years ago. Some were encouraging, while others were painful.

As leaders, we have the opportunity to give boys names that build them up instead of tear them down. One of our KOZ leaders shared the story of a boy who carried another boy’s heavy backpack down a mountain. Instead of simply thanking him, the leaders started calling him “Sherpa.”

The boys didn’t even know what a Sherpa was at first, but they learned that Sherpas are the trusted mountain guides who carry heavy loads and help others reach the summit. Suddenly, that nickname wasn’t just funny, it became an identity. Every time someone called him Sherpa, they reminded him he was the kind of young man who helps others. That’s powerful.

At KOZ, we don’t let boys give each other nicknames. Boys can sometimes use names to embarrass or exclude one another. Instead, positive nicknames come from the leaders. They are affirmations and reminders of the gifts and character we see developing in a boy’s life.

God Has Always Given People New Names

Throughout Scripture, we see God changing names to reflect a new purpose. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Simon became Peter. Those weren’t just new names, they represented a new calling; a new identity and a new future.

I’ve experienced something similar in my own life. When I was younger, most people knew me as Tom. As God transformed my life through sobriety and my growing faith in Christ, people gradually began calling me Thomas, and eventually TJ. That name has stayed with me throughout my faith journey for more than 30 years.

Looking back, it reminds me that God really does make all things new. He changes hearts, He changes lives, and sometimes, He even changes the names by which we’re known.

Small Moments Leave Lasting Impact

One of the greatest myths in mentoring is believing you need to create huge experiences to make a difference. You don’t.

A sunrise, a hike, a fishing trip, a quiet conversation or a white stone tucked into a pocket. A nickname that reminds a boy who he can become. Those simple moments often become the memories boys carry for the rest of their lives.

As KOZ leaders, we have the incredible privilege of helping boys see themselves the way God sees them. Never underestimate what God can do through one Saturday, one conversation, or one encouraging word. Those little moments have a way of changing lives forever.

Watch This Week’s KOZ Raw

In this week’s KOZ Raw, I share practical ways to help boys embrace early mornings, discover their identity in Christ through the White Stone Ceremony, and encourage them with positive nicknames that build character.

I’d love for you to watch the video and consider how you might use these ideas with the boys in your group.