Battle Briefing | March 2022

We’re always excited when we hear a story of a partner taking action and making a difference, and Hank Graeser is one of those partners. He calls himself a “recovering engineer,” but most importantly, he’s a follower of Jesus. The most formative experience in his life with Jesus was the death of his son Bryan to cancer in 1998. We’ll be sharing more on the family’s story in the future, but Jesus, the Good Shepherd, led him through that dark valley to lay down his engineering job and enter what he calls a “second vocation.”   

Hank retired in 2006 and is the senior member of “Segue,” a group at his church for men who are at or approaching retirement. 

A segue is “a transition from one role, state, or condition to another.” Hank wanted to enforce the idea of that word in retirement - taking action, moving out of one vocation and into a second calling. After reading a chapter on mentoring in An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God’s Purpose for the Next Season of Life, he called Mike to speak with the group about their capacity and opportunity to become influential mentors in church and beyond. 

Men in this group have learned a lot from long years at work, walking with the Lord, and just living life.  They have a lot of value to offer younger men. Hank has been intentional about intergenerational discipleship for years and wants to see that same experience multiplied churchwide. He wants discipleship to be woven into the DNA of the church and to be “just what we do.” 

And serving churches as they equip men to walk with Christ and lead well is just what Noble Warriors does. We continue to emphasize discipleship because that is how it begins. It starts with one man, like Hank, and it leads to another man, or a small group, or a church. But first, it has to start. 

Hank’s biggest tip to begin a mentorship relationship is, “Now is the time. Don’t wait.” 

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:9 

Thank you for practicing these things. Thank you for serving with Noble Warriors. Your partnership is making an impact on men who are willing to begin where they are to disciple others.   

• Pray for Noble Warriors as we endeavor to encourage and train men to mentor and disciple others.
• Praise God for new donors this month who joined our monthly $22 in 2022! Pray for more partners to join us in prayer and financial support.

This article first appeared in the Noble Warriors® Monthly Partner Letter, Battle Briefing. Click here to learn how you can partner with us.