Dr. Chris Harper is the CEO of BetterMan, an organization dedicated to equipping men to live faithfully and lead courageously across the globe. With a wealth of experience in developing men's ministries, Dr. Harper's leadership at BetterMan has enabled over 3,000 churches and 300,000 men worldwide to rediscover the tenets of biblical manhood. His passion for guiding men in fortifying their faith and leadership throughout the twelfth century reinforces the importance of multi-generational discipleship in today's church culture.
Episode Summary:
Jared hosts Dr. Chris Harper, CEO of Betterman, to explore findings from a pivotal study on the state of masculinity in 2025, conducted with Barna Research Group. The discussion addresses challenges facing men in their identity, vocation, well-being, and church engagement, revealing a concerning picture of modern manhood. Dr. Harper highlights Betterman's initiatives, emphasizing discipleship and clarity in what it means to be a man today.
Key Takeaways:
* Men are struggling with defining manhood due to a generational shift from passivity to ignorance, exacerbated by a lack of role models.* Vocational dissatisfaction is prevalent among men, driven by unmet expectations for meaning and purpose in their careers.* Loneliness and isolation are critical issues impacting men's well-being, with a significant percentage reporting limited friendship networks.* Men's church engagement has significantly diminished over decades, indicating a trend toward disengagement from spiritual communities.* BetterMan provides a structured pathway and supportive community to help men rediscover and live out their faith-based roles.
Notable Quotes:
* “The enemy is ignorance; we have an entire generation of men who lack either a physical or spiritual father.”* “When manhood isn’t rightly defined or rightly understood, the abuse of or by that thing is inevitable.”* “Men account for 51% of the population today, but they account for 80% of the suicides.”* "We create content and curriculum for the local church and for ministry leaders."* “Most men will admit that I am searching for meaning and for purpose.”
Resources:
* Five Essentials to Engage Today's Men - Research guidebook (https://shop.barna.com/products/five-essentials-to-engage-todays-men)
* BetterMan (https://betterman.com) - Access the free resources, study materials, and teachings from BetterMan as mentioned by Dr. Chris Harper.
