STEADY GROUND MINISTRY
Written Mar 3, 2026
We Really Do Need Each Other
In a Fox News opinion piece from Russ Ewell published on-line March 1, he titles his article “I’ve been a pastor for 40 years. Young men are struggling and I think I know why: One in four American young men report loneliness as community institutions collapse.” In the article, Ewell states suicide rates among young men are rising. He believes the causes are, quoting the article:
1. “The major paths to community, life advancement, and social and personal intelligibility have all more or less disintegrated in the past few decades. That disintegration was accelerated dramatically, even completed, by the pandemic.
2. “Which means that men aren’t getting the formation they desperately need to become good men — and that they have historically received.
3. “Their educational attainment and motivation continue to fall further and further behind those of their female peers. They’re also worryingly prone to political and religious radicalization.”
So, what are some possible solutions? Again quoting Ewell:
1. “Men need loving, mature, stable relationships with people who care about them and can guide them well. They need mentors, friends, managers, coaches, colleagues, teachers, professors and neighbors who will help guide them into flourishing masculinity. They need all of us to remain explicitly and charitably committed to supporting their formation.”
2. “The local organizations that used to so richly populate our lives asked something of us — responsibilities, expectations, standards — and in doing so, helped us all grow, individually and together. We had labor unions, civic societies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, a rich school club culture. Churches were active and socially dynamic.”
“While almost all of these institutions are a faint shadow of what they once were, this remains unchanged: Formation requires real people, real sacrifice, and real community — and young men will not flourish without it.”
“If we want good young men — and we should — then we must stop outsourcing their formation to screens and self-direction, and once again take responsibility for shaping them with our presence, our intention and our lives.”
In other words, as Rueben Welch’s book title says, “We Really Do Need Each Other”, no matter WHAT the age of a person, man or woman.
In a recent sermon at the church I attend, my pastor’s message was entitled “Hello My Name is Encourager.” He cited how Barnabas, Paul’s assistant in the New Testament, was sent by God to come alongside other disciples to win more people to Him. Pastor cited these verses to backup this principle in the New Testament:
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your months, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 ESV
My pastor also said NOT to take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advise from, adding that ENCOURAGEMENT is CONTAGIOUS!
Today, as you have a STEADY GROUND with Christ, why not follow Barnaba’s lead and ENCOURAGE others, showing His Love to everyone you come in contact with today. You’ll be following His Command to “love one another.” Sounds like a pretty good way to start any day!
