The concept of accountability for Christian men means many things to many people. For some men, it is primarily about marital fidelity and pornography. For others, accountability spells the awkwardness of confession and the threat of judgment or legalism. And for some, it is nothing more than a three-step plan to guard against moral failure….
Author: Tom de Petra
Tom de Petra has served as the Executive Director at Friendship Church since 2017 and has previously served as the Trustee Board Chair. Tom has more than 25 years experience as an entrepreneur and business advisor across several manufacturing and service industries. For about a dozen years, Tom operated his own consulting firm specializing in turnaround management of companies experiencing financial distress or facing periods of challenging leadership or ownership transition. He was educated at Loyola University, with a dual major in Business and Political Science. Tom and his wife, Shirley have been active members of Friendship Church since 2006 and have served in missions.
Father’s Day
Many men see fatherhood through a personal, narrow lens of their own life experience. What they see is often distorted based on that experience. How many times have we heard someone say, “I won’t ever parent the way my father did.” I said that a few times. Or, “I parent the way I do because…
Confronting the Contemptible
I belong to Jesus, which is sufficient for me to handle all that the world can throw at me. I truly believe that. However, I have real struggles with much of what I see around me. The chaos in our government and in every political camp. The abuses of people and the malicious uses of…
A Believer’s Response in a Hungry World
Food is often the centerpiece of fun and fellowship with friends, family or coworkers. Meals anchor events of big and small proportions. People’s lives are scheduled around eating, be it consumed in solitude or among large crowds. Sometimes the very homes people live in are designed primarily around eating spaces. Without question, food and daily…
Men and Power – Biblical Principals
Looking Back Growing up as I did in an intensely competitive environment presented opportunities, challenges and questions for me and my friends. For everyone in school, there was extreme competition to get the best grades and to excel in sports. Most of this was driven by parents. Then there was intense effort to get into…