This is the Truth Network. This Here's the United States champion. He became my first savior. Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is set for one fall. Introducing first from Lithuania, he weighs 123 kilos, the Russian nightmare, Nikita Kola.
Now, the devil's nightmare. Welcome back to another episode of It's Time to Man Up. Today, today, I've got a man who wears many hats. How many hats do you wear? Do you wear more than one hat?
Or are you centralized or focused on just doing one thing?
Well, not this man today. With me today, Neil Brooch. Neil, welcome to the Man Up Show. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.
Glad to be here.
Well, great to have you with us, Neo.
Now, as you heard in the introduction, the opening, we're going to, I think we'll try in a short time cover a number of things today. Everything from the marketplace, you know, you're a marketplace guy out there in the workforce. Yes, sir. Of course, I've seen you in the past in the music end of things and doing some things in the musical world. In addition to that, you're very involved in various ministries.
Of course, you are a man camp alumni. You recently came down to the man camp reunion, and you have been instrumental in coming down and cooking some of our steaks for us as well. And so, when I say, man, so you like you put the chef's hat on, too. You're a pretty good chef, by the way. Thank you.
Yes, sir. So, what did I leave out, Neil? What else are you doing that I left out there? Just anything? Not much, just um like I was saying, just working and I do like to cook.
Um I really enjoy any time I can interact with men in any kind of way. And being an al a Man Camp alumni Uh that's very that's near and dear to my heart, you know that. And um I do. I'm a union electrician out of Augusta, Georgia. Been doing it over 20 years.
A happy husband, me and my wife, Candy. We just celebrated 15 years yesterday. Hey, come on. Congratulations on 15 years. Yeah, thank you.
Thank you. We got a great family, great kids. We're a blended family. We have five kids together. We don't do the step kid thing in our house.
There are kids. We don't believe in using the word step. Um And as far as the music goes, uh wherever God leads me, uh That's where I'll go. I don't play any instruments. I'm not very.
incrementally inclined. God has gifted me with what people say is a good voice and I try to use it wherever um God calls. Uh whoever calls and wants me to come. Right now it's the CSRA Worship Center. That's my home church with Paula Maple Babb.
God called me and Candy there, and we've been there four years and three months. Just a tremendous place, man. it's just so much going on. And the other ministries were involved at the Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center in Aiken. Me and mister George Zachman, that also goes to church with us, We teach the men's um men's anger management and parenting classes.
Um Wow. That's pretty much it.
Well, yeah, yeah.
Well, you pretty much it. Yeah, you just, you, you just added about three or four things to my introduction, which I knew you were a family man as well. I was waiting for you to bring that up. And so, so, let's, okay, so let's back up here for all of our listeners now because you, you know, you rattle off quite a few things. I rattle off quite a few things.
Let's first start with that blended family, okay? Blended family of five. And I appreciate You know, what you said about the term stepchildren doesn't apply in our household. And I approached it for myself that same way years ago when Taryn and Tawny, our oldest daughters, came into my life and just took the approach as it sounds like you are as well, just raising them as my own. Fast forward all these years later.
I feel blessed to know that my 43-year-old, she'll probably get mad if she hears this interview stating her age, but she still calls me daddy, the younger one, the 40-year-old calls me Poppy.
So there's that personal, intimate relationship there with the girls that I was hoping to build with them. And so what has been, Neil, what would you say?
Okay, so 15 years of marriage, five children, blended family. May I highlight maybe one point of okay, so obviously there's struggles within any family, and when you add the dynamic of being a blended family, that can create. you know, create more stress, more, you know, more emotions involved. What would you say was a real catalyst beyond your relationship with Jesus and him being the anchor, would you say to navigating those waters? Just pick one thing and say this has been real key for us in order to bring peace and harmony into the home.
Uh The one thing That I would have to say is my wife Candy, me and her being on the same mindset.
Okay. we we knew what we were getting into We got five, you know, five kids, five different personalities. But the one thing is keeping everything flatlined, you know, not these kids up here and those kids down there, but just taking everybody the same. And just being there, man. Just j just being just being who you are.
Yo, and being Uh constant. If that's the right word, you know, being there constantly, they We never wanted any of our kids to ever look over their shoulder and wonder if we got their back or not. Does that sound Does that sound right? Yeah, yeah. No, and and what I hear you saying is, you know, b be being available.
So being available and and uh the word that pops in my mind too, Neil, is consistent.
Sounds like you guys are very consistent as well. Right. And and and and I'm just making a note, you know, treating everyone the same and you know, how important is that. Um, you know, that that that is very critical, treating everyone the same. And And I like what you said, you know, you and you and Candy having one mindset.
A lot of times, you know, from stories I've heard over the years and and ex you know, even some ex of my own experience that when parents aren't even put blended family aside, when parents aren't on the same page, man, it it can just cause, create some real turmoil in the home, right? Yes, sir. And with the kids, If if you were to come down and meet our whole family, you would never guess that Our kids were blended. they they've meshed so well and they're brother and sister in their minds, in their hearts, they're all brother and sister and they act that way. Mm, that's good.
So That that helped out a lot too. Man, that that's good. That is a catalyst for success as well, or a key to success is and kudos to you and Candy for the approach you're taking in order for them to feel comfortable with one another. And what do their ages range from what to what? From Put you on the spot here.
30. From 32 to fixing to be 21 in August. All right, 21 to Twenty one thirty two we got thirty two. Thirty-two. Too fixing to be thirty.
Mm-hmm. One that's twenty these fixing to be twenty three and one is fixing to turn twenty one. Gotcha.
Okay. Okay. Well good.
So now are they uh any of them you know married, any grandchildren involved yet? Um Tristan is a matter. Yo. Um, they they've been together for ten years, uh, they're not officially married yet. Um And there's no grandchildren, no.
Okay. No grandkids yet. Not yet. Maybe somewhere down the road. Maybe somewhere down the road.
So so family is is obviously important. To you? Yep. Ye yes, sir. Yes, sir.
And Go ahead.
Well, I was just saying it was a big thing growing up. You always we grew up in a time where everybody met around the front porch. You went to granny's, you sat around, you talked, you sat around the table.
So yes, family is a very important thing. And I think that's something that's getting lost by the wayside. You know in this in this generation, you don't have front porches anymore.
Well, you don't have front porches, you You don't, you know, you're not heading over to Granny's typically after church on Sunday for an incredible meal. You know, obviously, technology has played a major role in shifting the family dynamics, right? How many and in fact, take it a step further, how many How many families sit down at the dinner table and have supper together anymore? Sports, you're jetting them off to this sporting event or that sporting event. Or people even got their kids out on weekends now.
Baseball tournaments on Saturday and Sunday and gymnastics or cheerleading and just all kinds of stuff. pulling us in every direction, right? Every different direction. Yes, sir. And and and with five of them all in it.
It can get a little hectic, you know. Oh, absolutely. different sports with the with all five of the kids and Anywhere from fast pitch softball to volleyball to baseball, t-ball, football.
So yes, I would try to be as much of a part of it as I could. The way my work schedule was. Yeah, so very, so very, very involved. Another key component for those listening out there is, and you made reference to it earlier when you talked about just making yourself available for them, knowing you got their back, and then taking it the next step and getting engaged and involved and coaching their sports and just being a part of what they're doing and all of that can lead to a very healthy family, correct? Yes, sir.
Yeah. Oh, and I forgot about boxing too. Our next to the youngest, Dylan, he was a boxer for a while. Matter of fact, he went to uh Uh Marilyn. and won a silver medal in the In the junior Olympics up there in boxing.
Wow. Yeah, that was pretty cool. Wow. Well, just don't don't don't get him near me 'cause I I don't want him uh punching punching my lights out or anything.
So uh well you just you just sickled him one time every hour. There we go. That's what I'm talking about. All right, so so let so let me let's shift gears here a little bit. And 20 years in the work in the workplace now, 20 years with the same company?
Well, twenty years with the electrical union. The electrical union, the way it works, we work under a referral process like if contractors need electricians. They'll put in a request to our union hall. And if you're out of work or you're between jobs, get laid off, or whatever. you can go and uh And sign up to take one of the calls at the hall.
It's not been with the same company, it's just been through the same electrical union. I got you.
Okay. Yeah, I've worked with various different contractors over 20 years, 20 plus years.
Well, let me ask you this: in relation to that, you know, and I've gotten to know you over the last period of years here, and you're very, very bold with your faith. You know, you don't shy away from the gospel and your love for Jesus, which is amazing. How do you blend, Neil, being out there in the marketplace? How do you blend that, your faith, with mixing it up with people out there in the marketplace, whether you're going to somebody's residential home or to a commercial project or even with your coworkers? How do you blend that?
For you, what's the key to that? I don't know if it's blending, it's it's all about It's all about being who you are and being real.
Okay. It's not about having to blend or contort or try to figure out how I can fit myself into this situation or that situation. God lines everything up the way it's supposed to be. I truly believe that. And I've tried I've converted these guys out here to the same mindset.
Everything happens in life the way it's supposed to, whether we think so or not. And I just wait I just wait for the opportunities that open up where I can Put a little insert in here and there, put a little insert in here and there, and it's opened up doors of opportunities to be able to talk about God and talk about Christ and talk about my faith with various different. you know, co-workers. I don't push it on them, but if the door opens up and we can discuss it. Yeah, we're not gonna debate it.
There's nothing to debate, but I'll discuss it with you. No, that's good. Let me interject right there because that's good.
So, for our listeners, you know, I was making a note: be who you are, you know, just be yourself. And I wrote down salt and light, which you are. You are salt and light, and the Bible asks us to be that. Just be salt and light wherever we go. And so, really, what you're illustrating or referencing is: hey, if I just go out and be myself and be salt and light, and just through my actions, others know I can be a witness without thumping them over the head with a bunch of scriptures or with the Bible, right?
I can just be myself, you know, just through my actions, show I love Jesus, and then ultimately, you know, one of them hits a, you know, falls into a pit or needs some prayer or just some counsel, or just wants somebody to talk to.
Sounds like you've made yourself available for that and have had some of that happen. Oh, yeah, I mean, and and over the years, I mean, guys knew knew me fifteen, twenty years ago. Which thank God for his sacrifice and thank God for grace because I'm not that same man. And now they can tell. that and that's opened a lot of the doors, is they can see the difference And that's pretty much the conversation starter.
Hey, man, you don't act like the way you used to. What happened?
Okay, here we go. Right. Yeah. And this is what happened. Exactly.
You know, I April, you know, april eighteenth, twenty twenty one, you know, is when God radically changed my life. Mm. April eighteenth, twenty twenty one. Gotcha.
Now, when did you go ahead? Go ahead. That's when I came back to Christ was 2021. I grew up in church my whole life. You know, some things happened, and I strayed away from it, and then God got a hold of me in April 18th, 21, and it's been around ever since.
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Well, you're probably not the only one out there listening or out there in listening land that has grown up a church. uh straight away. And then found himself or made their way back to the Lord, you know, having. having got off the perhaps the narrow path for whatever reason. Let me ask you this.
I know I mentioned your Man Camp alumni. Was Camp a catalyst or did Camp help in that journey over these last four plus years and honing in? On your relationship with the Lord? Yes, sir. Yeah, it it was uh It was a life-changing experience.
You know, because I was one of those guys that I'm like. I don't need to go to that. I don't need to go to Matt Camp. I'm a pretty good dude. I'm good.
Yeah, I'm a good guy. Come on. Yeah, I'm good. I'm doing right. Yeah, I'm okay.
And my wife, bless her heart, she said, Neil, she said, you're a good man, yes, but everybody can be better. And I think you need to be better. Come on. Come on. And I said, okay.
And I went, and it's unexplainable. You know how man capped is. You just can't. People say, what's it like?
Well, we can't tell you that. It's a different experience for every guy, right? It's a different experience for every guy. Yeah, but for me, doing the steps that we do there without giving away the mystique and the. what happens there, after the first night, after the first lesson, I s I looked in the mirror and I seen exactly who I was and I didn't like it.
Even though I thought I was a good man. And then the rest of the week, you know, Plays out how it plays out where you have the classes and you have the breakoff groups and you learn. you know You learn about God and you learn things that you never knew, and you start experiencing things that you heard other people talk about, and you've never experienced it. It's just. It's wild how God works.
Well, I'm going to interject, and something you said. You know, and Candy, I love you, Candy. Thank you for prodding or encouraging Neil to come to camp. As you might listen to this interview, it's important to have the wife's support 100%. It's important to have her support when a man wants to come to camp.
But I like what she said to you. And because, Neil, I can't tell you how many guys, man, I'm good. I don't need that camp, man. I'm good. I'm good.
Jesus and I are tight. You know, we got a great relationship. And here you are. You know, you've got a family, you've got a family life. You know, family life seems to be good.
You know, 20 years working out in the marketplace, working the job. You know, you're involved in some other things, you know, with men's ministry, the pregnancy center, and some of these other things. And then she says, Neil, you are good, but man, any of us can be better, right? And that's my challenge to every listener out there right now. You know, it might have gone through your mind, man, I don't need that man camp.
Man, I'm good. I'm good. But man, can you not get better, right? Right, but see the man camp and all the the men's ministry and life choices and all came after. The man camp.
Gotcha.
'Cause I c I came in October of twenty one, the fall of twenty one. Started the life choices in November of twenty one. And been there pretty much ever since. Yeah, 21 was a big year for so April 18th, 2021. You know, you kind of locked in on your relationship with the Lord fast forward about six months, and you find yourself at man camp and God revealing some things to you, you know, perhaps some areas of your life.
And that's why I want people to understand: you know, if they ever make that decision, or there's a woman out there listening that has that special man in their life, to encourage them to come to camp, no matter what their age is, no matter how, quote, good they think they are, man, we can always be better. And when we put ourselves in a setting like at camp, where we get away from the outside distractions and really let the Lord speak to our hearts, man, it's pretty amazing what he'll reveal to us. And now, now, let me ask you too. We just recently had a man camp reunion, first ever man camp reunion. Take a minute.
Did you have a good time at that? Was it fun? Oh. Man, that w that that was a blast. That was a blast.
A true blast. And it was it was it was kind of fun it was kind of fun, right, having guys from like like five, six, seven years over a time span that had all kind of experienced the same thing, even though you didn't know each other. Did you make s uh, I'm guessing you made some new friends. Oh yeah, yes sir, sure did. Sure did.
Neil Roberts, you know, little Neil with the big beard. That that was that was my buddy for the for the weekend and um got to know um Pastor Jeff James a lot better. You know, even though we we've spoken a couple of times over the last few years, you know, coming up there, like you said, cooking the steaks and all, but Never really got a chance to talk to him, Mr. Tom Stewart, great man. Just um And B Rob, Brian Robinson.
what God what God done in his life that weekend. Man, that was it was incredible. And just yeah, just getting to know guys and then you got the guys that we've always had connections with since twenty-one, like, um Jason Justice. Um If you were the other ones, you know, that you already you got that bond when you come back up there and you're all together. Right.
That you just pick up where you leave off. It's like you never left.
Well, and I want to encourage all our listeners to mancamp.info as you hear Neil sharing his heart and his experience at his man camp. And even as we're discussing the reunion that we just recently had, it may be something you want to seriously consider for yourself. And if you were in the military, if you were in a law enforcement first responder, if you're a pastor, we have special scholarships for you because we're not going to, you give me a lot of reasons or excuses why you can't come to camp. We're not going to let money be one of those.
So as long as we see there's a need there or you fall into one of those special categories, we're going to help make a way. And so Well, Neil, you're down there at I know you mentioned Pastor Paul Babb. What's the do you know off the top of your head the address for your church there, the the website? The website maybe for your church? It is CSRA Worship Center, CSRA Worship Center.
It's 116 Wildie Drive, W-I-L-D-E. North Augusta, South Carolina, I believe it's 29841. Pastor Paul Babb, of course, is an alumni as well, and several of the other guys from the church there, kind of one by one, you guys are diving in and you. you know, coming and being a part of of camp and then coming back and serving. And you have an incredible servant's heart there.
We just got really a minute or two left. La last thoughts, Neil? I want to encourage everybody listening, eighteen years or older, go to www.mancamp.info, do yourself a favor and sign up. It will be an experience that will last a lifetime. You'll build relationships that last lifetimes.
And Just be faithful to what God tells you to do. Pray about it. when he gives you the auction, go. Because our gr our growth Is getting out of our comfort zone, getting out of our boxes, getting out of our little flower pot, and let God plant us in the ground so that we can grow them roots so we can grow tall.
So Let's get out of our comfort zones and grow. Man, I like that. What'd you say? Get out of the flower pot and grow. Is that what you say?
Little seedlings, right? We plant little seedlings and it turns into a beautiful flower. Isn't that amazing? God's creation, everything from the different colors of flowers. I mean, just it all, just everything, right?
It's just pretty amazing what God does for us. What do you foresee real quick? I know you're involved in a number of different ministries. What's the number one burning thing on your heart right now that you see God opening a door for you to do down there in the Augusta, Georgia area?
Well, we had well, we had started our own forge meeting through Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center. We want to see more men. We believe in God more men to get involved with that, to be to come into the forge. And just being disciples and learning more about God and just being strengthened by other men. I mean, we're not.
We're not called to go through this by ourselves. Um we need other men around us. You know, good, godly men that will lead us and help us and encourage us and Just bring us up. Yeah. Um That's th th that's that's one burning thing is for our our forage to grow.
Okay, and how can they find out more about that through your church website? How do they find out more about that? They want to find out about that. They can. Uh contact Life Choices Pregnancy Care Center in Aiken.
South Carolina.
Okay. talk with them or they can message me on Facebook. Send me a frame request, whatever. How do they do that on Facebook? Where do they find you?
Well just Neil Broach. Neil Brooke. Yes, sir. B-R-O-A-C-H. B-R-O-A-C-H.
N-E-I-L. N-E-I-L. N-E-I-L. Yes, sir. Neil Broach, Augusta, Georgia.
Man, hey, you're amazing. It's an honor and a privilege to one that the Lord crossed our path to get to know you. And you're such a major supporter. Any of the conferences we do, you've always told me, said, hey, if you're within an hour and a half, man, let me know. I'll come and support you.
And you have. Hour and a half, two hours, man. I'll come. I know. You are there.
You are a trooper. Man, many, many blessings your way. And so thanks for being a part of the show today, Neil. And for all of you out there listening, Land, I hope you're blessed by our conversation. Maybe you were helped a little bit if you're in a blended family or looking to get into a blended family and/or his story gave you some little insight and guidance and his challenge for the man camp.
Come see us sometime soon. Until next time, go out today and live a good day. Godfield. Have a God-blessed day. This podcast is made possible by the grace of God and your faithful prayers, support, and generous gifts.
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Hi, Nikita Koloff. Be sure to check out the Man Up Show now available on television, broadcast, and podcast. Go to MorningstarTV.com. or the truth radio network Check out your local listings, or better yet. Download the Truth Network app.
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