This is the Truth Network. Nakita, destroy, crush, demolish all competitions. Here it is! Yeah, Mr. Koloff once again made his feelings very, very apparent.
It's been a long time, but the win is over. That's a bad man. No, that's a bad man. Know it, that's a bad man. It's time to man up with Satan's nightmare, Nakia Koloff.
With me today, none other than the legend himself, all the way from Northern Virginia, Tom Stewart. Tom, welcome to the Man Up Show. Thank you, Nikita. Good to be with you again. You've been involved, if I'm not mistaken, 25 plus years you've you've been involved in men's ministries.
Does that sound about right? Probably closer to about 35 years. 35 years in men's ministry. And more recently, we'll dive more into this in a moment. You and your lovely bride Connie have kind of shifted.
You felt the prompting. And the Lord's shifting you into doing more marriage-related ministry, right? And we'll talk more about that.
However, you're still involved in men's ministry in the capacity of coming down to Royston, making the drive down to to now staff those Those camps, and I think we figured out not o so, in addition to your very own man camp experience in 2019, you have also come and staffed about 10 of those camps now, correct? Yeah, that's right.
Well, let me ask you: let's take a couple minutes and just talk about. your camp experience and and what You know, maybe one or two highlights, and you know, maybe there's some men out there listening or some ladies. We have a lot of ladies that listen to the man-up show just to hear what men talk about. But maybe, maybe take a minute or two, Tom, and just talk about what that experience was like for you. And then maybe kind of a two-part question: what was that experience like for you?
And then why has that prompted you to want to come back and serve now currently ten times?
Well, I think the easy answer for me would be Having been involved in men's ministry off and on for so many years in the Church of God. I've seen so many different platforms that men's ministry comes in. uh you know promise keepers uh life builders And these are good things. But it's kind of like these things get old. and men kind of drift from one to the other.
I've never seen anything like Man Camp. And when you invited me down for that first man camp in Kannapolis. Um I didn't know what to expect. And I thought, well, this will be another kind of meet and greet with some guys and reading the Bible and. uh singing and doing stuff But it was totally not like that.
And there's two things that sold me on Mancamp. First of all. What we do in that week is so powerful. And so life-changing. If the camper will truly seek after the heart of God that week.
you will see changes like you've never seen in your life. And the other thing, Nikita, that I have to comment on. You and Lex And I've said this before. You're the real deal. And I mean that by, I've worked with a lot of men in men's ministry, leaders.
and workers and facilitators. But you and Lex, your hearts are sold out to God. to see men changed. and to bring them to the true heart of Christ. And that's probably what has attracted me the most.
Well, I am incredibly humbled by that. I mean, and to think uh 'cause you as you were mentioning, thirty five years Ish in men's ministry and having seen a lot. Um is is that's quite a compliment. Uh something to To really hold on to, and I really appreciate that, Tom. You know, and you talked about.
You know, the life-changing aspects for the guys who come and fully and go all in, right? Just fully dive in. And a word I wrote down, a couple of words I wrote down as you were sharing your heart there is the word depth.
So I think you would probably agree there's some real depth to what we do, those five days we're together, right? Yes, sir. That's true.
So, some real depth there. And then the other thing I wrote down was the two words: lasting forever. fruit. And of course, what I mean by that is, in fact, you've got quite a number of guys there at Montclair Tabernacle that are now alumni. That have been a part of.
Well, one name that comes to mind immediately is Michael Whitecotton, who Know, I met his wife for the first time, and it's always interesting when you meet the wife because you can get more of the story, more of like, hey, how was Michael on his return home? And how has he been doing since his camp, right? And so when you get a very positive feedback from the wife, and it was kind of funny, they dropped me off at the hotel after a Sunday service, and I'm like, thank you so much for releasing Michael, letting him come to camp. And her comment was, anytime. Michael goes, you heard that, right?
I go, I did hear that. I did hear that.
So, which is not uncommon either. I've heard other wives say, Man, yeah, you are released to go anytime you want to go down there. And whether it's attending camp or now coming back to serve camp. And again, just because of the impact, which leads me into part two of, I guess, really of that. That question.
So you come back.
now ten ten different times.
So what what brings you so what brings you back? Or is there anything other than what you've already said that brings you back now to to want to staff over and over and over again? Nikita Koloff here, and I am excited. Did you hear the huge announcement, the big announcement?
Well, maybe it's a minor announcement. Anyway, Facebook, go look up my new fan page, Nikita Koloff Fans, and like it. and follow today. I don't know where to be alive. If you would like to support Kolaw for Christ Ministries, for a gift of $25, Nikita will send you his two CDs, Adoration and Declaration.
For a gift of $50, Nikita will include his book, Wrestling with Success. And for a gift of $100 or more, Nikita will include a signed copy of his newly updated life story, A Tale of the Ring and Redemption. Go to www.coloff.net. and donate today. Yes, because I think I am generally invested in seeing men's lives changed having the history that I have in men's ministry.
And I've seen things happen over the years with men positively in their marriages and their lives. But there's just something about a man camp. That is so Real. And it's like when I come back. you have a whole fresh new crop of guys coming through.
And you're just with such anticipation seeing. their lives change through the week. And at the end of the week. They're different than when they landed there on Sunday. Yeah, we talk about, right?
We're like, we kind of actually kind of jokingly with them, especially towards the end of the week, how they first come in that Sunday afternoon and barely make any eye contact, right? And or we know how guys are. They're like sizing up the other guys, right? Looking at the other guys and sizing them up and, you know, in about 60 seconds. And then as the week progresses, to your point, you know, men kind of, if you want to say, let their hair down and just kind of get real, right?
A good majority of them. I can't say. I can't say 100% of them, but a good majority of them who do go all in, you know, just get real and embrace everything we're doing. And if I've heard it once, Tom, I've heard it I don't even know how many times. I'm sure you probably have too.
Come that Friday, you know, when we wrap up at noon, you know, will look me squarely in the eyes and say these five words. This week was life-changing. Right? That it was life-changing. And you know, what I mentioned earlier, let me just piggyback for a second or go back to the lasting fruit.
And because I want our listeners to understand what I mean by that is when you run into these guys, not only their wives, but when you run into them two years, three years, four years, five years later. And they're still walking it out. I was actually. Actually at an event A men's dinner recently where a guy came up to me, Tom, and And we got to talking and engaging. No, I'm sorry, it was a men's breakfast.
It was a men's breakfast. We were over at Jeff James' church at Village Chapel, and he was like, hey, like, You know, we were talking about man camp, and he's like, Yeah, I came to one of your camps a number of years ago. I go, Do you remember when? He goes, 2013.
So it was a ministry that I was partnered with at that time where I was facilitating those. I'm like, Well, I was probably there facilitating your camp. He goes, You were. And you fast forward all these years later, and he's still walking it out. There's lasting fruit there.
Like, he didn't just, as you mentioned, you know, and again, you know, promise keepers, all these other retreats and conferences and other camps are all good things by every stretch of the imagination. But one of the main things I've heard over the years, in fact, It was a pastor like yourself who had been in ministry for close to 40 years. When I was talking to a group of guys one day, and he came up and said, I highly recommend you consider going to this camp. And I I later pulled them aside and I I said I said, Terry, I said, Why? You know, why did you say that?
And he goes, 'Cause I've watched. I have literally watched guys go. And guys come home And not not a week later or a month later, but years later, Still walking out what they experienced at your camp. And growing, growing in their faith, growing in their marriage, growing in their relationship with. you know, with with Jesus.
And so uh which was one of the Along with your compliments, one of the greatest compliments could have ever received as well. And so. Uh just just amazing. And and I know you've seen it too firsthand 'cause like like your own your son, your son came and experienced it for for himself, right? Yes, sir, he did.
Branded, right?
So 'cause which, by the way, uh, you got uh uh your lovely bride Connie up there. How long have you and Connie been married now? This May will be 39 years. Thirty-nine years. Wow, well Congratulations on that.
That's a milestone in itself. Thank you.
So 39 this year, but are you thinking ahead, Tom? Like, what can we do for the 40th? That's a big deal. Not that 39 is not a big deal, but 40, the number 40 is kind of special in the Bible, too, right? That's right.
Anything, or maybe I'm getting your wheels turning here. Anything right now for the 40th out of curiosity? Yeah, we've done some fun stuff in the past. Like for our 20th, we did a cruise, our 30th, we did a family cruise. We're thinking for our 40th.
We're going to do something that not a lot of people do anymore, but we would love to see Hawaii. Come on, double ball. You've never been. No. Wow.
Well, I'll put a plug-in for Maui. I don't know where you would intend to go. But I'll put a plug in for Maui because my daughter Kendra and her husband Brandon lived there for 11 years. And I tell people they they suffered for Jesus over there because somebody has to. And but she told me at the time that that out of all the islands, that Maui was the way she phrased it, the most visitor friendly.
Um, you know, with all the locals there. And but that's not to say you can't island hop too, though, right? That's right. And we heard the same thing.
So, we haven't planned the trip yet. We probably need to start soon, though.
Well, I mean, yeah, you got a little time, but it's always good to kind of plan it out.
So, well, you'll love it, Tom. It is. You know, I remember the very first time I went to Hawaii and I went snorkeling right up in the one of the volcanoes. Man, I saw I don't know how many different colorful arrays of fish, and I'm like. This is unbelievable.
This is amazing. You know, I think the Bay of Hana as well, but it was. Unbelievable. And then, just the sights and the mountains and just the waterfalls and just all of it. My daughter over the years.
Took me hiking through some of the little hidden waterfalls there on Maui. And they, you know, 11 years they got to know all the little ins in inside information and all the little scoop and places to go. And so, yeah, it was pretty cool.
So, well, that's exciting. And so, you got you got the two children, yeah? Mm-hmm. Yes.
So Brandon, who is how old? He is 34 and Lauren is 28. Brandon and Lauren. She's twenty-eight. That's pretty cool.
And Uh they live near you? I forget now. Did do they live near you?
So Brandon lives about two and a half hours away and he's married. I have two grandkids.
Okay. And my daughter is still unmarried. She lives in Georgia. Yeah, she's a Elementary school teacher. Elementary school teacher.
That's awesome.
Well. Praise the Lord for those grandbabies especially, right? There's just something special about grandbabies. Oh, yeah. I love my babies, but there's something special about grandbabies.
I'm just saying.
So well, let's so last word on on on Man camp, and uh, and then I want to shift gears and talk about what you and Connie are doing with marriage and and and uh and that aspect of things.
So somebody's out there listening, there's there's a guy out there listening, maybe maybe a a woman. We get a lot of women listening to the show. And so, what what would you say to to the, you know, to to that person that not necessarily on the fence, but maybe they're just hearing about man camp for the very first time, or maybe they have heard about it before, but have yet to make that commitment to come. What what would you say to that individual out there or that wife or mom or or or other?
Well, for the men, I would have to say. If you want to challenge yourself. spiritually physically, emotionally. go to man camp. Give it a try.
I assure you will not be disappointed. If you're saved, you're going to be enriched in your walk with God. If you're not saved, you're still going to have an amazing experience. If you are a woman out there listening. And you're married, or you're going to get married as far as if you have a fiancé.
Encourage them to challenge themselves and go to man camp. Because I guarantee you they're going to come back. Better. Than when they went down here. That's great.
In fact, in fact, our last game, I think, we had a guy say, Yeah, my wife really encouraged me to come, uh, wink, wink. And and uh I guess when when when they were talking about it, he's like, Honey, I I'm good, man. You know, me and God, we're good, you know, and to which Tom she replied, But you can't get better? Mm-hmm. Whoa.
But you can't get better.
So, kind of to your point. And let me just say this too: if you want. If you want more information, just go to mancamp.info. That's one website directly to the camp information. You'll see incredible testimonies from marriages that have been saved because of man camp, that were on the verge of divorce, to relationships with dads, and sons, and grandfathers, and grandsons who've attended.
Guys who you'll see some before and after pictures of guys who were convicted with their health. And in fact, the biggest weight loss to date is Brother Jason in South Carolina at 110 pounds. That he has lost. And I'll say this too: if you're in the military, active, retired, you're in law enforcement, you're a first responder, you're the pastor of a church, we just want to bless you. And we're going to cut the cost of your camp in half.
Just no question asked. We just want to be able to bless you. And if you're not any of those things and you need some financial assistance, well then by all means, you let us know that. We're not going to let money be a reason why you can't come and experience Man camp. And so, Tom is an integral part now on our leadership team and does lots of the teaching, and so pretty fun.
All right, Tom, in our last few minutes here, let's shift gears and talk about what the Lord has put on your heart, on Connie's heart when it comes to marriage.
So, give us a little inside scoop as to as to what you guys are doing and what you foresee in the future impacting the state of marriage. Hmm, okay.
Well, about eight years ago, we took over the marriage ministry. When our former marriage pastor and his wife relocated, moved to Georgia. And we just kind of picked it up to keep it going and hopefully it would thrive and build. And it has really done very well. Because Our former marriage pastor and his wife left such a solid foundation for us.
With the program they put together and the people they had. co-leading it and so forth, who still help us today. And we've taken that and made it into a very flourishing small group. not only for marriage, but for parenting. We've had some very dynamic programs.
studies that we've done recently. A couple that come to mind that I would encourage everybody to. seek out if you're looking for a marriage program. or a marriage study or a parenting study. They're by a group called Family Life.
They're out of Florida. And the marriage course they present is called the Art of Marriage. And of course the parenting one is the art of parenting. These are phenomenal studies. I would encourage you to do that.
But at the heart of what we do in our small group, We always say when we get up in front of the class. We are here doing life. together. as a group. We share things, we talk about things.
We cry about things. We laugh about things. And I'm telling you, this last study that we're finishing up on parenting has been phenomenal. Because we have been able to put tools in the hands of parents. who really need guidance, parenting small.
children and even older children. It's just been a great experience. At the core of what we do with marriage, not only doing life together. is an approach called oneness. We want people, husbands and wives, to be united in Christ.
with purpose. Oneness. in serving God. You see, marriage isn't about being happy. It's not about making each other happy.
If your goal in marriage is to make each other happy, you're not going to be successful.
Now you may have a marriage that meanders along. And you're going to have times of happiness. in sadness. But you have to refocus your goal. on being one in Christ.
and be missional with your marriage. And that's a lot of that is serving.
So that's kind of where we're at now, and it's a dynamic effort. We have a lot of help doing this. with other couples from our church. And God is just really blessing it.
Now, that's amazing.
So, just a quick recap here before we run out of time.
So, so I like that one in Christ and the oneness, right? Having Christ as the anchor to the marriage. And so, the family life out of Florida, you can, I'm sure, search them, Google them. Family life out of Florida and the curriculum, the art of marriage and the art of parenting. That if you're out there, you're a pastor, you're at a local church there, and you're in your neighborhood, and you'd like to delve more into, find out more about the curriculum, and maybe bring it to your church as well, then by all means, go research that and check that out.
Oneness, one in Christ. And Tom, I'll put you on the spot. I thought I would have the website for Montclair Tabernacle. Happen to know it off the top of your head? Yes, it's uh Montclair tab.
Yeah. MontclairTab T-A-B.org. And let me tell you something. If you're ever traveling through Northern Virginia, which is up Woodbridge, Dumfries, up in that area, not far from D.C., when I was with him just not too long ago, flew into D.C. and just drove on down to Dumfries down to Montclair Tabernacle.
Check that out. Maybe watch him online sometime. Pastor Brad Lewis and he took over when Pastor Gary Carruthers, who also has come numerous times and staffed. At one point, he was our oldest attendee for Man Camp. I think he's 73, maybe 74 now, roughly.
And his lovely bride, Brenda. And Gary's a powerful testimony himself, what he encountered at camp, and now has come back and staffed as well. But more recently, we had now our newest oldest. A tender of man camp. Daniel, at the age, ripe old age of 81.
Who drove thirteen hours from the state of Louisiana? Just to attend man camp and experience man camp and uh Had something so powerful happen there at camp. One of my staff told me in the debriefing that Daniel wept on his shoulder like a five-year-old because of what he experienced and encountered there.
So, pretty amazing. Tom, love you and Connie. You guys are part of the Koloffer Christ prayer team as well. Excited about what you're doing there with marriage and parenting. And I just grateful to have your friendship.
Well, likewise, Nikita, and we love you and we're always praying for you.
Well, and I receive those prayers. I I covet every prayer I can potentially and possibly get. Montclair Tabernacle, Dumphreys, Virginia, Tom and Connie Stewart. If you're ever passing through that area, stop in for a Sunday service or check them out online. You will not be disappointed.
This is a 30-plus year. friendship and relationship that we have built. Appreciate all of you out there for being so faithful to tune in week in and week out to the Man Up Show. Spread the word. Download the Truth Radio app.
And until next time, just go out and have a Godfield and have a God-blessed day.
