To Equip & Encourage

Resources and articles to help you in your journey to becoming a better father, husband, and leader in your home, business, and community.

Attacking The Epidemic Of Loneliness - My IMPACT Players Story by Warren Mainard

band of brothers biblical brotherhood building brotherhood among men christian community for men christian leadership for men christian men’s discipleship programs christian men’s fellowship christian men’s mentorship christian men’s ministry christian men’s movement christian men’s online cohorts christian nonprofit ministry christian response to loneliness discipleship for men faith and masculinity faith-based leadership development faith-based men’s groups gospel-centered brotherhood loneliness among men men’s accountability groups men’s brotherhood men’s discipleship ministry men’s loneliness epidemic men’s mental and spiritual health men’s ministry leadership men’s ministry movement men’s ministry resources men’s ministry success stories men’s small groups church men’s spiritual formation

⚔️We are attacking an epidemic of loneliness amongst men & I am inviting you to Link Shields 🛡️ 🛡️ with us in our mission.

Here is my story... (written by Warren Mainard)

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic in Seattle, WA Matt Wimmer called me & asked me to pray about becoming the first Executive Director of IMPACT Players. “It’s time to go all in on men,” Matt said. I was intrigued & intimidated by the invitation because it would require me to raise an entire ministry budget from scratch, while the world was in lockdown.

My whole family committed to praying & after a month of prayer, my 14 year old son (at the time) said, “Dad, we all know that God wants you to do IMPACT Players. He is going to provide… I am just curious to see how he will do it.” With that amazing vote of faith, I thought, “OK God, You are giving me a chance to show my kids what YOU can do when we put everything on the line for you!”

So, in August, 2020, we started raising funds & by October 1, I was the full time Executive Director of IMPACT Players in Seattle. What happened over the next 4 years was an amazing testament to GOD’S power as IMPACT Players grew from 30-40 men at a monthly breakfast to over 1,000 men across the Puget Sound! The breakfast grew to as many as 200+ men, & our cohorts multiplied to 20 bands of brothers from West Seattle to Snoqualmie, Tacoma to Bothell!

In 2023, I was asked to bring IMPACT Players to Everett, WA & we launched our first chapter outside of Seattle. God was stirring a new vision to take IMPACT Players nationwide, & in Jan. 2024, we brought on Gary Shavey to become the Executive Director of the flagship Seattle Chapter as I prepared to move to Charleston to start a new chapter & launch IMPACT Players National.

This bold move required another massive step of faith as I would need to raise an entirely new budget & establish a whole new Board & organizational structure to support the national movement. In Nov. we moved to Summerville, SC & launched our first online cohorts as men across the country started participating in our cohorts over zoom.

In Feb. 2025, we started our first two cohorts in Summerville & in the months that followed, we saw new cohorts & chapters get started in Phoenix, Dallas, Florence, Charlotte, Boise, Spokane, & Accomac.

In the last 10 months, IMPACT Players has grown to nearly 3000 men in 5 states, 11 cities and 40 locations.

Our VISION is to inspire men to be great husbands, fathers, & leaders by equipping them to thrive in the relationships that matter most.

Our MISSION is to reach & equip men to be the chief disciple makers in their home, workplace, church & community.

Our BATTLE CRY is… “Every Man Needs A Band of Brothers!”

If this stirs your soul to generosity, you invest in this ministry by becoming a monthly donor? Even $27 a month will help us reach 10 men across the country who are in need of a band of brothers.

Investing in men is investing in marriages, families, communities and churches. Click on the GIVE NOW button in the top link or right here- www.impactplayers.org/give

To Equip & Encourage

Attacking The Epidemic Of Loneliness - My IMPACT Players Story by Warren Mainard

Share this blog post using the buttons below.

Join a Cohort near you!