F3 PAX Testimony - Contra
F3 Armor - Led by our very own Contra
About 9 years ago or so I was approached to join F3. When I found out it was at 5:30am, I told them I had no desire to get up that early to work out. A few months later, I was a keynote speaker at a men’s retreat for my church and during one of the breaks some of the guys asked me if I wanted to participate in a F3 workout. I told them I would rather focus on 6C’s: couch, cookies, coffee, cocktails, cigars and Christ. The following week somebody posted a video on LinkedIn about the F3 group in Columbia, South Carolina. This video was about a wife of a member who was diagnosed with breast cancer and the impact F3 had on the family. The F3 group put on a 5K fundraising run and showed some of the members visiting her in the hospital. I realized right then and there that this group was more than a workout group. It was something very special.
With that in mind, I decided to call up one of my friends and told them I was ready to check it out. I felt I was in decent shape but the workout smoked me. I saw the camaraderie and realized I wanted to be a part of it. I played baseball in college and being around these guys felt like I was back on a team again.
After a while, I became very close with a lot of these guys and I’ve built some very strong relationships with them. There is a sense of accountability in that I know if I don’t show up, I will get a text as to why I didn’t make it. It has been a wonderful blessing in my life as well as my families. Both of my kids love coming out to F3 dads work out and our annual F3 Dads camp.
One of my main passions within F3 is the Third F. The faith component. Here in Mooresville, I started a Bible study about six years ago and it has considerably grown. We also have implemented some thing called “Holy Smokers” which meets monthly and we have an intentional topic. The guys can bring whatever they want to drink, cigars, snacks, whatever. And we have one rule: what it said at the fire, stays at the fire.
As I look back on my nearly 9 years of F3, I only have one regret. That I didn’t do it sooner.
The relationships and growth that have come out of my time with F3 will be relationships I have for the rest of my life. These men make me better and I can only hope one day there is one man out there that says that about me. We hope to see many more guys out in the gloom soon!
Contra
