IRON SHARPENS IRON
NO MAN WALKS ALONE
Our group is guided by Proverbs 27:17 - Iron Sharpens Iron and one man sharpens another. We actively and intentionally meet new men in one’s everyday walk, learning each other's story and developing true and honest friendships. No man walks alone.
Our History
The Beginning
Iron Sharpens Iron officially began in October of 2018. The group was spearheaded by Durango Colorado transplant Ted Rifkin who relocated to the Phoenix area knowing the Lord’s direction for his life was to reach lost men, help them receive Christ, and provide them with tools and support to become excellent for Christ at home, work, and in the community.
Ted and a partner had previously started Master’s Men Durango which is part of a world-wide organization that seeks to inspire men to be real men as they follow the greatest man, Jesus Christ. That ministry is still running strong in Colorado and allowed Ted to move to Arizona to follow the Lord’s plan to reach a larger area of men for Christ.
Growing Our Faith
Progress & Impact
ISI Men's Ministry main meeting is every Saturday morning and all ages are welcome. The meetings are varied yet structured. Some have a featured interactive speaker followed by small group tables. Other meetings are discussion involving the entire group or high-quality videos. ISI is open to any man regardless of their level of faith and belief and no one is excluded. We are a diverse group that spans generations, religions, race, creed, and color. We have had the privilege of seeing men come to know Jesus for the first time or reaffirm their faith.
We have had the honor of baptizing men at their house of worship. At ISI, men are no longer alone to walk through many types of crisis including health, financial, family, addictions, and loneliness. We have witnessed others reconciled to family, released from addictions, healed physically and emotionally as well as a number of other ministry impacts.
The bond is further established by multiple small gatherings weekly whereby the men gather together for such activities as Tuesday and Thursday identical morning and evening Bible studies, Saturday Breakfast club, and golf outings. ISI also has a dynamic discipleship program and excellent and effective sexual addiction, first responder and grief/PTSD resources. Click here for more information. These results reflect the men’s growing faith in Jesus and in each other as Brothers in Christ as we reach out to men in our community with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
Leadership
Dedicated to Service
The group is an affiliate of the worldwide Master’s Men organization but is wholly independent. Association with Master’s Men affords the Phoenix group a reciprocal network where men can attend worldwide when they travel as well as an abundance of reference material. It also ensures that thousands of men around the globe are praying for the men and the success of ISI Men's Ministry.
The group is governed by three men who comprise a “Servant’s Council”. Similar to King David’s Mighty Men, these individuals have varied skills and talents to carry out success. These Godly men believe that Jesus came with the primary attitude of service.
That is the attitude and action they use in determining the agenda, speaking schedule, and outreach. Each man serves a rotating term and is recruited from core attendees. These men have a passion for the ISI ministry, love the men, and are dedicated to faithful service.