2025
COGOP National Men’s Ministry | Eastern Canada
2025 has been a good year for men’s ministry! Yes, this ministry is definitely challenging, yes it can be hard to motivate men in some areas, and yes it seems that leading men can feel like an uphill battle at times. However, men are the tenacious, and when they are motivated and posses burning commitment in their hearts, success will be achieved.
National Theme
The national theme for the 2025/2026 year is…
“Aspiring Towards a Job-like Engagement”.
The context of this idea can be seen when we look carefully into the Old Testament book of Job. He is a complex character who suffered much loss, and experienced profound grief and frustration. He was a mess, and his life was an emotional roller coaster. Yet, he didn’t quit his faith or “cursed God”, however he needed a perspective changing encounter, which then resulted in an explosion of trust and contentment in his life. (Read Job 38 – 42)
A Spiritual Gatekeeper
This story is contexted with God’s description of Job as being a “perfect” and “upright” man. Interestingly enough, one of the things we may overlook was Job’s level of engagement in his spheres of influence. He was socially engaged in his community -we know this because he lost his social status. He provided for and protected his family with his enormous wealth -which he also lost. More importantly, we sometimes skip over his spiritual engagement with his children. Continually, before any of his trials begun, the Bible says that Job sent for his sons, sanctified and offered sacrifices for each of them -just in case they accidentally cursed God in their hearts. He was a spiritual gate keeper engaged with those he influenced and those that were around him. It is with this type of focus and planning we had in our major Men’s Ministry events as we sought to inspire a culture of engagement in our men in Eastern Canada.
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Our Year in Review
Let’s take a look back at some of the National and Local highlights of 2025.
East Regional Event
We started the year with the East Regional partnership with the National Kingdom Kids Connect on Saturday March 8th.
One of our guiding focuses is to be a strong ally with our boys, girls and young men and young women. In the past we have planned field trips to the ROM and the Metro Toronto Zoo, but last year we supported the Children’s Ministry through transportation and promotion of their event. We also had a separate session for our men on that day.
Click here to see more pictures and to dive deeper into this event.
GTA Mid Regional Event
On Saturday June 28th our first regional men’s conference happened at the Spring Community Church under the leadership of the director Rodney Pringle and assistant Howard Clarke. This inaugurated an important theme and value that resonated throughout the year: men’s mental health.
Click here to see more pictures and to dive deeper into this event.
West Regional Event
Toward the end of the year director Heatman Nickleford and assistant Garrnett Manning provided a well supported coda with the annual men and young men’s leadership conference. Not only was it an informative event, but it was community focussed, and again there was a focus on men’s mental health.
Please click here to see more pictures and to dive deeper into this event.
Men and Young Men’s National Retreat
The national “pièce de résistance” -our outstanding feature- was the Men and Young Men’s Retreat held October 31 – Nov 2 in Cornwall Ontario. This was our second retreat that occurred -after our prior seven year absence. It was a powerful event, a spiritual feast on God’s perspective, engagement with a focus on men’s mental health.
Please click here to see more pictures and to dive deeper into this event.
Thank you men and young men of Eastern Canada for your support and commitment during 2025. Without you, last year could never have happened! The National Men’s Ministry Team and I are here to help, support and serve you and your local men’s ministry.
Israel Harriott | National Men’s Director COGOP Eastern Canada
Save the Dates
East Regional Fathers and Kids Trip – Saturday March 14, 2026
GTA Mid Regional Men and Young Men’s Conference – Saturday June 13, 2026
National Men and Young Men’s Weekend Retreat – October 16 – 18, 2026
West Regional Men and Young Men’s Conference – Saturday March 27, 2027 (New Date)
Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know needs support or a mental health check up, as well as speaking with your local leaders and pastors, below are some individuals and organizations you may also contact.
Jermaine Morrison
– Registered Social Worker | Psychotherapist
Profile: Contact Jermaine | (289) 210-4755
Francis Physiotherapy & Consulting | www.francispsychotherapy.com
Dr. Shane Joseph
– Registered Social Worker | Psychotherapist | Consultant Managing Director
New Journey Consulting Inc | newjourneyconsultinginc@gmail.com
Profile: Contact Dr. Shane | (647) 846 9434
Joseph Nwabudike
– Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist
Roots Community Services Inc. | www.rootscs.org
36 Queen St. E. Lower Level, Brampton, ON L6V 1A2
P: 905-455-6789 EXT 152 | C: 416-524-0102
BAC Community Support Line: 647-812-8545
Life Care Centres
“We offer you a safe place to talk with a professional and caring person, who is trained to help you work through any challenges you may be facing. LCC will find the right psychotherapist for you, many of whom specialize in counselling for specific issues and offer many years of experience.“
Andrew E. Guy
– Resiliency Coach, Author, Leadership and Development Trainer
The Genesis Man Project 