Camp.
Cook.
Compete.
Join 100 or so of your new best friends who are passionate about serving Jesus, serving their families, and serving their community.
BECOMING MAN is a movement of God centered around returning men to their proper purpose on the earth, something that is so needed in our culture today. You don’t have to look very far back into the annals of American history to see that honorable men are disappearing before our very eyes. Honorable men who demonstrate true masculinity. Men who are a man’s man.
A man who not only demonstrates the physical qualities of ruggedness but who also possess mental toughness and emotional strength.
A man who says what he means and means what he says.
A man who recognizes the importance of honesty.
A man of noble principle.
A man without covetousness.
A man who cannot be bribed or bullied.
A man committed to manly virtues.
A man who is the head of his home and knows how to control and discipline his children.
A man who loves justice but also knows tenderness and mercy.
A man who fears God and shows reverence for that which is sacred.
A man who knows the difference between the rule of law and the lust for power.
On the whole, our society today has little tolerance for such men.
Even in our churches, masculinity is dying.
BECOMING MAN seeks to reverse the current trend in our culture as we take men on a journey of self-discovery and self-mastery.
It began in 2018 when Pastor Chris Sykes, after nearly 20 years in ministry, recognized that the local church desperately needed two things to grow: biblically masculine men and marriages built on the Word. He decided that if it didn’t do anything else, West End Church was going to invest in MEN and MARRIAGES. That’s when he reached out to Pastor IV Marsh in Decatur, AL to join the Becoming Man Movement, centered around returning men to their proper purpose on the earth, and also began to host Becoming One marriage conferences featuring Pastor IV and his wife Bené.
Since then, West End Church has watched men begin to read and live the word of God. We have seen many men trust Jesus, be baptized, and baptize their own families. We’ve seen marriages align, husbands begin to wash their wives in the Word, fathers develop family core values, and men of all ages call out and defeat the temptations of pornography.
And along the way, West End Church has grown - deep AND wide.
In 2022, we began partnering with other churches across DeSoto County, and in 2024 we officially formed the DeSoto County Chapter of Becoming Man, which gave birth to Man Church DeSoto County.
Each year, we host monthly breakfast Bible studies, travel together to the annual Becoming Man Global Summit in Decaut, AL, camp out locally and do man stuff at our own annual TerraForma, and host nights of worship and teaching centered around the man’s identity in Christ as Prophet, Priest, King, and Warrior.
Level 1 - IAM4 Conference T-Shirt
This shirt can only be attained by attending an officially sanctioned Becoming Man conference.
Level 2 - Warrior Shirt
This shirt has WARRIOR emblazoned across the front chest, the Becoming Man logo on one sleeve and a fleur de lis on the opposite sleeve. The back of the shirt includes Psalm 144:1. To reach the 2nd level, and to have the honor of wearing one of these shirts, you must accomplish ALL the following:
Apply. There is a $100 application fee plus a $5.00 shipping/handling fee to complete the Warrior Shirt Process. This fee is to be paid when submitting the application. Application will be made to your local Becoming Man chapter.
Applicants must:
🔘Actively participate in a Small Group.
🔘Consistently give a percentage of each paycheck to your local church.
🔘Be actively serving on the volunteer team of the partnering church.
🔘Attend the mid-year Terra Forma gathering.
🔘Attend the Becoming Man Conference to receive your shirt.
NOTE: The IAM4 Warrior Shirt can be revoked should any of the preceding cease to be true. This is not a level to be achieved. Being an IAM4 Warrior is who you are, not what you did.
Level 3 - Becoming Man Ring
To reach level 3 you have the honor of wearing the IAM4 ring, you must continue in your journey in manhood and accomplish the following:
🔘You must be a current Becoming Man Warrior in good standing.
🔘Complete an IAM4 ring application. There is a $350 application fee plus a $5.00 shipping/handling fee to complete the Becoming Man Ring Process. This fee is to be paid when
submitting the application to your local Becoming Mann organization.
🔘Complete an interview with the Becoming Man board.
🔘Be active in the Becoming Man movement for a minimum of 2 years.
🔘Lead/Teach a men’s only small group.
🔘Be actively serving on a volunteer team.
🔘Consistently tithe 10% of your gross income at a minimum to your local church.
🔘Attend the mid-year Becoming Man gathering.
🔘Attend the Becoming Man Summit. (Rings will be distributed at an Awards celebration at your local chapter.)
NOTE: The Becoming Man ring can be revoked should any of the preceding cease to be true. This is not a level to be achieved. Being a Becoming Man ring bearer is who you are, not what you did.
Level 4 - Becoming Man Necklace
The final level of accomplishment on the Becoming Man journey is the seven-sided IAM4 polygon necklace. The seven sides of the necklace represent the seven IAM4 core values and virtues. To reach the 4TH level, and to have the honor of wearing the IAM4 necklace, you must accomplish the following:
🔘You must be a current Becoming Man Ring bearer in good standing.
🔘Complete the IAM4 pendant application. There is a $250 application fee plus a $5.00 shipping/handling fee to complete the IAM4 Pendant Process. This fee is to be paid when
submitting the application to your local IAM4 organization.
🔘Complete an interview with the Becoming Man board.
🔘Be active in the Becoming Man movement for a minimum of 3 years.
Display the IAM4 attributes through the following:
- PROPHET - You must teach a small group and actively serve on your church volunteer team.
- PRIEST - Understand prayer and have a consistent prayer/Bible study time
- KING –Manage the Resources of your home effectively. Consistently tithe 10% of your gross income to your local church and keep your household finances in order by having at least one months cost of living in a savings account. Give at least $1000 annually above the tithe as an offering.
- WARRIOR - You must obtain and maintain good physical, mental, and emotional health.
Note: The IAM4 Necklace can be revoked by the partnering church or the IAM4, LLC staff if any of the following cease to be true. Wearing the necklace is an indication of who you have become, not a list of things you once accomplished.
We are often asked, "What should I read?". Here is a list of books recommended by Pastor Chris Sykes, Pastor IV Marsh and other Becoming Man Pastors. The books are organized by what area of IAM4 (Prophet, Priest, King, Warrior) it applies to. Click the book you want to read, order it, and become a better version of yourself for the Glory of God.
PROPHET
PRIEST
KING
WARRIOR