The Code
- Jesus is my Captain, Brother, Rescuer and Friend.
- I owe everything to Him. I will do anything for Him.
- I will unashamedly make Him known through my actions and words.
- I will not cheat in anything, personal or professional.
- I will look away from the gutter, but be prepared to pull people out of it.
- I will keep my body fit and free from any addictions.
- I will put the welfare of those closest to me before my own welfare.
- I will treat all men and women as brothers and sisters.
- I will lead as He would lead. I will honour my leaders provided this also honours Him. I will follow Him in company with my sisters and brothers.
- I will use my strength to protect the weak and stand against the abuse of power.
- I will protect the world that God has made.
- If I fail I will not give up. He never gives up on me.
"During a weekend of speaking and conferencing in London, Dean (CVM Managing Director) and I were heading back on the Northern Line to our hotel, when Dean spotted a woman being forced aggressively against a wall by a man. Our train was in the station with the doors open. It looked like it was going to get nasty and as Dean got out of his seat I saw the woman try to slap the man in the face to get him away. He was so close to her and so forceful that she couldn’t get her hands free properly. She looked terrified. Not good.
Ironic in the extreme was the fact that we had just finished a men’s day where we had been highlighting the excellent work being done by Restored (a global coalition to provide a Christian response to violence against women). Peter Grant, one of the co-directors had encouraged the men present to take a stand where necessary against violent men and not stand idly by.
Seconds later we were confronting him. Shielding the woman we firmly asked him to move away. At the same time, a platform announcement was made to the man, asking him to “stop harassing the lady.” However, this guy wasn’t up for stopping. Turning to me and getting right into my face he told me “@$£% Off” and asked me what I intended to do about it. Aggressive and threatening is an understatement.
I think you have a choice in these moments; It was central London and it was late. You have no idea what’s going to happen next. It all happens quickly. You have questions to process instantly. Did he have a knife? Was he going to go on the offensive? Its essentially a two choice scenario. You either stand your ground or you step back. We moved forward and told him firmly, several times whilst locking his gaze to “step back”.
Eventually he did and after a few minutes of standing guard, assistance came and he was led away.
At one point I had turned to the other men on the train and asked if a few others would join us. I had the thought that if a handful of guys were gathered around, it would pressure him to back down. No one moved. No surprise there.
When I developed “The Code” one of the statements (Code X) ended up being, “I will use my strength to protect the weak and stand against the abuse of power.” In that moment she was in a very weak position and he was the abuser of power. You can’t sit back.
The lady actually told us, with tears running down her cheeks that she would be ok. There was a look on her face that somehow told me she had been there before with this guy. I didn’t move untill assistance arrived.
I’m grateful that the train driver refused to move the train until he knew she was ok. I’m grateful for the announcer. I’m grateful it didn’t get violent when we stepped in. It was strengthening to be with Dean, another man of conviction, both of us standing shoulder to shoulder. It was disappointing to see all those men refusing to move or burying their heads in their newspapers or books, pretending that nothing was happening.
Please check out Restored and The Code. Also see the movement called First Man Standing we are helping to promote.
I pray the lady was ok. I hope she leaves that man. I hope he had a wakeup call. I pray that one day there will be a big enough groundswell so that these incidents become fewer. I hope that more men will be prepared to confront rather than shrink away.
When I read Luke 4:18 I don’t see a passive call to justice. I see a call to stand in the gap when we need to and take a hit if necessary, even putting yourself in harm’s way if that’s what’s required. That seems to me, to be a redeemed use of my strength."
see Christian Vision For Men and Codelife for more information
Ironic in the extreme was the fact that we had just finished a men’s day where we had been highlighting the excellent work being done by Restored (a global coalition to provide a Christian response to violence against women). Peter Grant, one of the co-directors had encouraged the men present to take a stand where necessary against violent men and not stand idly by.
Seconds later we were confronting him. Shielding the woman we firmly asked him to move away. At the same time, a platform announcement was made to the man, asking him to “stop harassing the lady.” However, this guy wasn’t up for stopping. Turning to me and getting right into my face he told me “@$£% Off” and asked me what I intended to do about it. Aggressive and threatening is an understatement.
I think you have a choice in these moments; It was central London and it was late. You have no idea what’s going to happen next. It all happens quickly. You have questions to process instantly. Did he have a knife? Was he going to go on the offensive? Its essentially a two choice scenario. You either stand your ground or you step back. We moved forward and told him firmly, several times whilst locking his gaze to “step back”.
Eventually he did and after a few minutes of standing guard, assistance came and he was led away.
At one point I had turned to the other men on the train and asked if a few others would join us. I had the thought that if a handful of guys were gathered around, it would pressure him to back down. No one moved. No surprise there.
When I developed “The Code” one of the statements (Code X) ended up being, “I will use my strength to protect the weak and stand against the abuse of power.” In that moment she was in a very weak position and he was the abuser of power. You can’t sit back.
The lady actually told us, with tears running down her cheeks that she would be ok. There was a look on her face that somehow told me she had been there before with this guy. I didn’t move untill assistance arrived.
I’m grateful that the train driver refused to move the train until he knew she was ok. I’m grateful for the announcer. I’m grateful it didn’t get violent when we stepped in. It was strengthening to be with Dean, another man of conviction, both of us standing shoulder to shoulder. It was disappointing to see all those men refusing to move or burying their heads in their newspapers or books, pretending that nothing was happening.
Please check out Restored and The Code. Also see the movement called First Man Standing we are helping to promote.
I pray the lady was ok. I hope she leaves that man. I hope he had a wakeup call. I pray that one day there will be a big enough groundswell so that these incidents become fewer. I hope that more men will be prepared to confront rather than shrink away.
When I read Luke 4:18 I don’t see a passive call to justice. I see a call to stand in the gap when we need to and take a hit if necessary, even putting yourself in harm’s way if that’s what’s required. That seems to me, to be a redeemed use of my strength."
see Christian Vision For Men and Codelife for more information