We Few, We Happy Few, We Band Of Brothers

The Leadership - There are no paid employees or staff in the Band of Brothers' Ministry - we are all volunteers who have united together for a common cause.  The ministry is led by a group of men who desire to direct all the focus and glory on Jesus Christ our Lord and King. We agree with the words of Paul, "We don't go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord. All we say about ourselves is that we are your servants because of what Jesus has done for us." (2 Cor. 4:5) So our names are not important. We want all the focus to be centered on one name - Jesus Christ!   That being said, we also are not trying to hide.  

Although there are about 15-20 men locally here in Colorado Springs who join us regularly in this adventure we call "Band of Brothers," here are the three core members of the volunteer leadership team.  Vance Brown on the right: husband, father, CEO of Cherwell Software, and founder/speaker/author for Band of Brothers.  Pete Gannon in the middle: husband, father, head of two video production companies - Next Direction and Light Videos - and the technical wizard for Band of Brothers.  Matt Dealy is on the left: husband, father, Executive Director for Foundation of the Heart and facilitator/retreat coordinator/adventure director for Band of Brothers.  We have no paid staff.  We are all ordained ministers through Next Leadership Association.  Additionally, we have an advisory board led by Wes Roberts of Leadership Design Group in Denver, Colorado.  United together we all are in the trenches of life just as you are, and we know what it means to be engaged in the battles of life!  But we refuse to fight alone!  

We understand that we should be held accountable for the content in our site and how we lead our lives, our families, and this ministry. We do not want to distort, manipulate, or falsely represent the Word of God. Accordingly, we all are active in a local protestant church with local church accountability andwe have multiple churches and organizations to whom we are willing to submit to their authority in the event any concern or issue with this ministry cannot be resolved directly with us.  If you are a believer and follower of Christ and have any concerns with the content on this site, please contact us.  
 

The Name "Band of Brothers" - The term, "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers," comes from a line in the famous speech in Henry V in Shakespeare's classic play (Act 4, sc. 3).  This speech was given by King Henry of England to motivate and rally his tired and worn out army that was being called upon to enter a relentless battle against the French.  Shakespeare's story was taken from an historical confrontation, called the "battle of Agincourt" that was fought on October 25, 1415 (St. Crispin's Day).  The English army was outnumbered 5 to 1.   (It was like the overwhelming odds that we sometimes feel as Christian disciples in the battles that we face.)  But Shakespeare's King Henry cast a vision with his call to battle - convincing his men that fighting in this noble cause was worth their very lives.  His speech convinces his men that they did not want to miss out on a battle that would be talked about through the ending of the world! 

This is the goal of the Band of Brothers' ministry - to cast a vision to our tired and warn out generation of men and to challenge them to engage in the noble purpose for which we were created.  We want to motivate and inspire men by echoing the call of Christ to be willing to give up everything for Him - no matter the cost.  For we do not want to miss out on a noble mission and legacy that will echo throughout eternity! 

 The term "we happy few" has much Biblical symbolism to describe those who consider the cost and then choose to make a decision to follow Christ.  The apostle Paul talks about one of the real rewards and benefits of learning to live a life of a true disciple of Christ:  "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little."  (Phil. 4:11  NLT)  But after weighing the costs, few will say "yes" to the call to be a disciple:  “The gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”  (Math. 7:14  NLT)   

Jesus also says, “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.”  (Math. 9:37  NLT).  We believe God is raising up an army of His true disciples - the "few" who have answered the call to engage with our King "no matter the cost."  Are you one of the happy few who will answer the call and say "Yes!" to the call of Jesus?  The Band of Brothers have made the decision to fight for a truly noble cause - the cause of Christ.  And we understand that such a battle cannot be fought alone - we need other brothers in our foxholes!

We partner with churches across the country to put on Band of Brothers' retreats.  And we desire to assist the local church in raising up a Band of Brothers from their local congregations.  Fully devoted men are needed to lead our families, our communities, and the church during these most important days - maybe the last days ....!

Rally Speech of Henry V (Excerpt taken from William Shakespeare's classic play, Henry V) Scene overview:  The English armies are tired and ready to quit.  Yet the French armies, who outnumber the English 5 to 1, are fresh and are ready for war.  King Henry had to inspire his men to enter the battle despite the overwhelming odds against them. WESTMORELAND Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand. EXETER There's five to one.  Besides, they are all fresh. SALISBURY God's arm strike with us!  'Tis fearful odds. WESTMORELAND O, that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work today. KING HENRY What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland?  No, my fair cousin. If we are marked to die, we are enough To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honor. God's will, I pray thee wish not one man more. By Jove, I am not covetous for gold, Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not if men my garments wear; Such outward things dwell not in my desires. But if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive. No, 'faith, my coz, wish not a man  from England. God's peace, I would not lose so great an honor, As one man more, methinks, would share from me, For the best hope I have.  O, do not wish one more! Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, That he which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart.  His passport shall be made, And crowns for convoy put into his purse. We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is called the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand o’ tiptoe when the day is named And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors, And say ‘Tomorrow is Saint Crispian:’ Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispian’s day.’ Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he’ll remember with advantages What feats he did that day.  Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth as household words, Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered - We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother, be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day. (Henry V, Act 4. Sc. 3)   Imagine now the words Paul might have said to rally Christ's followers to unite!