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Chief Development Officer
Operations Manager
Forge Zimbabwe Director
Biblical Counselor, AMFT
Biblical Counselor, LCMFT
Biblical Counselor
Biblical Counselor, LCSW, LSCSW
Jesus Christ is the central focus in all we do at The Forge. The only catalyst to true, lasting healing is faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Only by following His example of servant leadership can man begin to find purpose and wholeness in his life.
At The Forge, everything we set out to accomplish is “for the glory of God.” In accordance with this desire, we strive for the highest degree of quality, competency, and effectiveness.
Honor is the quality of being honest and living out strong moral principles without compromise. Honor epitomizes the ideals of The Forge as a Christian organization and describes what we strive to instill in
men.
Courage is the willingness of men to confront selfishness, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation, no matter the circumstance. It means commitment to think and act according to Biblical truths whenever faced with the choice between right and wrong, good and evil.
Christ commands that “the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.” (Luke 22:26). At The Forge we seek to be men who lead by example through service. Only when we live out humility by considering others greater than ourselves will we love one another as
Christ loves us (Philippians 2:3).
At the Forge, we seek to be authentic in every interaction and to eliminate false pretense. Trust and growth will only occur within relationships if men are real, open, and transparent. Considering this, all that is said and done in groups or between individuals is held in strictest
confidence, especially between
counselor or coach and client.
Jesus Christ is the central focus in all we do at The Forge. The only catalyst to true, lasting healing is faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Only by following His example of servant leadership can man begin to find purpose and wholeness in his life.
At The Forge, everything we set out to accomplish is “for the glory of God.” In accordance with this desire, we strive for the highest degree of quality, competency, and effectiveness.
Honor is the quality of being honest and living out strong moral principles without compromise. Honor epitomizes the ideals of The Forge as a Christian organization and describes what we strive to instill in men.
Courage is the willingness of men to confront selfishness, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation, no matter the circumstance. It means commitment to think and act according to Biblical truths whenever faced with the choice between right and wrong, good and evil.
Christ commands that “the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.” (Luke 22:26). At The Forge we seek to be men who lead by example through service. Only when we live out humility by considering others greater than ourselves will we love one another as Christ loves us (Philippians 2:3).
At the Forge, we seek to be authentic in every interaction and to eliminate false pretense. Trust and growth will only occur within relationships if men are real, open, and transparent. Considering this, all that is said and done in groups or between individuals is held in strictest confidence, especially between counselor or coach and client.
The Forge is a faith-based (Christian), non-denominational 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. We are not a church, but a non-profit organization that works alongside churches, and men who are associated with them. We seek to affirm and place our trust in the central Christian belief that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord, and we welcome partnerships with churches and organizations who do the same.
Furthermore, we recognize that we are called by God to be His representatives and His presence in the world. In our organizational practices, as well as in our professional and personal lives, we seek to honor God by living according to Biblical standards of Christian character and moral conduct.
We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Forge is a faith-based (Christian), non-denominational 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. We are not a church, but a non-profit organization that works alongside churches, and men who are associated with them. We seek to affirm and place our trust in the central Christian belief that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord, and we welcome partnerships with churches and organizations who do the same.
Furthermore, we recognize that we are called by God to be His representatives and His presence in the world. In our organizational practices, as well as in our professional and personal lives, we seek to honor God by living according to Biblical standards of Christian character and moral conduct.
We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and We look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Forge offers biblical counseling to provide hope and help with the difficulties and temptations all men face. We are not a licensed counseling agency but our biblical counselors have advanced degrees, certifications, and decades of experience in Christian counseling along with years of professional experience in churches and in the business world.
The Forge offers biblical counseling to provide hope and help with the difficulties and temptations all men face. We are not a licensed counseling agency, but our biblical counselors have advanced degrees, certifications, and decades of experience in Christian counseling along with years of professional experience in churches and in the business world.
The Forge Initiative Inc
6550 Sprint Pkwy, Suite 200
Overland Park, KS 66211
Jeff serves as Executive Director and as a part of the biblical counseling team at The Forge. Prior to this, Jeff received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in engineering and worked in the engineering field designing power plants from 2012-2021. Though he enjoyed engineering and problem solving, Jeff found purpose and meaning as he developed trusted friendships among the men he worked with through daily workouts, sports leagues, bible studies, and camping trips.
These men showed Jeff that trusted friends and mentors who are willing to provide wise counsel are invaluable to a man’s walk with Christ. As Jeff became increasingly aware that these relationships are often rare among men today, the desire to help other men develop trusted relationships and fise wise biblical counsel became a calling in 2021, and he left his job as a mechanical engineer to pursue a Masters Degree in Biblical Counseling and to co-found The Forge. He is driven now by his desire for men to experience freedom from addiction, hope amidst depression, and purpose for life by building on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.
Jeff met Kaila in high school and they have been married for 13 years. They have 5 kids, Iven, Elayne, Jeromiah, Symeon, and Judah. They serve to keep Jeff on his toes spiritually, mentally, and of course physically. To make a long story short, Jeff is blessed with an incredible family!
When not with his family or at The Forge, Jeff enjoys working in the garden, playing any kind of sport, and going on survival trips with other men.
Since 2008, Tim has been dedicated to full-time ministry, spanning from his missionary work in Brazil to his involvement in anti-human trafficking efforts. His journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to deep, transformational discipleship, driven by his profound love for the word of God.
In his current role as the Chief Development Officer at The Forge, Tim’s vision is clear: to empower men to embrace their calling and fulfill their God-given potential. Through his leadership, Tim aspires to cultivate an environment where individuals are equipped to become the transformative forces they were meant to be.
Chad has been a part of the Forge staff since August of 2023. In the previous 20+ years, he served the local church in a variety of ways. Worship and discipleship ministries have made up the most of the past two decades since graduating from Trinity International University. With a deep love of theology, people, conversation and music he has a passion to bring people together, for the purpose of intentional and relational gospel opportunities that lead to true hope and healing found only in Jesus. For spiritual growth, Chad sees a deep connection when going deeper with God personally, discipling others and being in a gospel-centered community. Feeling a shift in his calling from worship and toward biblical counseling
Chad is now privileged to be a part of The Forge team. Having experienced his own share of anxiety and depression and getting the help he needed, he is now excited to be a part of an organization that is committed to help other men find trusted friends, grow in their personal leadership and seek wise counsel. As operations manager at the Forge Chad floats between the everyday organizational details, finances. scheduling, event planning, communication, mentoring, and just about anything else that comes up in a non-profit organization. Chad is in the process of getting a certification in biblical counseling as well.
Chad has been married to Renae since 2007, has three children and two dogs. He loves to read, hike, travel, take photos and spend time outdoors, especially in the mountains, with his family.
Matthew Mbanga serves within The Forge as life coach and leadership consultant while also making The Forge’s International by carrying out its vision and mission in Zimbabwe!
Outside of The Forge, Matthew received both his MBA and Doctorate in Transformational Leadership and served as CEO of Foundations for Farming, an organization that equips impoverished farming communities through faithful stewardship of the land from 2020-2024. Matthew continually runs school and corporate team-building and leadership development camps and events throughout Zimbabwe. He also leads week-long adventure-based experiential learning camps for hundreds of teenagers twice a year and is passionate about equipping and inspiring young men to embrace authentic masculinity. He has also served as a pastor at his local church for the last 9 years.
Matt and his wife, Lauren, live in Harare having lived in a rural area of Zimbabwe for five years serving small-scale farmers and communities and teaching Zimbabweans to apply the gospel of Jesus Christ to their lives through training in leadership and conservation agriculture. The Mbangas have 4 children (two daughters and two sons) and indulge their love of adventure as they serve communities and inspire people to take a leadership role in their own lives.
Dr. John Blackburn is co-founder of The Forge with nearly 40 years of pastoral ministry in Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas. Holding Bachelor of Arts, Master of Religious Education, and Doctor of Religious Studies degrees, he is also a Board Certified Christian Counselor and Professional Certified Life Coach. At The Forge, John serves as the head of biblical counseling services, while also contributing significantly to our publications and biblical counseling materials. He also serves as a Corporate Chaplain and has his own private counseling practice called Soul Care Services.
John’s passion lies in ministering to couples, families, men, and anyone in need. John and his wife, Beth, have been happily married since 1982, with three married children and twelve grandchildren.
Clay Rojas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. He’s an associate marriage and family therapist practicing in CA remotely, now living in Kansas City. The major focus of Clay’s work has been on youth and young adults. Over the last several years Clay has also been helping military veterans and first responders heal from trauma, and addiction while they attempt to heal their marriages. Clay draws deeply on his faith in Jesus and his personal story of tragedy to triumph to help inspire his clients. He is living proof that God’s power is real! God has given Clay a deep burden for men and men’s issues.
Clay is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a former police (SWAT) officer and decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps (2001-2005). Clay was honorably discharged from military service in 2005. If you become a client you will probably meet Clay’s service dog, “Six”.
When he is not working on refining his craft, Clay is busy trying to be a good husband and father.
Michael Schiferl is a Christian licensed marriage and family therapist. Michael’s desire as a therapist is to help men struggling with PTSD and anxiety find help and healing in Christ while utilizing techniques he’s learned throughout his education.
Michael is the owner of Trailhead Counseling Services in Overland Park. After completing his undergraduate degree at Kansas State University, he received a master’s in marriage and family therapy from Auburn University. Michael has experience working with child abuse survivors, first responders, and men struggling with a variety of anxiety disorders. His hope is that his clients will become better friends, fathers, and sons of God through counseling.
Michael and his wife, Alyssa, have been married for almost two years. They have one son named Bennett.
Jeremy is a founding member of The Forge and serves as a Biblical Counselor.
Jeremy has earned a Master of Religion–Pastoral Counseling degree, graduating with High Distinction from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia in 2020. He also has earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas.
Jeremy and his wife, Celsea, have been happily married since 2008. They have two young children and have been foster parents to eleven other children at various times in the past.
Jeremy’s passion areas are ministering to anyone seeking to overcome an abusive background, helping men to be servant leaders to their families, and providing caring support for anyone in need. He aims to help men overcome the obstacles that life so often throws their way which can prevent them from being the husbands, fathers, sons, friends and mentors they would like to be. Through critical self-examination and sound biblical tools, Jeremy helps men come to a greater understanding of who God made them to be and helps them live in light of that gift.
