As the new director of Men’s Ministry Catalyst based in Post Falls, Eddie Bateman speaks boldly about what he believes is coming to North Idaho and nationwide. 

This organization, with global reach already, is poised to do even greater things, he said.

“It's going to unleash a discipleship revolution in men’s ministry around the country,” the Post Falls man said. 

Jim Grassi, founder of this ministry in the Bay Area nearly 50 years ago, before moving it to Post Falls, echoed those words. 

“It's time for men to step up,” Grassi said. “You have to step up and take your place.” 

And that place, he said, is as the leaders of the family and becoming godly men, fathers, husbands and friends. 

“A family that works, prays and serves together is powerful,” said Grassi, who has written more than 20 books that have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. “I’m very excited about the future.” 

Grassi, a longtime hunter and fisherman, started what was originally called “Let’s Go Fishing Ministry, Inc.” with a focus on outdoors, men and God. It was later changed to “Men’s Ministry Catalyst." The emphasis was on helping men understand their role as defined in the Bible. 

The ministry expanded to help churches and denominations develop “vibrant and dynamic ministries to men.” 

"We realized if we didn’t get the man, we didn’t get the family,” Grassi said. 

Most churches, Grassi found, did not have discipleship programs for men, much beyond the usual pancake breakfast. He wanted to change that. MMC works with more than 100 churches nationwide by providing training, resources and motivation to help pastors create ministries for men. 

It has connected with opportunities in Mexico, Canada, Kenya and New Zealand.

“Families become stronger, church membership increases, and men feel more fulfilled when they gain a greater understanding of their role as it relates to fulfilling the Great Commission,” according to the Men’s Ministry Catalyst website. 

After 45 years of leading the ministry, Grassi and his wife, Louise, are handing off the reins to Bateman, who previously worked nearly 20 years at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls before working as a development officer for two years with the Small Business Administration. 

In the last year, MMC merged with Relational Discipleship Network, also based in Post Falls, which teaches, coaches, models and promotes discipleship with hundreds of churches every year. 

“When you have a church already committed to truly making disciples who make disciples, it is much more efficient and effective for MMC to gain access and work with the men of that church," according to MMC. "You are creating a ministry or initiative to which the overall church is already committed. With MMC’s resources and coaching models, we are building the men who can impact the family, church, community and marketplace."

Grassi plans to continue writing and speaking, but said his goal now is to assist Bateman, someone he described as having the heart and faith to do the job well. 

“God's given me a tremendous blessing and grace this year,” Grassi said. “I want to finish well.” 

Bateman said the MMC has a strong foundation and believes there is an opportunity for it to grow. He looks forward to working with churches nationwide “to think practically and creatively” in developing men as leaders.

“To think that we can be a lightning rod to do the same thing for churches around the country is really exciting,” Bateman said. 

Bateman recalled how other men invested in him when he came to Christ at the age of 23, and the impact it had on his life. Today, as a husband and father, he said he is passionate about helping men to be the men that they are called to be, "for their homes, for their families, their children, their wives."

“If we don’t do our part, who will?” Bateman said. “There is a need. The culture needs us more than ever to step up."