about us
Every person lives in the middle of three generations. We are always being shaped and influenced by the generation before us. Where we came from is significant, and our story always has a significant impact on who we are and where we are headed.
Our story also helps shape what we are passing down to the next generation after us. The Bible is clear that we will directly influence our children, our children’s children, and all of those that God has placed under our care - even down to the third and fourth generations.
Will we pass down generational brokenness? Or will we pass down generational blessing? Will we break the patterns that need to be broken? Or will we perpetuate things that we wish we could have changed?
FEATURED BLOG POSTS
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness.”
WHY WE EXIST
3GEN Ministries endeavors to come alongside God’s people and help equip them to make life-changing investments in the next generation. We exist to provide unique discipleship and spiritual growth opportunities for men and their families. This is accomplished primarily through small group discipleship, family ministry events, and leadership development; with a strong focus on the areas of Biblical manhood and its implications on family (marriage and parenting) and the uniquely male impact in the workplace and in our great community.
Our simple hope is to come alongside men to help them fight the battle for their hearts in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to authentic, Biblical manhood. We believe that gender and marriage are worth fighting for. We believe that the next generation of children being raised today need the strong leadership and clear direction of engaged, Godly fathers in their homes. And we believe that men were created to have deep, authentic relationships with one another.
what we do
3GEN Ministries exists to provide unique discipleship and spiritual growth opportunities for men and their families. Here are a handful of the connecting opportunities and events that help accomplish that purpose.
NEXT LEVEL MEN’s discipleship groups
This core, 9-month discipleship experience challenges men to go deeper in their relationships with Christ and with one another. Including in-depth Bible study, book study, scripture memory, regular fellowship, and accountability, this curriculum is designed to take men to the Next Level.
REALMAN FATHER/SON DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS
REALMAN is a long-term discipleship program for fathers and sons. When a group of men decide to raise their sons in community with others, their influence is extended in immeasurable ways. Based on Biblical manhood teaching, storytelling, work projects, community, and teaching “man skills", boys are intentionally developed into men over time.
PURSUIT MEN'S WEEKEND
Men were created and designed by God to uniquely reflect His image to the world. One of the core capacities of authentic manhood is the call to PURSUE. Just as God has pursued us, we are made to pursue God, our wives, our children, and our friends. Our PURSUIT should make the world around us a better place for everyone that God has placed in our lives. This annual equipping weekend will serve as a catalyst for new relationships and growing spiritual leadership back home.
daddy daughter dance
Every dad with a daughter dreams of ways that he can lovingly lead and shepherd his princess through her childhood development years. But every dad also struggles with creative and meaningful ways to do this. This annual event provides a social atmosphere of fun and delight, and purposefully incorporates meaningful moments of blessing and affirmation for fathers and their special girls.
3GEN outdoors
God’s creation provides the perfect environment for us to learn who we are and what we are made of. With 3GEN Outdoors, men and their families can enjoy hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, or just about any adventure we can dream up.
BY DESIGN MARRIAGE RETREATS
Men and women are different, there is no meaningful argument against this reality. Contrary to the popular cultural narrative, this difference in gender is a purposeful, intentional design that God ordained for His people. These weekend retreats will provide an experience that will deeply enrich your marriage. Couples will connect deeply, laugh heartily, learn to communicate openly and honestly, and enjoy building friendships with other couples who are experiencing the same struggles, doubts, & disappointments.
training camp
An essential component of following Christ is serving and giving one’s life away for the blessing and benefit of others. Jesus lived His life on earth as a perfect example of this. TRAINING CAMP is an annual mission trip aimed at serving, discipleship, and leadership development. Whether on the impoverished island of Haiti or in the broken culture of Eleuthera, men and families will learn to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Jesus.
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.”
OUR staff
ED Sweeny
DIRECTOR
Ed brings over 30 years of ministry experience to 3GEN Ministries. After 17 years on staff with Young Life in Tennessee, Ed and his family moved to Greenville, SC with CLC, a discipleship ministry to men. Ed was on pastoral staff at Grace Church for 8 years until the spring of 2018, when he joined with a group of men from Upstate SC to launch 3GEN Ministries. He and Renee have been married 28 years and have 3 children.
josh pedersen
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Josh brings over 20 years of full-time ministry experience to his new role with 3GEN. He has served for 15 years in local church pastoral ministry and was one of the founding pastors of Summit church in Winter Park FL. and served with several other churches in Upstate SC. For the past 7 years, Josh was the founder and president of Vox, a school dedicated to developing young adults into capable followers of Christ through intentional discipleship, authentic community, and great adventure.
His role as Associate Director includes men’s discipleship, curriculum and content development, leadership development, and taking 3GEN’s outdoor adventure programs to a new level.
Josh and his wife Olivia have been married for 23 years and live in Travelers Rest with their four children.
travis runion
COMMUNICATIONS
After helping launch 3GEN in 2018 as a volunteer and board member, Travis joined the 3GEN staff in 2019 as the Director of Communication. He brings over 25 years experience in family ministry, discipleship, media production and content creation. Travis and Crystal have been married 30 years and share a passion for equipping couples in marriage and parenting. They served with FamilyLife in Little Rock, AR from 1998 to 2004 before moving back home to Upstate SC. Their original family of eight has now grown and expanded to eleven.
“God also said to Moses, ‘Say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your fathers - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob - has sent me to you.”
This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.’”
HOW CAN I HELP?
GIVE ONLINE
USING A CREDIT CARD OR PAYPAL
Checks can be mailed to:
3GEN Ministries
PO Box 26115
Greenville, SC 29616
We are grateful for your desire to partner with us as we strive to equip men, strengthen families and transform generations through authentic community and biblical truth. Your prayers, encouragement, and financial contributions are essential to the success and growth of this ministry to men and their families.
CONTACT US
Please contact us if you would like more information, have any questions, or if you would like to get involved through an alternative form of giving. Thanks for your interest in 3GEN Ministries!
Mailing Address: 3GEN Ministries, PO Box 26115, Greenville, SC 29616
