No Regrets signs veteran leader, prepares for Conference push

BROOKFIELD, Wis. - No Regrets Men’s Ministry announced this week the signing of veteran leader Ron Sweet as its new Director of Church Engagement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sweet, 52, joins No Regrets with more than 30 years of church ministry experience including assignments in Virginia, Florida and most recently Missouri.

As the leader of one of the largest ministries to men in the greater St. Louis area, Sweet exits his post as campus pastor at The Crossing in order to help bolster No Regrets’ church relations.

“Ron brings a wealth of experience to our team,” said Steve Sonderman, founder and executive director of the ministry. “It is great to get some veteran help as we grow and expand the team. We were looking for the right guy who can get out there and build relationships and be the relational arm of our ministry.”

Originally from a small town in northern Illinois, Sweet attended Judson University in Elgin, IL where he played two seasons for the Eagles Men’s Basketball team. To this day, the 6-1 former prep standout enjoys working out, watching college football and basketball as well as attending music concerts.

“Ron is a great character guy, said Sonderman. “He brings a real heart for the local church and has strong relational skills that will enable him to relate well to churches across the country.” Upon earning his undergraduate degree, Sweet entered vocational ministry as an intern at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL before eventually taking a positon as a full-time youth pastor in Florida where he met his wife Michele. The couple of twenty-five years now have three children (21, 19, and 17).

Sweet’s pastoral experience include positions overseeing youth, young adult, men and a multi-sitevcampus. His greatest strength is in the area of ministry to men. After attending a No Regrets Conference at Elmbrook Church in 2020, Sweet returned to his church with a vision to reach the men of St. Louis and proceeded to develop the men’s ministry from a handful of individuals to more than 400 strong in just two years.

“Ron’s passion for the Lord and drive for excellence will make him a great fit in our organization,” said ministry director Dan Wetzel. I only wish Ron were a Brewers fan.”

When asked to respond, Sweet admitted he is a loyal Chicago Cubs fan but added he is “often broken hearted.”

Sweet’s addition to the team comes just in time for the build up to the annual No Regrets Conference, set for Saturday, February 3, 2024.

This week we are throwing it back to a seminar from the 30th No Regrets Men's Conference by Mark Batterson titled Play the Man. The will of God is not an insurance plan, it’s a dangerous plan. Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. It’s time to take up your cross and go all in with God. God is calling a generation of men to step up—as husbands, as fathers, as friends—and play the man. 

Brett Clemmer is the president of Man in the Mirror Ministries and has just come out with a new book called the Spiritual Father Guidebook which details how any man can mentor another man. What does mentoring look like and how can we be apart of that? Listen in to find out! 

Most ministries simply do not have a plan to engage their men in an effective, healthy, Christian community. That’s why No Regrets has developed a leadership cohort that will help you as a leader develop that very plan and build your ministry to men.  Afterwards, the men in your church and community will be actively involved in a vital, life-changing, ministry to men. Join our latest cohort starting on October 16th, 2023!

What is DiscipleMaker 101 and why should I take it? What does it mean to be a disciple maker anyway? Steve and Troy dive in to one of our fantastic training resources we offer here at No Regrets and how it is a valuable resource for you to take! 

Getting deep and connecting with men in a small group can be a challenge but Bill Search has been engaging men in small groups for years and has cracked the code on how to best utilize small groups to reach the men in your church and in your life. 

Why are small groups important and how can we best use them to lead people to Christ? Dann Spader and Steve Sonderman talk through how Small Groups can be life changing ways to bring men to Christ. 

Like Jesus Material:  https://likejesus.church/

Knowing Him Study (50 days chronologically in Jesus life):  https://knowinghim.app/Introduction

Another day, another dollar? Working for the weekend? Just showing up? Is your work just a daily grind? How do we respond to work that seems unfulfilling, frustrating, and disconnected from our spiritual life? Discover new application of the ancient advice for every working man: "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.

What is the theme for this year's No Regrets Men's Conference? Why is this important? How is it chosen? The answer to all of these questions and more are in this episode of the No Regrets Leadership Podcast hosted by Steve Sonderman and Troy Thomas. 

Learn more:

https://www.noregretsconference.org/

What did COVID19 do to Men's Ministry? How do you keep your marriage afloat in ministry? Has Ministry to Men fundamentally changed? The answer to all of these questions are discussed in an open and honest conversation with Chris Brown and Rod Hairston at the 2023 No Regrets Conference. Interviewed by Co-Host Troy Thomas. 

Website: https://www.noregretsmen.org/