Annual Ministry Update and Christmas Greetings
Continuing the MMC Legacy
An Eternal Investment in Biblical Manhood
December 2025
The entire MMC/RDN team wishes you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with God’s blessings, grace, and mercy. We trust the joy of Christ’s birth will be with you during the holiday season.
As we reflect upon all the tumultuous events around the world during this past year, it’s easy to become discouraged. When we place our thoughts on God’s plan for each of us, we can overcome our fears, doubts, and struggles. The Apostle Paul said it best, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) This Christmas season, we can choose to focus on the hope we have by believing in Christ Jesus.
Recently, many of the sports channels have been filled with replays of the record-setting relay races for both the USA men’s and women’s teams at the world championships. Relay races are won or lost with the passing of the baton. When the baton is dropped or mishandled, the race is over for that team. Much like the legacy of discipleship that was given to Paul by the Holy Spirit and eventually transferred to Timothy, the merger between MMC and RDN is going very well. “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:1–2)
In a relay race, the runners often change positions of leadership, and so it is with our merger. The legacy of winning for Jesus and respecting the legacy of MMC will continue to be our mission.
Historical Perspective
Jim and Louise first began Let’s Go Fishing Ministries (a.k.a. Men’s Ministry Catalyst) in 1980. This was after the Holy Spirit spoke through prominent pastors like Chuck Swindoll, who helped mentor Jim in the direction of ministries to men through a sports-based platform. This nudge and the confirmation from friends like you became a launch pad for what is now known as a very impactful ministry to men around the world.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the dedicated efforts of full and part-time staff members, scores of board members, and the support of people like you, God empowered us to create a culturally strategic ministry to impact men. We have been able to help many discouraged, isolated, broken, emasculated, and hopeless men find the grace and mercy of a loving Savior. Remember, the ultimate goal is to help men know a loving Savior who equips and guides them to become more impactful and godly in their role as husband, father, and man of God. Praise God!
It is exciting to see so many younger men getting involved with their faith. Recent reports from Barna Research suggest a revival is happening among the younger generation. Friends, this is the time for each one of us to participate in empowering a generation of strong men, willing to stand up and make an impact for biblical manhood. We wish to build upon the MMC foundation and legacy that the Grassis and countless others built and committed to over the past four-plus decades.
The Establishment of a Partnership
As you may recall, in our 2024 Year-End Ministry Report, we discussed the possibility of transitioning the MMC ministry to a larger organization that could provide the staff, exposure, and international presence to expand our work to a larger audience of evangelical churches and pastors.
During the year, we kept you updated on the merger that occurred between Men’s Ministry Catalyst (MMC) and the Relational Discipleship Network (RDN). With sixteen years of ministry experience, RDN has proven to be a dynamic organization that teaches, coaches, models, and promotes discipleship with hundreds of churches every year.
Through MMC’s conferences, family camps, men’s retreats, pastor/lay leader training, cohort experiences, and messages, we endeavored to help men become disciple makers. Now with over 20 books, dozens of booklets/tracts, and scores of other resource materials, MMC/RDN’s mission is being expanded and embraced as never before. The momentum we’ve seen this fall testifies to the energy and ability that RDN has brought to multiplying the ministry through a network of disciple-making pastors and churches.
The Benefits of this Partnership
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. 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.
A further advantage of the merger and the appointment of the new Director (Pastor Eddie Bateman) is that Jim and Louise will be able to devote more time to offering personal support and care to our supporters and friends, continuing their longstanding commitment to pastoring family and friends. In addition, Jim will continue to write and speak as the Lord directs and ministries request his services.
MMC’s Call to Action for 2026 – $140,000
As in the recent past, we have been BLESSED with a few of our Faith Partners who have given gifts to be matched. Imagine that your gift can be doubled, dollar for dollar, up to $70,000 and beyond. Because of your love, prayers, and financial support over the past 45 years, God has used us mightily. We are especially grateful to our Monthly Faith Partners for their ongoing efforts to help us meet our monthly financial commitments.
Please pray and consider giving your best year-end tax-deductible gift to perpetuate MMC’s/RDN’s work to create the next generation of disciple makers. Your gifts will also help to solidify the legacy to which Jim, Louise, and many others have committed their lives. Remember, we can accept stock transfers and QCD gifts; check with your tax advisor so you can minimize the impact of your financial gains.
Click here to give on-line through our secure website or for instructions on how to donate by mail.
We thank and praise God for you and your family! Again, Merry Christmas, and rejoice in the Lord always! Love and blessings to you.
Pastor Eddie Bateman | Director
Rev. Wendell Morton | Advisory Board Member
Jim Grassi, D.Min. | Founder
P.S. Thank you for standing with us as we serve together for His glory and to inspire others in these days before Christ returns.
P.P.S. “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 1:3–6