Tavern Meeting


The Tavern Meeting

In 2000 a Marine Captain from the Viet Nam War era followed a calling to go to Annapolis. As he spent time in and around town, it didn’t take long to see there was something missing in the lives of the Midshipmen/women at the U.S. Naval Academy. They were searching for a place where they could meet their peers and get to know each other on a personal level. Over the next several years, under the leadership of this Marine, small groups of Mids began meeting every week. Eventually as the number of groups grew, they decided to name their endeavors and “Tavern” was born. The purpose of Tavern to meet with Midshipmen/women in small groups in a risk-free environment where they develop life-changing relationships by connecting and growing their faith and their relationship with Jesus and each other.  Since its inception, Tavern has served over 4000 Mids and has 12 active groups involving over 200 Mids! The positive impact on the lives of Marines and Sailors, these future leaders of our country, is nothing short of extraordinary.

One of the big questions that has come up in some of our Taverns, and in our Tavern Advisory Group meetings is “what makes Tavern unique compared with other group meetings?” Some of the answers include “it’s very relational; it speaks to the very heart and soul of each of us by going deep with each other; it has unique themes of discussion such as ‘good midshipman’, ‘good officers in the fleet’, ‘good men’, ‘good husbands and wives’, and ‘good fathers and mothers down the road’; we get to ‘break bread’ with each other at the beginning of the meeting; it allows others to be who they truly are; it’s confidential; it’s welcoming no matter who they are; and although welcoming to everyone, it actually brings ‘non-churchy’ type people to meetings and changes their lives forever by helping to grow their faith and their relationship with God .”


Comments from Tavern Alumni

 

     “Josh and the Rugby Tavern created an atmosphere that is unmatched to anything else I have ever experienced.  I felt immediately at home and in a safe place to be honest with both myself and my teammates.  As teammates share their life story – the highs and lows and everything in between – hard truths are revealed and hard questions are asked.  Life-building takes place, men are called to focus on future possibilities, lay out their own expectations, and set goals.  This has given me the opportunity to become closer to my teammates and for us to get to know each other in such deeper ways than any team I have ever been part of before.  This wouldn’t have happened apart from Tavern.  Josh has been able to facilitate a forum that not only created a better team, but better men when we leave the Academy.  Tavern has helped build the culture beyond the pitch that is Navy Men’s Rugby to me.”

Caleb B. - Marine 2nd Lieutenant, USNA 2021 graduate and Rugby player

 

 

     “Simply put, Tavern with the Sprint Football Team has been one of the most formative experiences of my time at the Naval Academy.” There is often a lack of depth and substance in the relationships between student-athletes. We are so consumed with the day-to-day hustle that it becomes easier to have superficial conversations and continue on our way. Tavern bucks that trend in a way that is extremely unique in today’s culture. The great Jim Valvano said, “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day.” Tavern provides an environment where all three of those things can occur in one hour. The ability to sit down for an hour each week, completely free of distraction, and go beyond the surface with teammates opened me up to a myriad of experiences and insights that I would not have gotten anywhere else. By learning about each other’s backgrounds, triumphs, struggles, aspirations, and fears we all gain a greater sense of compassion, loyalty, and understanding towards one another.

    Not only does Tavern give all of us a greater sense of unity within our locker room, but it also makes all of us acutely aware of the silent struggles and triumph of the human experience. It made me realize that everyone is going through some kind of trial or tribulation in their lives, even though it may not show. These realizations coupled with thought provoking discussions lead to growth across all facets of life in all our interpersonal relationships. The vulnerability and trust present in Tavern facilitate growth that, I believe, has tangible results on the field, in our locker room interactions, and our relationships outside of athletics.”

 

Caiden G. - a 2021 Naval Academy graduate currently serving in the Submarines Warfare Specialty





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The Tavern Meeting

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