2025: The Year We Were Forged (UPDATED)
A Year in Review from Danny Brister, Jr. & Forged: Birmingham Leadership Foundation
Friends,
As I sit down to write this, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. 2025 was the year a dream became a reality!
I recall a conversation that my wife and I had back in 2013 before we were married! She asked me what I felt God placed on my heart to do long-term. I described to her a vision of what I then called a Discipleship and Ministry Equipping Center. I was 24 years old and wasn’t sure what this would look like, but I had a vision of people being trained, equipped, and sent out to serve others. In 2025, we launched Forged: Birmingham Leadership Foundation!
I want to take a moment to look back at what God has done, thank those of you who made it possible, and share where we’re headed.
The Heart of Forged
Forged is an organization for leadership and discipleship formation. We’re not only training leaders to be more productive, but we are committed to seeing leaders deeply formed and disciples made who love Christ, His Church, and the City.
Our Mission: Forged provides accessible, gospel-centered leadership discipleship that empowers leaders to thrive in life and leadership, for the glory of God and the good of the city.
In a city like Birmingham, rich with history, talent, and potential, we believe the greatest need is not more programs but more deeply formed leaders. Leaders who are spiritually rooted, emotionally healthy, and oriented toward justice and mercy. That’s why Forge exists.
2025 Highlights
Bridges & Beacons: Our Inaugural Cohort
The heartbeat of Forged in 2025 was our inaugural Bridges & Beacons Emerging Leaders Cohort. In June, we welcomed African American male leaders ages 26 to 37 into a transformational six-month journey rooted in the theme “The Character of Leadership” from Acts 11:22–26. These men studied Crawford Loritts’ Leadership as an Identity, walked through our transformational leadership curriculum, and did the deep inner work that most leadership programs skip over. We met weekly on Wednesday nights, broke bread together, and built a brotherhood grounded in the gospel.
The results speak for themselves:
80% of these leaders had never participated in a leadership development initiative before
100% reported transformational growth across life, leadership, love, and labor
86% experienced major breakthroughs in biblical decision-making and servant leadership
71% gained a much clearer understanding of God’s calling God on their lives
100% said they would actively recommend the program to others
On November 12, 2025, we celebrated our first-ever graduation at Workshops Empowerment Inc. One graduate shared: “It helped me with the things I was battling in silence, but once Wednesday came, I knew I could release it without being judged and set free.” That’s the type of space we create at Forged: leadership formation from the inside out.
Gospel Manhood Groups
Alongside Bridges & Beacons, our Gospel Manhood Groups continued to grow in partnership with Harvest Community Church. These groups are spaces where men can be real, be challenged, and be reminded that they are not alone in their leadership journey. So far, we have studied through 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Ephesians. This year, we’re taking a dive into Daniel and Nehemiah.
Personal Growth & Development
I can’t develop leaders without intentionally developing myself. In 2025, I became a certified Emotionally Healthy Discipleship Practitioner—a framework now woven into everything we do at Forged. I was selected as a 2025–2026 PAX Fellow focused on writing for social change, which helped me see my writing as an extension of my calling: worship, witness, service, and prophetic declaration. I also had the honor of serving as Interim Pastor at Grace Church Birmingham, deepening my love for the local church and its role in community transformation.
Writing & Publishing
2025 was a milestone year for my writing. I was published in The Hopeful Neighborhood Project and United? We Pray!—two publications that align deeply with the work we’re doing. I’m on a mission to write and publish a book by 2029, and I’ll be writing several more publications this year. Follow my writing journey on my Substack, Act Justly Love Mercy.
What’s Ahead
We’re just getting started.
Manhood Groups
We just launched our Spring/Winter semester: Faithful in Exile: Standing Firm in a Hostile Culture. If your church or organization is interested in deepening your men’s discipleship, reach out to me at dbrister@forgedbhm.org.
Charity to Change Initiative
Forged has received a grant through Leadership Foundations, funded by the Lilly Endowment, to launch the Charity to Change Initiative in Birmingham. This 9-month journey beginning in September 2026 will bring together a cohort of Birmingham church leaders to reimagine how congregations can move from fragmented charitable efforts to collaborative, systemic action. Through online learning with world-class theologians, one-on-one and group coaching, and collective action plans, we’ll be equipping Birmingham churches to become a force for long-term change in our city.
Men In Leadership Fellowship
I’m excited to announce that I am partnering with MADE for PAX to launch a Men in Leadership Fellowship for 2026-2027. This fellowship is designed for Christian BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) men ages 25-45 who are serving in leadership roles or aspiring to leadership. The best part? This fellowship is national — so if you know someone who fits that description, please share the link!
CCDA Executive Leadership Peer Coaching
I’m partneringI’mth the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) as a Peer Coaching Facilitator for their 2026 Executive Leadership Peer Coaching Circles. If you are a Senior Pastor, CEO, Executive Director, or other executive leader and want a community of like-minded leaders to process life and leadership with, there is still time to join!
Thank You
None of this would have been possible without you.
To our supporting churches—Faith Chapel, Harvest Community Church, Mosaic Birmingham, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, and Church at Brook Hills—your generosity helped us launch. Every dollar planted in Forged has borne fruit in the lives of men and women who are now leading differently in their homes, churches, and communities.
To our individual donors and prayer partners—you sustained us. Your prayers and generosity carried us through.
To the Bridges & Beacons graduates—you took a risk. You showed up every Wednesday, did the hard work, and let God transform you. I am so proud of each of you.
To my family—thank you for your sacrifice, patience, and belief in this calling.
Partner With Us
If this stirs something in you, here are three ways to be a part of what God is doing:
1. Give. We just launched THE FORGE, our campaign to raise $100,000 this year. Your financial gift directly funds leadership and discipleship formation for emerging leaders in Birmingham. Forged: Birmingham Leadership Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 33-3820656), and all donations are tax-deductible.
2. Pray. Pray for my family and me, our Gospel Manhood Group, our 2026 Bridges & Beacons cohort, the Charity to Change initiative, and the leaders we’re developing across Birmingham.
3. Share. Subscribe to Act Justly Love Mercy if you haven’t already. Share this with someone who needs to hear it.
The prophet Micah asked, “What does the Lord require of you?” The answer has been the compass for my life and for Forged: act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
2025 was the year we said yes. 2026 is the year we continue to deepen our roots and strengthen our foundation. And we want you with us.
With deep gratitude,
Danny Brister, Jr.
President & Founder, Forged: Birmingham Leadership Foundation
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.
If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re not already subscribed to Act Justly Love Mercy, hit that subscribe button — there’s more there in 2026.
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