What People are Saying About “Character That Counts”

Hey Rod: "It was such a thrill for us to get to spend a few days with you & Janna & the kids. What a crew! But especially Rod, we really appreciate the way you have allowed the Lord to use you to speak to our generation about the importance of Godly character & integrity. We feel such a kinship with you as we, thru music & humor, encourage folks to "not get weary in WELL-doing." The battle is really heating up, & we thank God that you're out there on the front lines. Let's do it again real soon!"

Paul Land & Ray Hildebrand

Rod: After your talk I went to my hotel room and called my younger brother. I told him, "We need to be accountable to each other." When I arrived home I mailed my brother the materials from the conference including the tapes, the book and your speaker notes. I asked him to really open his heart to your teaching. Since May 2003 we've been talking at 5:30 a.m. over the phone each week going through areas of sin, areas where we want to grow and developing our personal mission statements. We've shared blind spots and help hold each other accountable for specific areas our life. We close our meetings with prayer. Through these times I recently discovered that my brother committed his life to Christ in June 2003. When I came to your conference in May I was the banana that got picked from the bunch. I came alone to the retreat hoping to really focus on growth, prayer, reflection and goal setting. Rod, your conference is exactly what I needed. I'm committed to your teaching for a lifetime. I've applied your teaching through reading and re-reading parts of your book to my life for the past four months and it has had astounding effects on my walk with Christ, and thus my relationships with people. I learned in May that I also needed a local accountability group. Four of us now meet at 6:30 am on Mondays. We read a Psalm on the front porch, then go on a 45-minute walk while going through our questions, and then finish in prayer on the front porch. This is a high priority in each of our lives, and integral to our lives. My wife and I picked four accountability questions from your website. This has brought us much closer together, and is allowing us to work together more, and trust in each other more. My wife shared with me that the greatest time of growth she's seen in my life has been over the past four months. I'm convinced through what I've learned over the last four months that there are many guys out there like me that sincerely love Christ, and sincerely want to change, and grow in righteousness, but don't have all the tools that could catapult their efforts. I believe hard work, discipline, good motivation are not a guarantee to the best results, and that we need effort combined with Biblical wisdom. The Biblical wisdom I'm talking about is found in finding guys who care for us, who encourage us, who rebuke us, who ask us the tough questions, who listen, who pray for us. Let's finish strong for Him! [edited down from a 3-page letter]

Dave

Rod: Through close accountability, God has purged out things in my life I never knew that existed (some I knew but tried to ignore). Being accountable to others with straight forward questions has not been a burden but has set me free in Christ. Your 10 accountability questions revealed the following: Question #1 has brought me closer to God. It has taught me to listen to God he wants to speak to us. This will be done daily and first thing in the morning. Question #2 has been one I have tried to convince myself that I don't have a problem with. However, I am of the male gender and Satan uses this one on me daily. Through God's grace and the ability to look the other way I can get through it. Question #7 hit me between the eyes. As mentioned before, I am involved with a business that requires me to talk to a lot of new people each week. What have I done to talk to others about Christ? Why should God bless my business when I have not paid attention to his eternal business with others? I pray that God puts people in front of me on a daily basis and gives me the discernment to know how and what to talk to them about. We have been struggling financially and concerned about the future.Through his word, God revealed to me his promise in Matthew 6: 25-34 with the key verse being verse 33. I now have a job that I will be starting this next Monday. Praise God! Rod, I am excited about what God has in store for us as an accountability group. I ask that you pray for us as we seek God's will on a daily basis. Thank you for allowing God to work this ministry through you. In my Character Counts book you wrote the scripture verse of Jeremiah 29:11-13. How true it is!

A recent retreat attendee

Rod: I just wanted everyone to know what a tremendous week we had with you in Jacksonville, FL. Your ministry is awesome and the powerful illustrations really drive home the message you convey. I have had many people say to me, "When can we get Rod back?" It was evident to me that you were touched by the overwhelming support you got from the various venues we had set up for you. I have always been convinced that God's hand is on your ministry. This visit just proves it. We had a variety of audiences, which presented a challenge for you as a messenger. You were very flexible & kept the topic timly and on point. Finally, it was an honor to spend the time with you and I think we were a blessing to you as you were to us.

Jerry

Rod: Thank you so much for allowing God to work through you in such a powerful way last weekend. We have been overwhelmed by the positive feed back offered from the men in attendance at the retreat, as well as those who heard you speak at church. Your God given gift of oration is superlative. Your ability to communicate at the level of man's heart is unmatched. But, most importantly, God has blessed you with unparallel insight into His word. Many mature Christian men have approached us and have told us that you exposed truths that they had not yet discovered. That you unlocked for them new meaning to verses that they had already committed to memory. Did you notice, that these mighty men of God possessed the enthusiasm of children as the eagerly listened to God's message presented through you? Press on Rod! Continue to attack life with the overwhelming gifts supplied to you from the Father. And finally, know that in your wake men are gathering to study your materials and are earnestly seeking to possess "Character That Counts." It was great watching the men swarm your materials table. I could make no better investment than into the spiritual growth of the men that I share the banana tree with!!!! As you pointed out - "safety is found in the bunch."

Randy

Rod, I have been a Christian for over 25 years. Like many I knew I was a Christian, but went through the motions without taking it seriously and making it the NUMBER ONE priority everyday in my life. Recently I realized that God wants us to lean on him for EVERYTHING, not just when we're in a pinch. As I have been going through this journey I had the opportunity to attend a talk you gave about character and accountability. Your talk had such an impact on me that I immediately called two of my Christian "real friends", and told them about your talk, your book, and asked them if they would like to start an accountability group with me. This is so rare when men actually do something like this. They said yes, and we now meet once a week. It was like we were all waiting for something like this to happen, but did not know how to go about it. Proverbs is filled with verses about accountability to each other. I've read it over and over and didn't see it until your talk. Thanks so much for giving me something that is so important to a Christian. I will never not be in an accountabilty group for the rest of my life. Thanks and God Bless.

Ted

"Rod: What should really encourage you is that Kevin and I meet every Thursday for 60 to 90 minutes with 8 high school male student-athletes in a Christian Character/Accountability type small group. During the past school year we used CHARACTER COUNTS FOR ATHLETES, Vol. 1 and the young guys (as well as this 53 year-old guy) found it very, very beneficial to our spiritual growth and as a small group study tool. When we found out that you had just released Volume 2, I could not hold back my joy and enthusiasm. These young guys want to continue to meet during the summer, and this past Thursday we began using Volume 2 as we discussed the importance of discipline. Rod, thanks again for your ministry and your committment to Jesus Christ. I am very much utilizing your materials with those people within my sphere of influence, and I look forward to continuing to do so. Please stay in touch, for I do not want to miss anything that comes out of your ministry. Always remember that God first wants our ATTENTION ..... then our AVAILABILITY. Thanks so much for being ATTENTIVE and AVAILABLE!"

Doug, Team Chaplain for Bradley University

"Rod: Thanks so much for allowing the Lord to use you in such a wonderful at the CSRM conference. It was the most challenging and helpful chapel sessions of the three CSRM conferences that I have attended. Rod, God has given you some very special insight into this most critical area. As part of my ministry I work with dozens (at least) of high school and college coaches who impacting young athletes every day. As road rage moves to our fields, courts and other athletic playing areas I am witnessing what I call "Sport Rage" and it is coming from every direction - parents, coaches, administrators, spectators and athletes. In my opinion this behavior is simply an outward expression of the many struggles that are taking place within the hearts of otherwise caring people. It appears that Character and integrity are not high enough priorities in our present athletic culture. I will more vigorously share your materials with these dear people. Thanks again for allowing the Lord to make you such a blessing to all of us."

Jim

"I am thrilled to have discovered Rod's book when I attended a Christian Mgmt. Association seminar a couple years ago. It took time to find an accountability partner, but one woman and I began praying about it and have met weekly since March 11, 2001. Recently we invited two more women to join us, and it's been a tremendous blessing. It's made a great impact in my life."

Patty

Rod: Thanks for making an impact in my life. I met you when I attended the Christian Leadership Alliance conference in April 2008 in Dallas. I purchased a number of books and got the laminated wallet sized card with the 10 Character That Counts questions. Upon my return home, I entered into an accountability relationship with a local pastor and it has made all the difference for both of us. We are truly iron sharpening iron. The timing could not have been better. I was soon fired from my job because I would not compromise my integrity. My world was turned upside down, but because of the accountability program outlined with the cards I was sustained. When it would have been so easy to blame God, I was able to focus on my family and learn where God was leading me next. I cannot say that the days were easy. I worked through the grief and loss, came through depression and discouragement to see God provide another position through His providence and learn to depend on others in a way I hand never even knew existed before. God's word sustained me and the principles you spoke of in that seminar in Dallas made all the difference in this trial. I am better for you ministry today. May God bless you richly as you continue to promote the biblical truth that accountability works. I am sorry that I will not be at the Atlanta conference (this was held in April 2009), but I know there are others who desperately need to hear your biblically based message.

Kevin