AgōnJoin the Agōn.
Keep the 12:30.
Agōn is the word Paul used for a contest, a fight worth finishing. This is an accountability cohort for men who want to go all-in on the spiritual disciplines. You set a hard rule for your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Every day you give an account of it, and every week you meet with a few brothers doing the same.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30
Your 12:30
Every man builds a personal rule of 4 to 6 disciplines, at least one in each area and at least two of them daily. Each one is binary: on any given day, you either did it or you didn't. You'll build yours with Mark on your onboarding call.
Emotions
Daily journaling. One intentional act for your wife or kids. A gratitude log.
Spirit
Prayer for a set number of minutes. A weekly fast. Scripture memory.
Intellect and will
Daily Bible study. A set number of pages a day. Logging every dollar you spend.
Body
A workout minimum. A food log. Lights out by a set time.
New to the faith? You're welcome. Your soul discipline can start with a careful reading of a book about the Christian faith.
You give account. Nobody has to chase you.
- Every evening, the Agōn bot sends you your 12:30 in Slack. Check off what you kept. You have until 9am the next morning, and a day you don't report counts as missed.
- Every week, you're on a 30 to 40 minute video call with 4 to 5 other men, in the early morning, over lunch, or late in the evening. Each man gets about five minutes to give his account, and then the group prays for each other by name.
- Every miss costs you a fine you set yourself, from $1.23 per discipline and $12.30 per missed call. You get one free discipline miss a week and one free missed call a month. Every dollar goes to a mission your cohort chooses.
- Every season is 12 weeks plus a rest week. Your cohort nominates causes during the first six weeks and votes in week 6. At the end of the season, the whole jar is given away.
Life happens. If you'll be away, ask for grace days (up to 7 a season). Your streak holds while you're gone.
That's about what you'd spend on one meal at Chick-fil-A. Make a weekly fast one of your disciplines, and the program pays for itself.
A 12-week season is $147.60, billed as three monthly payments of $49.20. The price is a reminder of Mark 12:30.
You can walk away with nothing owed any time through your cohort's second call. After that, you're committed to the season.
Fines are billed monthly with your membership and go entirely to your cohort's mission cause. They are not tax-deductible.
You also get a free digital copy of Giving Account, the book this program is built on.
Cohorts start when three men commit
Each time slot fills with up to six men. As soon as three have committed, the cohort can start.
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Don't see a time that works? Apply anyway and tell us when you're free.
Men who want it to cost them something
Agōn is open to any man 17 or older. If you're 17, a parent or guardian co-signs. It isn't for men who want a small group to hear them out. It's for men who want to be sharpened.
You start with a short application. If it looks like a fit, you'll have a 20-minute conversation with Mark. If you're accepted, you'll pick your call time, set your fines, sign the Agōn covenant, and set up payment.
Questions
Who leads the calls?
Mark Sentell, a pastor and the author of Giving Account, leads the first cohorts. As the program grows, men who have finished two seasons may be invited to captain a cohort.
What if I'm struggling?
If you fall under 60% for two weeks in a row, you'll have a one-on-one pastoral call and can reset your 12:30 once a season. The goal is a man who finishes, not a bigger jar.
Is what I share kept private?
What's shared in a cohort stays in the cohort. The one exception is when someone's safety is at risk.
Do I need Slack?
Yes. It's free on your phone, and your membership covers the paid seat. The bot, your cohort channel, and the leaderboard all live there.
Will I need other apps?
Probably a few. Mark will suggest apps that help with tracking, journaling, and finances. Some of them have their own fees, which you pay separately from your membership.
How do I pay?
Payments run through Stripe with a bank account (ACH) or a card. Your first payment is charged the day after your cohort's second call.