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Maleness Is Born, Manhood Is Forged – And This Program Is Building the Men We Need
Maleness Is Born. Manhood Is Forged.
Week before last, I wrote about The Forge, which is a beautiful coincidence because just last week, Dads4Kids’ friend Andrew Gray (who’s also speaking at our upcoming Men’s Summit) launched an exciting new program called The Forge. Watch the video below to find out more.
The Forge
We were honoured to have Andrew speak at last year’s Summit, and he’s back again this year, along with Dr Allan Meyer, Paul ‘PJ’ Bedwell, and the one and only Warwick Marsh. Andrew has also become a great friend of Dads4Kids. He played a key role guiding the passing of the Dads4Kids baton this time last (read the full story here). In fact, it’s exactly 12 months to the day since I took on the role of leading Dads4Kids, and what an honour it’s been. How fitting to be writing about the amazing work of Andrew Gray and his team this weekend.
The Forge posits that maleness is born, but manhood is formed. Professor and Author Camille Paglia describes it this way:
A woman simply is, but a man must become. Masculinity is risky and elusive. It is achieved by a revolt from woman, and it is confirmed only by other men. Manhood coerced into sensitivity is no manhood at all.
As a former boy, now a middle-aged man, a husband, and a father of 5 daughters, I couldn’t agree more.
I’m so thankful my father, Dads4Kids cofounder Warwick Marsh, played a crucial role in forging my brothers and me into the men we are today. Growing up, our family’s musical adventures travelling and meeting people from all walks of life helped us to develop and grow. Dad was intentional in surrounding us Marsh boys with positive male role models, many of them godly men, to guide us into manhood.
My parents also understood what Paglia means by masculinity being ‘risky and elusive’. That doesn’t mean risk-taking is the apex of manhood, but a big part of boys becoming men is learning how to take responsibility for oneself and how to manage risks, both for yourself and others around you.
At 7 years old, my brothers and I were each gifted a special Swiss Army Knife (I still have mine), which was the pinnacle for a young boy like me. Used incorrectly, it could cause injury, as I discovered one day while foolishly throwing it around with the blade extended (and managed to puncture my foot — I never did that again!). I’m convinced that my parents entrusting me as a young boy with something potentially dangerous was helpful for my development into manhood.
During our teen years, we learnt how to safely fire guns (.22s, shotguns, and I remember having a sore shoulder after shooting a .308), we rode down fire trails as fast as we could go on our BMX Bikes, and we conducted many experiments in pyrotechnics. We thought we were just having fun, but my parents understood that these experiences were critical for our development from boys into men.
Andrew Gray gets it too. He explains on The Forge website:
Growing older doesn’t automatically make you the man you were meant to become. You can carry responsibility, build a career and do everything expected of you—yet still know there are parts of your life that remain unformed.
Manhood is not a moment. It is a process.
The Forge is a purpose-driven community for men who refuse to leave their growth to accident or chronology. It is an environment where men can face what has shaped them, take responsibility for what comes next and build alongside other men.
Men need more than information. They need truth, application and other men willing to walk beside them.
I’m forever grateful for my parents and their wonderful discipleship, but eight years ago, I was floundering. I’d lost my way, and a structured environment like The Forge that Andrew and his team have created would have been helpful. Thankfully, in 2018, I attended my first Dads4Kids Men’s Summit, and it changed my life. The 2026 Men’s Summit is only a few weeks away – both Andrew and I would love to see you there!
The Forge, and the Men’s Summit, exist because manhood doesn’t just happen by accident or simply through the passage of time. Andrew writes:
Through years of mentoring men, I’ve seen capable, responsible men reach a point where achievement alone can no longer answer the deeper questions: Who am I becoming? What is shaping me? What am I here to contribute?
The Forge was created for men dealing with their past, building for their future and facing the giants in front of them—not as isolated individuals, but as a brotherhood.
Maleness is indeed born, but manhood is forged. No matter where you’re at in your journey as a man, whether younger or older, take some time today to reflect and ask yourself this question: What needs to be forged next in me?
Lovework
Check out The Forge and complete Andrew’s free assessment. It only takes a few minutes. If you haven’t already, make sure you register today for the Men’s Summit, 28th – 30th August 2026 at The Tops Conference Centre (just south of Sydney) – registrations close soon. I’d love to see you there!
Yours for the forge,
Nathaniel Marsh
Republished with thanks to Dads4Kids.
ODM Daily Commentary
Let’s be honest: manhood is not automatic. It is not something that happens simply by growing older. It is forged. It is shaped through intentional challenges, positive role models, and the support of other men.
The article from Dads4Kids is a powerful call to action for men. It draws on the wisdom of Camille Paglia, who wrote, “A woman simply is, but a man must become. Masculinity is risky and elusive. It is achieved by a revolt from woman, and it is confirmed only by other men.”
The author reflects on his own upbringing. His parents gave him a Swiss Army Knife at age 7. They taught him to fire guns, ride BMX bikes down fire trails, and conduct experiments in pyrotechnics. They understood that these experiences were critical for his development from boy to man. They were forging him.
But manhood is not just about physical challenges. It is about responsibility, purpose, and brotherhood. Andrew Gray’s program, The Forge, is designed for men who refuse to leave their growth to accident or chronology. It is an environment where men can face what has shaped them, take responsibility for what comes next, and build alongside other men.
The article also promotes the Dads4Kids Men’s Summit, a weekend of brotherhood, encouragement, and transformation. The author testifies that the Summit changed his life in 2018. It can do the same for others.
The Forge and the Summit exist because manhood does not happen by accident. It requires intentionality. It requires challenge. It requires community.
So here is the challenge: if you are a man, take the assessment. Register for the Summit. Find a forge. And commit to becoming the man you were meant to be.
Maleness is born. Manhood is forged. And the forge is waiting.
Keywords: The Forge, manhood, masculinity, Dads4Kids, Men’s Summit, Andrew Gray, Camille Paglia, male mentorship, brotherhood, fatherhood, intentional discipleship, risk-taking, responsibility, Swiss Army Knife, BMX bikes, pyrotechnics, character development, purpose-driven community, 2026 Men’s Summit, Stanwell Tops, building men, growing fathers, changing generations
