Greg Huston’s Legacy of Leadership
In 2026, The Crucible Project celebrates its 20th year of ministry—two decades of Christ-followers encountering truth, grace, and transformation. As we mark this milestone, it is fitting to pause and honor the vision, courage, and leadership of our founder, Greg Huston, who laid the foundation for all that’s to come.
Greg launched this work in 2002, initially inspired by his own journey: after years of pastoral ministry and deep personal searching, he realized there was something more needed for Christians—a place to engage their hearts, souls and identities in honest community. From those earliest retreats in Chicagoland, the ministry grew—with Greg leading through to 2015 and more than 1,700 men impacted under his 13-year direct leadership. His story is not just one of starting something—it is one of replicating a model and empowering others.
“Greg Huston’s leadership is rare. His selfless vision to take this powerful soul work to Christ-followers everywhere required letting go of his ego by replicating his leadership. The leadership replication process he envisioned is in full force today allowing this work to expand to the ends of the earth.” — Roy Wooten
What does that mean in practice? Greg didn’t simply lead the ministry with a “single-point” approach. He developed a pattern of community, calling, equipping, and releasing leaders. He moved his private practice, Dare to Soar, into a public nonprofit, The Crucible Project. In early 2026, he moved from a one man’s program to a movement carried by a board of directors and countless volunteers. By committing to this replication of leadership, the ministry could grow beyond a single location—and it did.
Today, as the ministry has expanded from coast to coast, across the U.S. and into Australia, Mexico, Kenya and Rwanda, we are seeing the fruit of Greg’s legacy. Local leaders are stepping up, retreat communities are flourishing, and men and women are encountering a depth of truth and transformation previously unavailable in the faith community. More than ever, we recognize that legacy is not simply what one person builds—it’s what many carry forward.
As we enter year 20, our gratitude for Greg’s leadership is deeply anchored in the fact that his vision continues to move forward. This celebration is not just about past accomplishments—it’s about the momentum, the trajectory, and the generations of men and women who will walk free because his selfless replication created capacity for the work to expand globally.
His leadership legacy invites all of us into two embraceable postures: gratitude and participation. We are grateful for what’s been built. And we are invited into participation—to serve, to lead, to replicate. The question is not only “What has been done?” but “What will we do next?”
Greg laid the groundwork. The baton is now in our hands. The path is clear: expand this powerful soul work, equip Redwoods into leadership, and watch the work spread. As we honor Greg’s legacy, let’s commit to carrying it forward into the next 20 years—together.
By the way, Greg and Toni still support the ministry he launched and are enjoying their retirement in the Greater Atlanta area.
Crucible Elder Retreat Invitation
As you approach retirement or perhaps already are retired - what's next for you? Golf, pickle ball, hanging out with family and enjoying rest from work?
Are you open to a challenge?
The "second half" of life is a lot different from the first half of life - or it should be. The first half we work our butts off - building our families, our careers, our image and ego. The second half is not about building, but letting go. From the solid foundation of what we've built, from the soul work we've done, in the second half we look out to see how we can begin to give away what we've worked to build.
Maybe we give away resources, but maybe it's time, our presence, wisdom, compassion, and love. We begin to let go of dualistic, black and white thinking, and ask "why" questions to connect, to understand, and to empathize. We pass on wisdom, not advice. We bless instead of pushing or challenging. We engage for redemptive purposes, not to fix or correct.
If this kind of path resonates with you, I invite you to consider attending Crucible's Elder Retreat. It's about living well, purposefully, and intentionally in our remaining years as a man. In a way, it's like the second level "Mission Weekend" for old dudes.
The accommodations are geared to be relaxing - not challenging. The weekend is NOT an ordeal. We go to bed at a reasonable time and enjoy good food at every meal. It's only open to men who are at this stage of life and typically over 60.
October 2-6 in Algoma, Wisconsin
To learn more, go here: Elders
On behalf of the US Elder Retreat Leaders,
Scott Larson, Chris Cleghorn, and Bill Snyder
Why You Don't Give Grace and What To Do About It
April 2025
This Easter has me thinking about the incredible sacrifice our Savior made and the power or His resurrection. It is a grace offered freely, fully paid for, and too often not fully received by my heart. I’m sharing as I continue my own journey and hope this is helpful for you as it is for me.
The real truth about why you have so much trouble giving grace is because you do not receive it. You cannot give what you do not have. You cannot be full of grace if you have walls up keeping it from getting in. You cannot give grace to others easily if you do not ever give yourself grace.
Some of the hold back may be in the critical way you talk about yourself in your head. That critical voice runs so frequently that when you think of others, it too often runs critical of them as well.
It will take you doing more soul work to understand and begin to love the parts of yourself that are driving the critical thinking. Through group work, 2nd level retreats, and attending a local “Carpet Day” you can do the kind of work that begins to allow your self to receive grace. Opening up to receiving grace will fill you with grace that you can share with others.
Leo Kamin recently introduced the me to the writings of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer who is the author of the following:
Letter to the Parts of Me I have Tried to Exile
I’m sorry. I thought banishing you
was the way to become better,
more perfect, more good, more free.
The irony: I thought if I cut you off
and cast you out, if I built the walls
high enough, then the parts left would be
more whole. As if the sweet orange
doesn’t need the toughened rind,
the bitter seed. As if the forest
doesn’t need the blue fury of fire.
It didn’t work, did it, the exile?
You were always here, jangling
the hinges, banging at the door,
whispering through the cracks.
Left to myself, I wouldn’t have known
to take down the walls,
nor would I have had the strength to do so.
That act was grace disguised as disaster.
But now that the walls are rubble,
it is also grace that teaches me to want
to embrace you, grace that guides me
to be gentle, even with the part of me
that would still try to exile any other part.
It is grace that invites me
to name all parts beloved.
How honest it all is. How human.
I promise to keep learning how
to know you as my own, to practice
opening to what at first feels unwanted,
meet it with understanding,
trust all belongs, welcome you home.
Big Truth, Big Grace
Facing the truth in yourself is the beginning of the journey toward the grace that has always been there for you. Go for it. And if you need some help, reach out.
Roy Wooten