Kevin McCullough, 33, is a family man with three kids. He’s an engineer working as a mechanical engineer at Raytheon Missiles and Defense. And he’s a volunteer for his church – St. Christopher’s Catholic Parish – where he decided last year to start something just for guys in a similar stage of life.

But McCullough didn’t want to start another typical bible study. Instead, his group, Bible, Beer and Bros, combines the unlikely pair of beer and the Christian faith – something he thought to appeal to men aged 21-40.

“I started this event because I was looking for a community of peers who were in a similar stage of life and who had similar interests of faith and community,” he said. “My main goal really is to make it an environment that people feel comfortable coming to. And for a lot of people, sitting around with friends and drinking a beer makes it a much more relaxed and inviting environment.”

Every Monday night from 7:30 – 9 p.m., the group caters to members of his faith community who he said haven’t had enough outreach from churches. 

“I think that is a demographic that hasn’t been well targeted, in part because as a young adult man there are a lot of other demands on your time, and maybe churches don’t feel like they want to add something else,” McCullough said. “There is a yearning among men for an event like this, a yearning for scripture and fellowship that I believe this event provides that I haven’t seen many other churches provide.”

Alexander Kaprosy, 27, is a regular participant in Bible, Beer and Bros. Also a father and dedicated church attendee, he said this event has helped combat his reluctance to read challenging passages in the Bible.

“Kevin and the guys choosing books from the Old Testament that you wouldn’t otherwise crack open yourself when reading through scripture, like difficult passages and stories, it’s been nice to try and see what we can learn together from very flawed biblical figures like David, Saul and Solomon,” he said. 

Younger men today, he said, whether with families of their own or tackling the faith alone, need that kind of support. 

He said he recommends the group to other men because they need “fellowship.”

“It’s important for everyone to find folks around them that help build them up and keep them accountable,” he said.

McCullough and Kaprosy both said they don’t think there should be a stigma around drinking and Christianity. Psychologist and mental health counselor Mario Sanchez agrees. 

He said there is a vast history of alcohol in the bible, so he thinks having a beer with your bible study shouldn’t be controversial for Christians.

“One of the first miracles that Jesus does in the gospel of John is he turns water into wine. It was alcohol wine,” Sanchez said. “In the Catholic church, when people take holy communion, which is the way Catholics and Cristians remember the Lord’s death, in the Catholic church it’s actual wine with alcohol. Alcohol and church, there really shouldn’t be such a taboo around it.”

Before becoming a mental health counselor, Sancehz attended two seminary schools where he vividly remembers drinking with Christian professors teaching his classes. 

“In my personal opinion, I think it’s less about the drinking and more about creating a safe environment,” he said. “So this is where we can kind of hang our taboos and judgements outside before we come into a safe space, being cautious with alcohol consumption, but intending with this fellowship to foster meaningful conversation for breakthroughs.”

But Stacey Gonzalez, a licensed associate counselor on the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, said while he sees the good intentions of an event like Bible, Beer and Bros, he cautions participants on the potential dangers of alcohol. 

A recovering alcoholic, Gonzalez entered into counseling to help others in a similar situation. 

“I think a safe environment in general is paramount, but a safe drinking environment can get blurry because alcohol has been so devastating for many of us in this day and age,” he said.

He also thinks drinking in the biblical context was much different than modern day drinking.

Still, while he wouldn’t necessarily encourage an event like Bible, Beer and Bros, he believes God can work in any setting, no matter how unorthodox. 

McCullough said he has struggled to find men to attend the weekly event with only three regular attendees, but said he still has high hopes for the concept. 

“My hope is that people can find a home in the church wherever they are at the moment. Whether they feel really close to the Lord or really distant and they just want to know Him better,” he said. 

He sees Bible, Beer and Bros as a space where everyone is welcomed. Taking an unusual approach could help open the door for people to come as they are.

“My hope is that this can be an environment where they can feel comfortable bringing their doubts, their hopes, their struggles and wherever they may be into an environment where they feel like they can be heard and listened to,” he said.