Tucked away in the hills of Duck River, Tennessee, there’s a place where creativity, craftsmanship, and purpose collide. Narrow Gate is an organization that has long held a special place in our hearts. While they teach skills and trades, their mission goes far beyond that. Instead, they’re focused on shaping lives through mentorship, discipleship, and hands-on learning rooted in the Word of God. One of the incredible ways they equip young men is through immersive experiences teaching life skills like woodworking, metalworking, mechanics, and more. Among these is a class that beautifully blends precision, patience, and passion: Narrow Gate’s Guitar Building Class.

In 2019, Bart had the opportunity to take part in one of Narrow Gate’s guitar building classes. Since then, they’ve streamlined the process and the program has only grown. This year, he was honored to be invited back along with an elite group of craftsmen and songwriters. The roster included notable names like Neil Thrasher (known for writing There Goes My Life for Kenny Chesney) and Allen Shamblin (known for writing I Can’t Make You Love Me for Bonnie Raitt).

Over the course of five days, this talented group gathered in Narrow Gate’s wood shop. There they sanded, shaped, and assembled stunning acoustic guitars. Watching these men work together, using their skills and talent to create each piece, was truly inspiring.

Behind the Scenes at Narrow Gate’s Guitar Building Class

I had the privilege of joining them on day four of the process to document the behind-the-scenes moments. I captured the quiet focus, the bursts of laughter, and the hard work and craftsmanship that went into each step. While the purpose of these images is to help Narrow Gate market the guitar class in the future, it also provided a glimpse into the dedication and passion they bring to their overall mission of discipling young men. 

Witnessing this experience reminded me of the incredible work Narrow Gate continues to do, teaching men skills and craftsmanship, while they learn purpose and identity.

Interested in learning more about Narrow Gate’s mission or supporting their programs? Visit narrowgate.org to see how they are helping shape the next generation of men. 

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