Submitted by: Marty Miller
Submitted by: Marty Miller
During 2017, men’s ministry events and the number of small groups within the Georgia-Cumberland Conference has grown dramatically through visionary leadership and God’s blessing. Men’s lives are being transformed, marriages are being saved, and the church is being strengthened.
The first Men’s Leadership Summit took place June 3, 2017, during Collegedale Camp Meeting at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tenn. The meeting was held in Thatcher Hall Chapel (ironically, the women’s dormitory). Marty Miller cast a vision for men’s ministry, and gave a report from the first-year partnership with Blueprint for Men. A panel of five men’s ministry leaders, Tom Pyke, Edymar Penagos, Jim Aumack, Dale Salter, and Grant Graves, shared testimonies of men’s changed lives through men’s ministry.
The clear message from the summit was that ordinary men become extraordinary men of God through the transformation that occurs from being part of a men’s small group.
The Chainsaws and Butter Knives Men’s Rally took place August 26, 2017, at the Collegedale, Tenn., Community Church. The focus is, whether men feel as sharp and as powerful as a chainsaw, or as weak and dull as a butter knife, all men need other godly men to get sharper … just as “iron sharpens iron,” Proverbs 27:17.
The rally started with a song service led by Matt Spears, and inspirational testimonies by Jordan Madrigal, Jason Leirs, Brian Ringer, and Jim Luke. The men transitioned outside to the pavilion for a pancake supper and fellowship. The evening finale was a high energy lumberjack contest that involved cross-cut saws and splitting mauls.
Winners of the lumberjack contest were awarded laser engraved Swedish steel axes and blisters. And, the immense wall of stacked firewood was used at the Collegedale Academy Senior Survival.
After a year hiatus, the men’s retreat returned to Cohutta Springs, September 15-17, 2017. The theme of the retreat was “Broken Beauty,” which centers on God’s miraculous ability to transform men’s lives from apparent brokenness into something of priceless beauty. During the weekend, the men enjoyed inspirational music, challenging messages, delicious food, outdoor activities, and even a car show featuring restoration. The main speaker for the retreat was Jim Moon, Collegedale Church pastor. Two powerful testimonies were shared by young men, Alex Carillo from Texas and Michael McDuffie from New York. A wide range of breakout sessions were offered. In the first car show, Mike Scheineman’s 1968 Dodge Travco from Kerrville, Tex., and Brent Mann’s 1959 Chevy Impala from Duluth, Ga., featured outstanding frame-off restorations. Men are already talking about next year, and are gearing up to start small groups back at their home churches.
Georgia-Cumberland | November 2017
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