Kentucky Baptists participate in, help lead recent LifeWay men’s conference

By Micah Carter LifeWay Christian Resources Ridgecrest, N.C.—Jamahl Glaze knows a good opportunity when he sees it. He’s attended LifeWay’s men’s conference for four out of five years with his church, Consolidated Baptist in Lexington. He makes the annual trip because he sees the time as “an investment.” “I need to invest in myself as a man by gathering with other men who love Jesus and are trying to live for Him,” Glaze explained. Glaze assembled with 630 like-minded men at LifeWay’s Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina last month. Its focus—“I’m the Man”—called on men to embrace their God-given roles of leading, protecting, mentoring and serving.

EXPLAINING THE ‘MAN ZONE’ Kevin Smith, pastor of Watson Memorial Baptist in Louisville, explains what he calls the “Man Zone” in the local church during his breakout session “How to Pastor Men.” (Photo by Kent Harville/LifeWay Christian Resources)

Jay Wells, director of black church relations at LifeWay, organized the event with a specific goal in mind. “We wanted to create an experience where the affirmation of men happens,” he said. “We wanted to see men changed through a concentrated dose of God’s presence in a compressed, focused time of teaching and encouragement.”

Inspirational worship, powerful preaching and insightful breakout groups came together to foster that experience.

“We have to have a place where men can talk about being men in an environment that affirms who we are,” Wells said. “We chose to focus on a man’s experience as central, not around the personality of a specific man—even though we invited quality speakers to be with us.”

The lineup of speakers and leaders included, among others, Eric Johnson, pastor of Greater Galilee Baptist in Louisville, who challenged men from 2 Corinthians 4 to place themselves at the disposal of their Creator and to face life’s difficulties with courage.

“You must be determined to keep on climbing,” he stated. “Because God has given you a ministry, you can’t quit now. You might be in misery, but you still have mercy, so keep climbing.”

Mark Croston, pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va., echoed this sentiment of perseverance when he spoke from Judges 13-16, inviting each participant to be a “true player for real.” Unlike Samson, who floundered and failed because of his impulsiveness, desires and emotions, Croston implored men to live out their true potential with power and purpose under God’s leadership.

Tony Mathews, senior pastor of North Garland Baptist Fellowship in Garland, Texas, said he sees the men’s conference as a prime opportunity for him and the men in his church to be encouraged and built up.

“I came here and brought some men with me because the conference has a reputation for being bibliocentric and relevant,” Mathews said. “Here we can receive timely encouragement and solid biblical teaching that deals specifically with men’s issues.”

Mathews emphasized that the resources he gains are well worth the trip. “Beyond the academic, I gather pastoral, personal, practical and spiritual resources that help me retool and replenish my ministry focus for the men in my care.”

One such resource came in the form of a breakout group designed specifically for pastors and simply titled “How to Pastor Men.” Kevin Smith, pastor of Watson Memorial Baptist in Louisville, led the group.

Smith lamented that most churches overlook men or have no intentional focus for them. “Men are unique and distinctive,” he said. “That means that leading men must be unique and distinctive.

“Pastors need to make a priority out of moving the mind of God into the men of God to make them mighty for God,” he said.

Smith argued that even though Jesus liberated and elevated women, He devoted much of His time and teaching to 12 men. Men’s ministry is not a program—it must be the DNA of your ministry, Smith noted.

“You’re not going to make a man of God overnight,” he added. “It is a patient process—just look at Jesus and the way He discipled men. It takes time.”

Smith suggested pastors should let their men know “you’re trying to equip them to lead, protect, mentor and serve—so that they can make a difference in their homes, church and community.” If men grab hold of that vision to empower them for ministry and leadership, pastors will begin to see changes, he said.

Western Recorder issue date: June 1, 2010