Christ - The Reese Source - March 2008

Every year in the middle of March, twelve guys get together for a weekend outing. These men, for the most part, have the common link of having been involved in Young Life youth ministry in some way. There are present and former Young Life staff, former volunteer leaders, and former Young Life club kids. There are a couple of family members who have joined the group by common consent. The members are now all over 40 years old with the oldest being over sixty two. The weekend begins on Thursday night and ends on Sunday morning and is usually set to coincide with the beginning of “March Madness.” The guys have their “bracket sheets for the N.C.A.A. tournament all filled out when they arrive. The venues have varied from Hilton Head to Cashiers, North Carolina. Many times golf has been involved. Others times fishing was the “lure.” (Sorry!) This year the attraction was four wheel A.T.V.’s and skeet shooting. The locale was the northwest corner of Georgia near Cloudland Canyon. This weekend has been going on for twenty years now.

Is there a purpose to the weekend other than some guys getting together? “Sounds like a testosterone–filled weekend”, you say. In truth, it partly is. There is real value in men being together, away from the pressures of everyday life, in a relaxed environment where they can be themselves and laugh long and hard. The real purpose of the weekend, however, is to share with each other what has been going on in their lives over the past year. For many of us, we only get to see each other at this time. It is a time when we can be totally transparent. We share our victories and defeats, our joys and our sorrows. We do not judge each other. Being guys, it is hard not to try to fix situations and offer advice. Usually this is done when the person seeks advice and counsel on dealing with an issue. We share struggles with our marriages, our families, our jobs, and our faith. In short; we get real with each other. Guys in the group are wrestling with extremely difficult issues in their lives. Each man is prayed for as he finishes his sharing time. This process actually consumes the bulk of the weekend and is the time we look forward to the most. Sure, the activities are fun, the venues are great, and the laughter is therapeutic, but the love, care and concern shared by the “Band of Brothers” is what keeps us coming back.

Guys, if you do not have something like this in your lives, you are missing out! I would love to help facilitate something like this for you and your friends. Give me a call at 678-986-4814.



MINISTRY NEWS:

We are reformulating the Wednesday lunchtime group at the corporate office because we were not successful in reaching our target group, namely other people in the office park. The group distilled down to five or six women from the corporate office. The group will now be led by a woman from the group who has obvious gifts of discipleship with these women. I will use this time to meet with men on an individual basis. I will continue to lead the warehouse men in a lunchtime Bible study different day. I am available to lead another men’s group. Call me if you are interested at 678-986-4814.

MINISTRY NEEDS:

We are asking for prayer for one of our Friday Morning group members, Russell Thomas, who suffered a fall at his home. He had a serious head injury and has been in the I.C.U. for a week. At last report, his condition is improving rapidly. Please keep Russell and his family in your prayers

I am blessed by your friendship, support, and encouragement.