By Brian Koonce
Staff Writer
JEFFERSON CITY – Men across Missouri will have an opportunity to become “mighty men” of God this spring as Paul Freed’s Mighty Men of God conference returns to the state for its second year. The Jefferson City conference will be April 30-May 1 at Concord Baptist Church and the St. Louis regional conference will be May 21-22 at First Baptist, Arnold.
Sponsored by the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) men’s missions and ministry office, the conference will focus on the elder statesmen of the faith, strengthening marriage and building father/son relationships. The name of the conference comes from 1 Chronicles 12:8 and 14: “There came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains… These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army; he who was least was equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand.”
Rick Seaton, men’s missions and ministry specialist for the MBC, said memories of last year’s conference in Joplin have him excited for the possibilities of the upcoming events. Paul Freed will again be the main speaker at this year’s conferences.
“We had just over 200 men and boys and it went very, very well,” he Seaton. “We had a lot of good feedback. Paul is a dynamic, challenging, conservative, Biblical speaker. I’m expecting a great experience again this year. Eventually, we hope to bring these conferences to all regions of Missouri.”
Seaton added that this is an opportunity for fathers and sons to reconnect. “Most conferences are strictly for men,” he said. “This is different, and I think very needed. This is an opportunity for generations – for grandfathers, fathers, and grandsons to have a very special time with each other.”
Freed is a past president of Promise Keepers and author of several men’s ministry books. He did his undergraduate studies at Wheaton College and Philadelphia Biblical University, and his graduate work at Dallas Theological Seminary, Homestead College of Bible, Oxford Graduate School, and University of Oxford (England). Freed has traveled, lived and ministered in 70 nations.
For more information or to register, go to www.MightyMenofGod.com. The cost is $35 for men ($40 after April 26) and $15 for young men.