This year's Men Meeting the Challenge (MMC) conference has placed prayer high on the agenda in reaching men for Christ.
The fourth annual MMC conference was held last Saturday and the theme was "Reaching Men For Christ', with all the talks focused on how Christian men can practically respond to God’s word and reconnect with their friends, family and workmates.
The Chairman and Conference Convener of Men For Christ Ministries, Richard Bolton (pictured left), who is part of both Northmead Anglican and Toongabbie Anglican churches, says prayer took precedence this year with the steering committee making it a focus in the months leading up to MMC conference.
"Over the months leading up to the conference a “prayer engine” was established where churches from around the world pledged to pray for the speakers and the message, that men would come and heed God’s word, and for the organisation of the conference," Mr Bolton reveals.
"One prayer partnering church in Texas phoned in during the conference to let us know that they had been praying all day for the success of the conference. A good number of men signed up on the day to commit themselves to prayer for the ministry in the future."
Over 570 men registered for the conference from over 75 churches. The churches represented a range of denominations, with men coming from as far north as Port Stephens, as far south as Robinson and as far West as Lithgow. The conference also functions as Sydney Diocese’s Western Region men’s conference.
"While the conference is non-denominational in focus a lot of consideration was given to align with the Connect09 program," Mr Bolton says.
Conference meets the growth challenge
A sign of MMC's growth is the fact that it was held at the UWS Parramatta Campus in Rydalmere after previously being held at Tyndale Christian School in Blacktown.
"Due to the growth potential the ministry executive chose to step out in faith and move to a bigger venue,” Mr Bolton says.
"It is inevitable that the purpose-built 1000 seat auditorium will, in a couple of years, be outgrown by the growth of MMC and a new venue needing to be identified."
MMC had more men getting involved in running the conference than ever before with over 100 laymen volunteering as helpers on the day.
"This demonstrates that the fabric of the conference is becoming more detailed and that more churches are getting on board with both the ownership and running it. In other words the church community is saying that this conference is what they want," Mr Bolton says.
There were ten speakers at this year's MMC conference including keynote speakers Moore College vice principal Bill Salier (pictured right), Centre of Public Christianity co-director John Dickson and Bishop of Wollongong Al Stewart.
"We are blessed with the depth and availability of teachers of God’s word that are right here "down under' who are not only faithful to God's word but also understanding of the "Aussie Man'," Mr Bolton says.
MMC conference 09 is on the September 5, 2009 and the keynote speakers will be Centre of Public Christianity co-director Greg Clarke, Rooty Hill Anglican Church rector, Ray Galea and Bishop of North Sydney Glenn Davies.
Mr Bolton hopes that through MMC's ministry men’s lives will be transformed through the Spirit with the application of God’s word to real-life issues that Australian males struggle with.
"I persevere because I am passionate about men's ministry and God has led me into it. If the Spirit uses us to win a man to Christ then the Spirit is likely to win his whole family as well," Mr Bolton explains.
