Northern Virginia pastors, ministry leaders,  and faith-based community organizations are invited to a kick-off meeting of The Northern Virginia Strengthening Families Faith Based Consortium.   

This new consortium in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Social Services is seeking to connect and reconnect fathers with their children, encourage the formation and development of safe, stable, intact two-parent families, to create a resource and support network for men, and to help reduce non-marital births. The meeting will be: 

Thursday, May 24, 2012 - 11:30am - 2pm   

Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3801 Buckman Road, Alexandria VA
(Lunch will be provided)  

For more information and registration, contact:
Rev. Anthony J. Mingo, Sr.. Steering Committee Chair

(703) 402-0685 or amingo@fishersofmenforjesus.org  

Crossover Church in Hyattsville MD is opening up its May 19-21, 2012 Chariots of Fire Men's Conference to all area men. The weekend event features, among others, our friend Dr. Rick Rigsby from Dallas TX and a "bikers blessing"..For  information and registration, go to crossoverchurch.tv  If you have questions, contact Pastor Ivan MCDowell at ivanmcdowell@crossoverchurch.tv  

Pastor Joe Thorn recently wrote Note to Self, a highly recommended practical introduction to daily discipline. He offers fifty brief, devotional chapters that model how to preach the gospel to yourself and its practical benefits and implications. Here's one particular discipline every man must deal with..."Stop Pretending" 

Dear Self,

Like everyone else, you are pretty good at pretending. It is not malicious, but you can put on a good face when in reality things are not that good. You want to appear strong even when you are weak, or you at least do not want to appear weak. This superficial persona is the front of pride that only encourages the sin to continue in yourself, and it ultimately robs you of gospel influence-the kind of influence Paul had with the church in Rome, and they had with him. READ MORE 

In last month's issue we posed the following trivia question and almost immediately got ten correct answers who won copies of the Pat Morley's new  book - Man Alive.   

He grew up in the Baptist church, attended seminary, and holds a black belt in karate. His first job after college was in a theme park managing a show with live animals playing musical instruments. He became the creative force behind several academy award winning and critically acclaimed movies.  

Recently he was the commencement speaker at Liberty University and the keynote speaker at the National Prayer Breakfast.  

He says of himself, "I'm a storyteller like Jesus." In one of his movies he quoted Job 39:19-24 in the opening scene HERE. In another film, he wrote what's become a classic speech about freedom HERE.  In yet another significant film, he created this powerful scene of men in prayer HERE.

Of his faith, he has said this, "I am a Christian, no matter what else I do. I could change my name to something else, but I would not become someone else. My Christian identity doesn't depend on my earning the title; the start of my journey as a Christian is my certainty that I don't merit the love of God and I have it anyway - just as I am, without one plea.. I believe that the death of Jesus of Nazareth opened a door to love and life that are, quite literally, a union with God. I don't understand it, but Jesus didn't ask for my understanding. He just said "Follow me," gave up his life, and rose from the dead. So I try to follow."   

Who is this brother in Christ? Correct Answer: RANDALL WALLACE. You might be interested in two of Randall's recent talks.