Central Kansas men have a mandate to step up and be responsible fathers and leaders.
That’s the primary message of “The Mandate,” a men’s conference taking place this Saturday at Barton Community College. The free day of live praise and worship music, testimony and inspiration runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Doors will open at 8 a.m.
Jim Stevens with One Hope Ministries said there will be several door prizes, free pizza and a dynamic speaker, Pueblo, Colo., evangelist and youth minister Jayme Montera. People can come for the day or just stop in. Either way, he hopes many will get the message.
“I think we are in a crisis, with the number of families with one parent in the home,” Stevens said. “We’re trying to get men to step up. The theme is men being fathers – in particular godly fathers.”
Montera last visited Great Bend for a rally prior to See You At the Pole, also sponsored by One Hope Ministries, last September. Montera has been described as an international evangelist who’s dedicated his life in bringing the gospel to a lost and dying world. He says the greatest miracle of all is, “when a lost soul finds Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.”
The conference is for men of all ages, Stevens said. “Women are welcome too, by the way.” One Hope Ministries is interdenominational, and perhaps a dozen area churches have been involved in planning the event.
“A crew of about 15 men have worked on this for three months,” Stevens said.

Following through
Sponsors hope the Men’s Conference will become an annual event, similar to One Hope Ministries’ annual Hearts Aflame Women’s Conference, which is held every February.
For the men’s conference, there will be tables set up with resources for men to continue their commitment through study or men’s group in area churches.
Admission is free but a freewill offering will be taken. Lunch will be provided by Papa Murphy’s Pizza Take N’ Bake. The door prizes were donated by area businesses and include tools and gift certificates worth hundreds of dollars, including the top door prize of a $500 gift certificate from P&S Security in Great Bend.
For more information, visit www.onehopegb.org or contact Bryant Birney at 620-397-3325.