By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
MONROE, La. (LBM) – For months, staff and lay leaders with North Monroe Baptist Church prayed for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of 40 men who would be attending a men’s retreat, March 14-16.
God answered those prayers when 16 men stepped forward for baptism during an NMBC morning worship service on the final day of the event, while more made other life-changing decisions for Christ.
“These men got away for a weekend and experienced the peace from other men who knew Jesus and had that life change,” NMBC Director of Facilities and Men’s Ministry Jeff McPherson told the Baptist Message. “And they wanted to have what those men had.
“It’s hard to wrap my head around what the Holy Spirt does each time we have a men’s retreat,” he continued. “We make these plans for the weekend but it’s Jesus who changes lives.
“Sometimes when you get people away for a weekend and share stories, you wonder if the men will commit to Jesus,” he said. “And when they do, they get to share it front of more than 2,000 people in baptism. The men know what they experienced was real and they have a strong desire to make sure others know this great news about how Jesus changed their lives.”
GROWING IN CHRIST
Starting in 2017, the men’s retreat has been held twice a year in the Monroe-West Monroe area. While most of the details of what takes place at the retreat are not disclosed, the men get to celebrate their commitments to Christ at the end in front of family, friends and the congregation. The number of baptisms vary from three to 17 after each retreat.
Once the retreat concludes, they are plugged into one of the 25 men’s discipleship groups who meet at various times throughout the week for Bible study and accountability to sharpen and encourage one another to grow in Christ.
“We don’t dunk them and leave them where they are,” McPherson said. “We try to pull them through the discipleship process. Getting involved inspires them to one day teach others.”
Gavin Rawls is among the men touched by the Holy Spirit and baptized.
After dismissing several invitations from a friend to attend previous retreats, Rawls finally conceded and signed up. Though he went in without much knowledge of Jesus or the church, Rawls left with a relationship with Christ and passion for sharing with others his newfound hope in the Lord.
“Everybody was talking about their changed lives, and I could see myself through some of them,” he said. “Then something just like a wave hit me,” he continued. “I just felt like everything that had gone on in my life was leading up to this moment when I realized my need for a Savior. At that moment I let it all out.
“There’s no beer, no drug, that gave me the feeling of relief that I now have, and I felt a hundred pounds was lifted off of me,” he said. “I let go of some things that went on in my life that were holding me back and I got to share with the other men, my family and people whom I didn’t even know that Sunday when I got baptized.”
Likewise, Matt Wilson was overcome with emotion after stepping into the baptistery. Though he committed his life to Christ when he was 12 years old, Wilson said he had strayed from the Lord and the retreat provided a chance for him to have restoration of fellowship with Jesus.
“The Holy Spirit just got a hold of my heart,” he said. “Being around other men and creating these bonds and friendships will last a lifetime. And being baptized was truly a time stamp on my life. Having my daughter, son and wife there to see this new father and new husband before my church was a moment I’ll never forget. I would highly recommend every man, single or married, wherever you are in life, whatever’s going on, to go on one of these retreats.”
John Brown, too, sought restoration of fellowship at the retreat.
Brown, who turned to Christ when he was a youngster, said hearing testimonies from friends who attended caused him to repent and return to Christ.
“When you have close friends confessing things it makes you really think about your priorities in life,” he said. “I got a lot of things off my chest, and I realized many others there were struggling with things too, including a lot of the same stuff. It’s refreshing to know that I now have other guys I can turn to any time of the day.”
GRATITUDE, MOVING FORWARD
The men who attended the retreat expressed gratitude for the men who planned the event and for the support of NMBC.
Rawls noted that he has shared Christ with his friends and has attended some discipleship groups.
“Throughout the weekend I was surrounded by a group of men who wanted to be there for me, who wanted to love on me and wanted to disciple me,” he said. “I’m a different person who is reborn and I’ve got a great story to share with so many people. Before the retreat I didn’t have any other men whom I could turn to, but now I have lots of brothers who are here to help me learn more about how I can be ‘all in’ for Jesus even more.”
