Pastor Bob Smoker of the Susquehanna Grace Brethren Church in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, recently hosted a weekend seminar with Mike Stanley. Here is a brief article he wrote, commending Stanley’s ministry to other churches:
This was not like other men’s rallies – singing, praying, preaching, eating, business meeting. This rally had all that (except for the business meeting). The question was, “What can we do that is different? Something most men have never done. Something that will be a stretch.”
Susquehanna Grace Brethren Church in Wrightsville, PA, hosted a Men’s Rally April 21. The event was combined with the Grace Brethren Boys district leaders’ meeting and campout Friday night the 20th at the church.
That’s it! Lets set up a rappelling tower and break up the singing, praying, preaching and eating. Mike Stanley came from Columbus, OH, so that he could experience the thrill of rappelling a 25-foot wall.
Well, actually, he came to share the ministry of Manhood In Action and what it means to be a man of Christ. Men from seven churches came to learn that a man of Christ is a man of Commitment, Honor, Responsibility, Initiative, Service, and Truth.
One man later sent me this note: “Mike Stanley’s message hit home in so many ways of what it meant to be a Christian man and how we need to honor our commitments at home with our wives and children. How we need to reach others through that same commitment of service to God. Mike’s easygoing personality but direct approach on the issues was refreshing.”
Mike is an excellent communicator and he connected well. He used the Scriptures and inspiring stories from history, movies, and his experiences as a football coach. He then preached at the morning worship service Sunday. The message of “CHRIST” is now being reinforced as several of the men of Susquehanna Grace are using Manhood In Action’s workbook Biblical Heroes as a discipleship tool.
I whole-heartedly recommend this ministry to the churches and men of the FGBC. We are already thinking of our next Men’s Rally with Mike.
You can contact him at (614) 734-9932 or coachstanley@manhoodinaction.com.
Oh yea, the coach took the rappel coaching very well. Pretty good form for a rookie!