Barbecue and blues just for the boys

Patrick Tankersley, small groups and equipping pastor at Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau, said that his church is seeking to bring men together and hopes to challenge them to live their life for Christ with a "Night of Bar-B-Que and Blues" at 5 p.m. Saturday at the church on Kage Road.

"We want to look further than just Cape Bible Chapel men," he said. "We are looking to make it open for everybody in the community."

Tankersley said he would like for the event to become a tradition. It will start with some barbecue and a fellowship and will have the Christian Blues musician Reverend Zack Reynolds performing as well as the senior pastor of Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minn., preaching at the event.

Reynolds started the interdenominational ministry "Mighty Tree Ministries" in Springfield, Tenn., in 1990, after he felt God's call to travel to jails and prisons and use blues music as a means to break down racial walls and soften hearts to prepare them to hear gospel.

"I've been in over a thousand prisons so far," Reynolds said. "It's very highly received."

Zack Reynolds

Reynolds, who has had a preaching ministry in Nashville, Tenn. for 17 years, said he will be doing two one-hour concerts at Cape Bible Chapel and will also preach. He'll also take men from Cape Bible Church into a local prison for a program Friday night.

"About half to three-quarters [of men] by the time I'm done give their heart to God," the blues performer said.

The 50-year old, who is originally from the San Francisco Bay area, started playing drums when he was 4 and harmonica when he was 13.

"I played in nightclubs in the early days, then the Lord called me 20 years ago," he said. "They call me a soul winner."

Troy Dobbs, senior pastor at the Minnesota church, said that he wants to inspire men to be all that God has designed and destined them to be.

"I want to help them take the discipline of father and manhood," he said. "Seriously, thereby blessing their wives and children. I hope to help them overcome passivity and become disciplined and godly leaders at home and in the community."

After the food, blues and fellowship, Tankersley said they plan to head to the Osage Center to play basketball from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

The cost for this event is $10 per person to cover food and other expenses. Tickets can be bought at the door or from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at Cape Bible Chapel. For additional information, contact Patrick Tankersley at 334-5948.

Dobbs will speak at 9:15 a.m. Sunday to combined growth groups, and he and Rev. Zack and the Good News Blues will start the church worship service at 10:30 a.m.