Group teaches God-based leadership to men

Men from all walks of life discuss need for responsibility, courage and prayer.

There were men in suits. Men in hospital scrubs. Men in mechanics' uniforms.

There were men in work boots and men in polished dress shoes. Young men in T-shirts and jeans.

Many of them had Bibles tucked under their arms as they made their way through the dark parking lot of La Croix United Methodist Church.

At 6:30 a.m. Thursday, men from all different backgrounds, home lives, careers and even faiths met for the first of 24 sessions designed to teach them how to be authentic men.

"It really is a cross-section of the community," said Dan Steska, who facilitates the Southeast Missouri chapter of Men's Fraternity. "This appeals to men from all walks of life."

Last year, the first gathering of the local chapter drew around 25 participants. Thursday morning, 180 men showed up for the first session of the organization's second year.

"A lot of the guys were there out of curiosity," said Steska. "Not only am I certain they'll come back, I think they'll invite their friends."

The sessions are not a church service. There's no offering taken, no in-your-face preaching.

This 2005-2006 session is designed to help participants focus on a man's core identity and give an overview of basic manhood issues, all from a biblical perspective.

Mike Young participated in last year's session and enjoyed it so much he's going through it again this year.

"There is so much information I could go through it two or three times and get something new every time," said Young. "In today's world, the role of men does get very confusing. Men's Fraternity motivates you to be a better father, husband, coworker, and have a better relationship with God."

Like many of the men there, Young is not a member of La Croix, where the sessions are held this year. Men from a variety of local churches, and even those who don't attend church, are welcome.

"Really the core of Men's Fraternity helps to give a clear definition of what it is to be a man," said Young. "Reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously and expect God's greater reward."

The original Men's Fraternity was created by Robert Lewis, a pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Ark., and author of "Raising a Modern Day Knight."

Lewis created three yearlong studies, beginning with "The Quest for Authentic Manhood." About 30 men attended Lewis' initial sessions in Little Rock. There are about 1,200 participants in that chapter alone, and 2,000 chapters have sprung up around the country.

At La Croix, each weekly session includes with a video of Lewis speaking followed by small group discussion.

Thursday's meeting actually began with a clip from the movie "City Slickers," with the cowboy character played by Jack Palance holding up his finger and telling Billy Crystal that the secret to life is "one thing," and that one thing is different for each man.

"I think this fraternity will help us find that one special thing in life. I think it will help us become authentic men," said Steska.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128