Men at the Cross holds first conference in Cape Girardeau

A night of discipleship, teaching biblical truths and preparing others to spread those truths, was held Friday at the Men at the Cross conference at Cape First.

The national organization began in 2008 to encourage and equip men to know who they are in Christ and go and train others to do the same. Men at the Cross vice president Jimmy Wilferth said the foundation of the ministry is men consistently serving as Biblical leaders in society.

"What we're looking for is seven days a week of men being godly men," he said.

Wilferth said Men at the Cross has held conferences in more than 50 U.S. cities and while the national headquarters are in Cape Girardeau, this is the first conference to take place here.

"To do it right here in our home means a lot," he said. "They're all fantastic, but this one is personal. It has a little special flavor to it because it's home."

The conference kicked off with a fish fry at 4:30 p.m. serving 400 to 500 people. Proceeds from the fish fry were donated to the Prodigy Leadership Academy in Cape Girardeau.

The program was then held from 6 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. and consisted of three speakers -- Joe White, founder and president of Men at the Cross, Dr. Rick Rigsby and Ted Cunningham, who all addressed different angles on discipleship -- as well as Christian artists David Cobb and Mark Christian and the creation of a live painting by artist Brian Keith Daniel. All attendees of the conference received a book, "One 2 Won," which is a 24-week study that coaches them to becoming disciple makers.

A break-out session was held for participants ages 13 to 18 to discuss sexual purity and tactics for defending their faith. The teen portion was facilitated by White, Adam Donyes and Nasa Sete.

The total attendance of the conference was about 1,000 people from various denominations.

Shawn Jackson, an Advance, Mo., resident, said this was his third conference to attend. He said Men at the Cross is a great movement that inspires people to come to Christ.

"It motivates people to take a deeper walk with Christ," he said.

Jackson said one of his favorite aspects of Men at the Cross is sharing and disciplining to other individuals. He said he recruited 16 people to join him at the conference.

Chuck Stevens, an Advance resident and one of Jackson's recruitments, said his purpose in attending the conference was to regain his faith since leaving his church three years ago. He said he could immediately feel the power and energy in the atmosphere after walking through the door.

"It's uplifting," he said. "If you had a belief, it reconnects you."

For more information or to get involved with Men at the Cross, visit www.menatthecross.org.

rrolwing@semissourian.com

388-3654

Pertinent address:

254 Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO