Men from near and far who were eager to delve deeper into their spiritual responsibilities and contribute to the transformation of Jamaica, turned out in their numbers to attend a recently held Men’s Conference which reflected the move of God to restore men as the head of families.
“Excellent” and “awesome” were some of the terms used to describe the watershed event hosted by Freedom Come Ministries International and the Tarrant Baptist Circuit of Churches on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the ‘big tent’ at Gordon Boulevard, Spanish Town. Convened under the theme “Restoring Men to Their Rightful Place in God,” the conference was a resounding success, which saw some of the men travelling from different parishes to attend.
Notably, the absence of women emphasised the event’s focus on men’s spiritual empowerment and growth.
“This really opened my eyes spiritually to my responsibilities as a man; it was a refreshing and recalibrating moment for each and every man who has listened and has participated,” said Kevin Jones, a conference participant.
The keynote address, delivered by the Honourable Pastor David Lagen, Member of Parliament from the Republic of Uganda, resonated deeply with attendees. Pastor Lagen’s impassioned message urged men to embrace their roles as leaders within their families, communities, and the nation.
Drawing from his experiences in Uganda, Pastor Lagen highlighted the transformative power of men’s spiritual alignment with God, emphasising the importance of prayer and steadfast faith. With reference to the passing of Uganda’s 2023 anti-homosexuality bill, Pastor Lagen recounted the role of prayer among Ugandan legislators and encouraged attendees to continually pray, in defence of their families and the nation, against the forces of darkness.
President and Founder of Cornerstone Ministries, Dr. Douglas Kessner, commended the conference for its profound impact on attendees. Reflecting on the principles shared by Pastor Lagen, Dr. Kessner emphasised the importance of following Jesus’ teachings and taking responsibility as men in society. Andrew Norman, co-founder of the Passion & Purity movement, also offered similar commendations for the event, which he said was not just a conference but was also a move of God that could not be reversed. He remains excited to see what God will be doing in the areas of leadership and governance in the nation and beyond.
A poignant moment came during the prophetic session led by Apostle Jeffrey Shuttleworth. Men present stood proxy for all men across the island, repented on their behalf, and interceded for the nation, seeking divine intervention for a holistic transformation across the seven societal pillars of family, church, economy, government, education, culture, and media. Apostle Shuttleworth’s stirring call to align with God’s purpose resonated strongly. The men were urged to stand firm in their roles as spiritual leaders and guardians.
In his charge, Apostle Shuttleworth challenged the men to get into alignment with God and what He is doing in this season. He stated that once men are out of alignment, the forces of darkness will have their way and reminded the attendees that the main reason the nation is in a crisis of leadership is because men are out of alignment.
Arguing that when men are out of place, something or someone else will take that space, Apostle Shuttleworth contended that if men are out of place, then women, children, and institutions will be out of place, and to be out of place is to be out of order.
CATALYST FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
The men present were stirred in their spirits to begin to take up their rightful place and be aligned with God’s purpose for their lives, and with what God is doing in this and all seasons.
The prophetic session culminated in a powerful period of prayer, symbolising a collective commitment to spiritual renewal and transformation. During this time, young attendees, under age 16, received prayers and prophetic declarations, and were anointed with consecrated oil. Quite a number of people made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
Reflecting on the event, Deacon Adrian Brown expressed a sentiment shared by many, lamenting mainly that “all we needed was a bit more time.” His assessment encapsulated the overwhelming consensus that the men’s conference was not just a gathering but a catalyst for profound spiritual awakening and empowerment. In a world filled with challenges, the conference stood as a beacon of hope, reminding men of their pivotal roles as spiritual leaders and agents of positive change.
As attendees departed the ‘big tent’, they carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to align themselves with God, stand for righteousness, and stand prayerfully in defence of their families, the nation, and beyond.
