It is often said that art imitates life. Well, at the impressionable age of nineteen, my life was neither impressionable nor artsy. Seeking employment, I decided to visit New Kingston. My strategy was well-thought out and ironclad: randomly drop off my resume at any office that seemed ‘nice’. The Bible says that God maketh his sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45).
But if you asked me to spell “church” back then, I would struggle. That is how far removed I was from anything religious. However, as fate/faith would have it, one of those random companies offered me my first corporate job as a summer worker with the coveted title of Data Entry Clerk.
“HOLD THAT LIFT!”
I remember I was in the elevator engaged in dialogue with a colleague when I saw a woman rushing towards us. She shouted, “Hold the lift.” I ignored her. Later, my colleague insisted that we find her and apologise. Wouldn’t you know that she turned out to be head of the legal department of the company where we worked?! And she decided to take me on as her mentee. Perhaps my boy-wonder charm cracked her seemingly impenetrable exoskeleton, or perhaps she saw me as a project with potential. Either way, that was the best thing that could have happened to me at that age. I learned a great deal under her tutelage.
I remember a weekly task of providing her with a critical analysis of a New York Times article of my choice. At this time in my life, the only thing I read extensively were my BlackBerry Messenger messages (yes, I have unfortunately aged myself). Now I am being asked to think critically. Imagine my annoyance! This task, though arduous at the beginning, really built my reasoning and critical thinking. It certainly helped that most of my mentor’s years were spent in a first-world country, so her perspective and guidance were from that lens.
Almost two decades later, I can attribute my growth, perception, and determination in life to God and my mentor. God was instrumental in landing me at that company, pairing me with my mentor, blessing me with the wife I have, and the three Hebrew boys which came forth from our union.
In hindsight, I realise that the LORD has always been there for me. Again and again pouring rain on the just and the unjust.
MEN WHO PRAY PRAYER MINISTRY
In August of 2025, the Holy Spirit impressed a weight of responsibility upon my shoulders (picture Wile E. Coyote struggling to lift heavy weights while trying to catch the Road Runner) to start a ministry/community for men – Men Who Pray, a sub-ministry to Heralds of the Gospel ministry.
The objective of Men Who Pray is building spiritual growth among men through prayer and fasting. We are demystifying the myth of “toxic masculinity” (which was birthed from the inner chambers of Satan’s lair) by normalising the God-given role bestowed upon men as Priest, Provider, and Protector for their family and cultivating a community for men to reason about the issues that uniquely face them. Our meetings are held every quarter, and to date, we have had three all-night prayer sessions – “Men of Integrity: Standing Firm in the Day of Battle”, “Rebuilding After the Storm: Strengthened to Stand Again”, and “Financial Stability in the Kingdom”.
SHARPENING THE SMALL AXES
We are now organising a camping event in April for fathers and their son(s) with the purpose of restoring biblical masculinity; strengthening father-son bonds; training boys through mentorship and modelling; teaching practical life skills based on Genesis 2:15; and building spiritual leaders for the next generation. This event is not just camping but an initiation into responsibility.
Many are called – God is always knocking on the hearts of men, but only a few will answer and invite Him in. I have answered, and with God’s help, this ministry will build men of integrity who are not afraid to hold up the banner of Christ.
I will leave you with this quote:
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” ~Ellen G. White
A Christian for over six years and a systems administrator, when Omar C. Genas is not busy helping men understand, protect, and execute their God-given mandate; he is assisting small and medium sized businesses secure their IT systems.
