The Tribune

MORE than 100 men are currently assembling in New Providence for the 44th Anglican Church Men Conference which culminates this Sunday.

This year’s conference, which started on Wednesday night, is being held at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany on Prince Charles Drive, where Father Atma Budhu is the rector.

Archdeacon G Kingsley Knowles, who is responsible for the East Central Archdeaconry, officially declared the conference open, under the theme “Drawing Men Closer to God Through Spirituality, Family and Service to Community”.

ACM Council President Dwight Gibson said: “This is a timely theme. The state of our country, especially some of our young men who seem to have abandoned God, the family is non-existent, and communities seem to have lost the neighbourly love we all once enjoyed. We are pleased to have a stellar cadre of presenters for this year’s conference, who will encourage, enlighten and charge us to go into the highways and byways to bring some resolution to the ills that destroys our families and communities.”

He continued: “Drawing men closer to God is the ultimate challenge, hence we are getting equipped through this conference to be able to do which is mandated of us in Matthew 28:19, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ We must start in our homes then our communities. Rise up, o men of God!”

Appearing at the conference are motivational speaker Spence Finlayson, Bishop Hulan Hanna, Father Ethan Ferguson and Father Atma Budhu.

On Sunday, a procession of witnesses will begin at 8am. The closing service will be held at 9.30am at the Church of the Epiphany. ACM members are to wear their full uniforms; other men within the Anglican Church are urged to be a part of this service as well.