Religion

Bryan Patton believes that the world is starving for men of integrity, men of conviction and accountability. What the world needs are men of character serving as leaders not only of their community but as spiritual leaders in their homes.

Patton is prepared to teach the Christian men in Calhoun County how to do just that.

Together they will become Conquering Heroes.

It is a ministry that Patton says God laid on his heart, though it was a rather unexpected calling.

"I thought I'd gotten somebody else's message," he says through a burst of laughter. "But I can see now … families are under serious attack, lots of men have little or no standards in today's society.

"There was a need to reach out to men — to husbands and fathers — in order to save families."

And the outreach will begin in earnest Saturday, Sept. 13, when Patton's ministry, Conquering Heroes, hosts Men without Compromise, the first of what he hopes will be a series of conferences aimed at teaching men how to be better leaders.

"A lot of men today don't know how to express love to their children or their spouse," Patton says. "We want to show them how to be men of integrity, of compassion and also how to stand in the gap when things happen, tragic things, that could easily destroy a family."

But Patton won't be equipping his audience alone.

Rather, he has enlisted an impressive line-up of nationally recognized Christian inspirational speakers and local pastors in order to spread the message of change and accountability.

Among those appearing at Men without Compromise:

Rick Burgess of Rick & Bubba radio fame, who also happens to be an Oxford native.

Dr. Shad Helmstetter, AKA the "Dean of Personal Growth," is a behavioral researcher and author of 13 books in the field of personal growth, including What to Say When You Talk to Yourself.

Jimmie L. Lucas, president and founder of Voice of Light International Ministries, who for 20-plus years has taught people how to take back control of their lives.

Bart Millard, lead singer for the contemporary Christian group Mercy Me.

And Clay Crosse, singer/songwriter and ordained minister who, along with his wife, Renee, founded the Holy Homes Ministry in 2001, which aims at encouraging Christian homes to "welcome back Christ" by avoiding the "calloused influences" such as TV, movies and the Internet.

When Crosse takes the stage next Saturday, he expects to recognize the concerns on the faces staring back at him from the audience. As part of his testimony, Crosse will share his own personal struggles and missteps.

"There's a real sense of brotherhood because we've all made the same mistakes," he says. "When people see that I know and understand what they've been through, that gets their attention. I humbled myself before God and he brought such joy into my life.

"These men can do the same."

Crosse also understands why some men have difficulty in being the spiritual leaders of their homes.

"A lot of guys are intimidated," he says. "They feel it's their job to earn a living or to be the physical protector of the home. They don't always think about the enemy that's after all our homes, so they write off their roles and responsibility."

And the way to succeed, which Crosse will also address, is to surrender to the highest authority — God.

"Get rid of the things — TV shows, movies — in the house that don't glorify God," Crosse says. "It's your role as leader to care about what's coming into your home."

A special concert, featuring Mercy Me, will kick off the event on Friday, Sept 12. Though the conference itself is for men, the concert is open to anyone.

Joining the cast of guest speakers will be several local pastors, including Kent Mattox from Word Alive International Outreach in Coldwater, Tim Thomas from Munford First Baptist and Derek Staples from Jacksonville First Baptist Church.

"This is something that our community hasn't had in a long time," Thomas says, "pulling men together and putting our lives into a spiritual perspective."

The Bible is very specific that men have been called by God to be the leaders of the household. But there has been a deterioration of that across America. Men, not only aren't leaders in their homes in a secular way, they aren't leaders in a spiritual way either, Thomas says.

"When Dad is vacant and when Dad isn't the leader, the husband or father that he's supposed to be," he says, "he's simply raising another generation of kids to be just like him.

"We want to bring men together and remind them what God created us for in the first place."

And such a conference give men the opportunity to share and learn from one another, to see what they truly can accomplish, Staples says.

"I don't know any man who doesn't want to be a better husband, a better father and a better mentor to other young men," he says. "Together we can revolutionize Calhoun County."

Conquering Heroes — Men without Compromise: www.conqueringheroes.org

Men without Compromise men's conference

Saturday, Sept. 13
Harvest Church of God, 520 Golden Springs Road, Anniston
Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Tickets are $40
For more information, call 237-1111