Dearest Brothers & Sisters; after lengthy discussion & prayer and evaluating the variables, the church’s Pastoral team & men’s ministry leadership have together decided that we really need to cancel this year’s men’s retreat…….You may have sensed that we seem to have been trying to fit the proverbial square-peg in the round “I-hope-it-comes-together” hole…… and it just isn’t coming together.  There were/are several factors which created this situation:

1. We were “bounced” from our historical weekend in early October to the September dates (10th-12th) and as it turns out these dates were
2. Way to early in the “fall”
3. Way to close to the end of summer
4. To close to the kids going back to school and
5. To close to Labor Day.

Men’s minds were focused on family, summer and vacation……..not on “retreat”.  The golf tournament will be canceled as well.

FYI;  the registration table will be removed and next week we will call the 35-40 men who registered to let them know we will be issuing them a 100% refund.

IMPORTANT: I know for many men this will feel like a disappointment.  Don’t even consider allowing discouragement to take root in your mind!  It is critically important that you and I share what we know to be true; that God does His best & greatest work in our times of trial!  Many men don’t know that God prunes us and grows us up in Him, not in the “smooth waters” of our lives, but in the trials of our lives and it is that GREAT REALITY that is cause for GREAT HOPE, GREAT REJOICING and GREAT EXPECTATION for what  GREAT WORK He is doing in the midst of this situation.  Those men need to hear that truth from YOU!!  There is no reason for our hearts to be discouraged…….. and there are countless reasons for our hearts to be encouraged (or ONE reason; the love of Christ expressed in countless ways)!!!   This is an opportunity for us to encourage each other in that truth, to share our personal testimony of how God has demonstrated that truth in our lives, and to pull together as the EBF Band Of Brothers!!  We are simply in the “test” part of a “testimony” and we can be assured that the “mony” is coming!  You and I get to experience that TOGETHER!  What could be better than THAT!!

FYI: We have donated the time at OOR to the Boy Scouts of America who will be going up to OOR to do some work to improve the facility!  And remember, this blessing is from you and our brothers & sisters!  Imagine what the Good Lord might have planned for those young men!!!!!  I can’t wait to hear the testimonies!!

Remember: “THE MONY’S COMING”!   

Please call me if you have questions or concerns……………you guys & gals are a GREAT blessing!!

Steve