Driven To Succeed — This was the theme of the men’s conference in North Dakota this past weekend. I was on the plane destined for my connection in Minneapolis. While quietly praying and formulating my final thoughts in anticipation of a cold weekend, my opening illustration of the event was sitting next to me.

He said it his way. The preacher in me says it this way. The figures on a paycheck, the title on the door, and the top of the corporate ladder do not add up to success. The man driven to succeed must be driven to his knees and the pages of God’s Word if he hopes to be a true success.

The sectional men’s director stood behind the keyboard leading worship. He paused for a moment and proceeded to confess to past sin. His confession was actually a tongue in cheek reference to the days that I served as District Youth Director of Oklahoma. The self-confessed mad man of youth camp was who I remembered as “Hot Rod from Poteau”. He was another of many that attempted to make me earn my money as a camp director. But his presence at this men’s rally was bonus pay for those long nights at camp. Hot Rod is now Pastor Mattox to a fine church in Arkansas.

It was Saturday night in Barling, Arkansas and the Lord reminded me again of the rewards of longtime ministry. I am not getting any older. I have just lived long enough to see those many bus children, wired teens, crazy campers and preacher’s kids, grow up to be stalwarts in the Kingdom of God.

One of the thrills of traveling this nation is meeting the pastor’s wife in Michigan, the missionary to Russia, and the pastor in Southern California. These are among many that Pam and I had the honor of having our fingerprints on youthful clay as the Lord was molding them into men and women of God. This is reason enough to ‘not be weary in well doing’.

What a great life!

The morning after the party. Most men dread it. Not me. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My morning after was filled with nothing but great thoughts and memories of a three day party committed to the celebration of men’s ministries across America.  For this man, the national Men’s Ministries Leadership Conference was a dream come true.

Local, district and national leaders from as far away as Puerto Rico gathered in Branson, Missouri. We laughed, cried, prayed and praised before, during and after every component of a hectic schedule of activities.  We gathered in the meeting rooms, the restaurant and the hallways with new and old friends as “iron sharpened iron.”  All I know is that I left the resort exhausted, but never more excited about Assemblies of God men and our mission.

Thanks to every person present, the speakers who gave us their best, and the national team that worked so hard.  I cannot thank James and Darian, along with my entire staff, enough.  You are not only a gift from God to me, but every men’s leader in our movement.

Let’s do it again next year!