Men - Understand Your Calling
The Coronavirus has forced men in numerous countries across the world to be in their houses. Barbados is no exception. Healthcare professionals, political leaders, and concerned people who continue to see the devastation of this microscopic killer are pleading: “stay in your houses”. What a challenge for men, many of whom may not be accustomed to being so closely confined to their houses.
When God spoke to me about 3:00 am on October 08, 2019 to give a clarion call for the men of our Nation, Barbados to come together at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex on March 01, 2020, little did I know it would have been the last large gathering to be held in Barbados to date. Under the theme MANUP – Every Man A Winner, about 2000 males rallied to the appeal to value themselves as persons, partners and parents.
Ten days after, on March 11, The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic which forced Barbados to prohibit mass gatherings. Reflecting recently on MANUP, the thought struck me that God in His foreknowledge, wisdom and love, strategically summoned the men in our country for a specific purpose.
I was heartened by the experience of this young married man who was present at the event.
“I was surrounded by hundreds of men who were willing to admit their shortcomings, shed their insecurities and rebuild their identity in Christ,” he said. “ManUp for me was about broken men meeting a real God, to live better lives, to build godly families and communities.”
A man who watched our live-stream remarked: “After watching, I felt encouraged, affirmed as a man and inspired, but also counselled to do better and strive for excellence and desire a deeper intimacy with God. I was further challenged to be unafraid to become who God created me to be and let my light shine for him.”
A teenager spoke to me and commented: “ when you shared your life experiences, it challenged me a lot.”
The above testimonials are not isolated expressions but are a sample of some of the practical investments made in the lives of men that evening. The present curfew therefore offers a first-class opportunity for the attendees and those they subsequently influenced, to apply the principles given at the all-men national event to invest quality time in themselves, partners and children.
I am seeing an even bigger picture. It is national. The question that is so forceful in my mind is why did God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, chose to challenge Barbadian men at this crucial time in the history of our nation and the world? Could it be that God desires to use Barbados as a model country through which he can challenge other nations in the way we do things as we rely on His wisdom, knowledge and understanding?
History shows that Satan always tries to get rid of men because he knows that if he succeeds, the chances of his ripping apart the family which is the backbone of society, are very great. He is also aware that when a man develops an intimate relationship with God he gets to understand who he is and whose he is, and it becomes extremely difficult to cripple him as a person, a partner or a parent. Could it be that God is challenging men during this shutdown period to develop an intimate relationship with Him, so that He can direct his lifestyle.
Could it be that God is awakening Barbadian men to develop lives of social, mental, emotional, moral, physical and spiritual integrity? A man of integrity cannot be bought, will never surrender his wholesome values for self-gratification and will not sell his soul to the highest bidder.
Could it be that God is challenging men to be cultivate lives of humility? Men of humility are not interested in position or titles, nor do they delight in displaying who or what they are before the world. They understand what they possess has been loaned to them by God who reserves the right to take it away at any time. I believe God is challenging men to develop lives of humility.
Men understand your calling and rise confidently to it in this time of crisis.
When God spoke to me about 3:00 am on October 08, 2019 to give a clarion call for the men of our Nation, Barbados to come together at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex on March 01, 2020, little did I know it would have been the last large gathering to be held in Barbados to date. Under the theme MANUP – Every Man A Winner, about 2000 males rallied to the appeal to value themselves as persons, partners and parents.
Ten days after, on March 11, The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic which forced Barbados to prohibit mass gatherings. Reflecting recently on MANUP, the thought struck me that God in His foreknowledge, wisdom and love, strategically summoned the men in our country for a specific purpose.
I was heartened by the experience of this young married man who was present at the event.
“I was surrounded by hundreds of men who were willing to admit their shortcomings, shed their insecurities and rebuild their identity in Christ,” he said. “ManUp for me was about broken men meeting a real God, to live better lives, to build godly families and communities.”
A man who watched our live-stream remarked: “After watching, I felt encouraged, affirmed as a man and inspired, but also counselled to do better and strive for excellence and desire a deeper intimacy with God. I was further challenged to be unafraid to become who God created me to be and let my light shine for him.”
A teenager spoke to me and commented: “ when you shared your life experiences, it challenged me a lot.”
The above testimonials are not isolated expressions but are a sample of some of the practical investments made in the lives of men that evening. The present curfew therefore offers a first-class opportunity for the attendees and those they subsequently influenced, to apply the principles given at the all-men national event to invest quality time in themselves, partners and children.
I am seeing an even bigger picture. It is national. The question that is so forceful in my mind is why did God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, chose to challenge Barbadian men at this crucial time in the history of our nation and the world? Could it be that God desires to use Barbados as a model country through which he can challenge other nations in the way we do things as we rely on His wisdom, knowledge and understanding?
History shows that Satan always tries to get rid of men because he knows that if he succeeds, the chances of his ripping apart the family which is the backbone of society, are very great. He is also aware that when a man develops an intimate relationship with God he gets to understand who he is and whose he is, and it becomes extremely difficult to cripple him as a person, a partner or a parent. Could it be that God is challenging men during this shutdown period to develop an intimate relationship with Him, so that He can direct his lifestyle.
Could it be that God is awakening Barbadian men to develop lives of social, mental, emotional, moral, physical and spiritual integrity? A man of integrity cannot be bought, will never surrender his wholesome values for self-gratification and will not sell his soul to the highest bidder.
Could it be that God is challenging men to be cultivate lives of humility? Men of humility are not interested in position or titles, nor do they delight in displaying who or what they are before the world. They understand what they possess has been loaned to them by God who reserves the right to take it away at any time. I believe God is challenging men to develop lives of humility.
Men understand your calling and rise confidently to it in this time of crisis.