How B.O.W came to be...

On a summer afternoon about a year and half ago.
I was in my garage doing some work and I found myself crying, and couldn't stop. My heart was broken. Ihad been trying to hold back the tears from the pain in my life for so long. I was emotionally broken and lost.
In my life I had many set backs but always found direction, not this time. This time I had nothing to grab onto and no one to blame, because I was alone, I had betrayed and alienated everyone in my life.
I sat down on a hose reel overlooking the pond in the backyard, looked up to the sky and said "God you got to take this cause I can't handle it anymore" I began to sob and prey for the people who had broken my heart. The radio was playing, and I heard the last name of one of these people annouced. In disbelief I said " ok youv'e got my attention whats next? "and the next commercial on the radio was about promise keepers, I looked up and said "I can do that". The converstation between God and I that day was so filled with emotion that I dont remember it all but I do remeber saying twords the end "youv'e given me a map but its going to take me a long time to get there" and the song that played on the radio said "follow me....". The next week I was offered a free ticket to the Promise Keepers conference by Milt Coon. It turned out to be a life changeing experience for me. I saw 1o,ooo men all gathered together to praise and worship god. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
In the months that followed I began to councel with Pastor Bill Lawson, trying to gain some understanding of how to change who I had become. I also began to attend Faith Church on sundays and mid week ministries, mens class, I participated in the C.I.A. (Christ in Action) program and volenteered in Vacation Bible School. I felt at home here, doing these thing brought me joy. In my studies with P. Bill I gained alot of knowledge, but with that came alot of responsibility. I found that it became easier to manipulate people, but I knew that was not gods plan for me, I felt like I needed to be around good christian men more, so I could learn from them. It seemed like every thing was going well, My faith was growing very fast and so was my understanding.
Then in late November, Bill, who had become a very close friend, got called to become a pastor at Willow Community Church . I was torn, I felt like I was lost again. I decided to start attending both chuches, yes two sevices every sunday. I didnt Know were god wanted me to be to worship him. Then one day someone told me that mabee i should try prying and asking god where he wants me to serve him. Still torn, I did just that, and it came to me that the thing weighing on my heart the most was the men at willow. My decision was made, I would serve/worship god at willow.
Not knowing exactly what god had planned for me and the men of willow, I prayed for direction and served were they needed me in the kick off of K.O. (Kindness Outreach). Trying to build frienships with the men as we reached out to show god's love.
Shortly there after Pastor Dave came to me and asked me to lead the Men's Ministry. I emmediatly refused stating "I'm not a leader, I'm not a follower, but I'm not a leader". P. Dave asked me to pray for gods direction in this, and I agreed.
After several days of constant coversation, and praying to god for his guidence, it became apparent to me that this is his calling for me. To serve him, by serving the men in the church.
After accepting the position of Men's Ministry Coordinator, Bill, Dave, and myself had many talks about ideas and direction of the minstry. We decided to start a Mens Breakfast on the 3rd sat of every month at spuds on Waverly Rd and attach an event that all the men would enjoy.
On our first event we went skeet shooting, fired many rounds through an ar-15, and several hand guns that the guys had brought. It was a very successful day. On that day I began to see frienships develop and realize that these men were going to be more that just friends. They were going to become a family.
Promise Keepers is our next scheduled event on Sept 15-16th . In the process of doing some research on that I came across a Band Of Brothers logo. I linked to there site and started reading. What I read fit our core belief and the vision and direction that I believe god wants to see in our Mens Ministry. After talking with Bill and Dave about if and how we should integrate the two ministries. I prayed for god's help and direction in implenting his plan. Then it came to me, if you combine the "no matter the cost" faith belief with a family you get...