The phrase, “A man can take the pain, but a real man don’t have to,” is not grammatically correct, but it served well as the theme for the June 16 Saddle Up! men’s conference.
Held at Sylacauga High School, the event was sponsored by ChristPoint Community Church, Sylacauga, in Coosa River Baptist Association. The conference attracted more than 200 men and featured a number of noted speakers.
ChristPoint Pastor Bryan Taunton explained the conference theme. “Men are often emboldened to take the pain of life, to be tough. Men typically think that’s what a real man does and they take pride in that belief. But Jesus has taken the pain for us.”
Charles Sanders, a member of First Baptist Church, Sylacauga, and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, served as conference master of ceremonies.
Sanders also spoke twice, using Jesus’ temptation experience recorded in Matthew 4 as his text. “We men fight temptation on the battlefield of our minds,” Sanders said. “The enemy tempts us with stinking thinking.”
Randy Overstreet, pastor of Double Oak Community Church, Mount Laurel, in Shelby Baptist Association shared how his father, an alcoholic, eventually came to faith in Christ. “The arms of God are long. No one is beyond His reach,” Overstreet said.
Bobby Jackson, a retired college and professional football coach, challenged guys to read and study their Bibles. “The Bible, B-I-B-L-E, is our basic instructions before leaving earth,” Jackson said.
Former University of Alabama (UA) football player Martin Houston lamented the large number of fatherless families in America. “Too many dads are missing in action, just not involved in their homes,” Houston said.
Houston played fullback for the 1992 UA national championship team and signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Today Houston directs his teaching ministry, Empact 4 Life.
Bobby Bowden, former head football coach for Florida State University, conveyed the story of Jesus’ crucifixion from the Bible. Bowden told conferees, “You need a Savior because being good enough will not get you into heaven.”
Rick Burgess, a popular Birmingham radio announcer and co-host of the Rick and Bubba Show, told men, “We can’t have a lifestyle in conflict with Christ and be with Him.”
Burgess told the tearful story of the drowning death of his preschool son, Bronner, in the family’s swimming pool in 2008. “At my son’s eulogy the Lord gave me a platform for ministering to others,” Burgess said.
Bill Roberts, a retired landscaper and member of First United Methodist Church, Sylacauga,
attended the Saddle Up! conference.
“This event has encouraged me to minister to others. We’re all ministers for Christ, you know.” Roberts serves as head gardener for a local community garden, Sylacauga Grows.
Larry Smith, a ChristPoint member, said, “We hope the Saddle Up! conference will become an annual event.”
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