On June 18th the Arizona Christian Men’s Basketball Association and St. Paul United Methodist Men held its third men’s fellowship and open gym.

In honor of Father’s Day, the men were encouraged to bring their sons, nephews, and any other 13+ boys that might benefit from being around men trying to lead by example. The event was attended by men from ages 13 to 64. It was the largest group to date. In addition to young men, the event was attended by spouses, and families. One family had three generations in attendance.

After a brief overview about AZCMBA and its mission to promote men’s health education, prevention and early detection, founder Barney Hilton Murray shared the importance of men taking responsibility for their health and the impact it could have on the family.

Jamie Harwick, the men’s leader of St. Paul United Methodist Church, shared a passage from the “Man in the Mirror” in keeping with the Father’s Day theme.

Pastor Otis Brown, from the Siloam Freewill Church gave the “Men’s Minute” and talked about the men leading by example and being careful to keep our anger in check. Pastor Brown lead the prayer and prayed a blessing over the men, families and the event.

Photography by Katie Randall

3rd Friday Knights – Adult Men’s Fellowship and Open Gym

For more information:

www.3rdfridayknights.com

or join us on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/azcmba

The next 3rd Friday Knights

Location:

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church – Life Center and Gym

8051 E. Broadway

Tucson, AZ 85710

Contact Info:

520-390-4723

Barney Hilton Murray

azcmba@gmail.com

www.azcmba.com

Date and Time:

Friday July 16, 2010 – 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Age Restrictions: Adult men 18+

On Saturday, June 19, 2010, Pima County Community Services and the Oasis Family Life Center held its Certification Ceremony for the first class of mentors as part of the Youth Employment and Re-Entry Network program.

YEARN is a newly developing program to train, certify and manage mentors that will play a role in the youth restorative justice system in Pima County. The training consisted of 9 weeks of classes, workshops and exercises. A total of 30 students completed the course. Among the graduates were a few married couples and a mother and daughter. This class represented 9 churches and a number of denominations.

The primaries facilitating the event were Elder Rick Stevenson, Director of the Oasis Family Life Center and Linda Leatherman, the Pima County Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Coordinator.

The opening prayer was given by Pastor Merle Gathers, who was a graduate himself. Doretta Elliott followed with words of inspiration in the form of a poem she had written.

Apostle Warren Anderson, Jr. presented “Kingdom Vision for a Better World.” Within his talk, Anderson encouraged and challenged the graduates by saying”…Jesus had twelve disciples and changed the world. Today we had thirty (graduates) to change Tucson.”

Anderson was followed by remarks from Leatherman who stress the importance and appreciation to the mentors as well as the uniqueness of the YEARN program.

Supervisor Ramon Valadez, Chairman Pima County Board of Supervisors spoke to the need for YEARN and the importance of mentors.

Mentors were then given the opportunity to express themselves as to what the training had meant to them. The value of the program was realized when at the conclusion of one of the mentor’s remarks; the young man that she was mentoring stood by her side and shared the difference his mentor had made in his life.

This was followed by the presentation of the certificates by the staff and instructors and a closing prayer by Pastor Charles Payne. In addition to their certificates, the mentors were given shirts with the official YEARN logo.

With each certificate came a sense of accomplishment. To each mentor, the certificate also came with a sense of purpose.

For more information:

Elder Rick Stevenson, Director

Oasis Family Life Center

(520) 745-5236

lwministry4343@aol.com

PHOTO ALBUM

YEARN First Class of Mentors