*Lots of positive chatter since Saturday’s first ever “BROH (Brothers Reclaiming Our Honor) Conference” hosted by Pastor Shep Crawford and Pastor Montell Jordan. Over the course of the day, nearly 200 men from all walks of life turned out at the GS Sports Bar, Restaurant & Lounge in Los Angeles, CA to get a seat in the very coveted event.
The cost of admission was a new to very gently used pair of shoes to be donated to the homeless on Skid Row and to men in need and/or in transitional housing preparing to get back into the workforce.
Pastor Shep opened the conference welcoming the men and explaining their important role and responsibilities as leaders in their homes, jobs, communities and local churches. Pastor Shep’s inspiration in the creation of the “BROH Conference” stems from him being grieved by the increased numbers of broken homes and marriages and the lack of male role models.
The idea of a creating a platform where men could have candid conversations to address some of the “unspoken” or “less talked about” issues that concern them proved to be a success.
“Forums like these help men to collectively and individually gain knowledge, power and the support they need to be great leaders and role models for their families and communities” says Pastor Shep. He further says, “It really helps when they find out they are not alone and together we can find solutions”.
Pastor Montell Jordan captivated the audience as he talked about his own “Struggles with Lust” its consequences and how it nearly destroyed his family. Jordan, along with his wife of 24 years, Kristin Jordan, co-authored a book under the same name as his number one Billboard chart topping hit “This is How We Do It”. The book centers on the family and how to make your marriage last through the storms. Pastor Jordan and wife Kristin Jordan now tour the country sharing this information with other couples and providing tools to designed to help couples stay happily married.
The conference also took out time to raise HIV/AIDS awareness, a disease that disproportionately affects African Americans and Latinos. Gabriel Maldonado, AHF Board member took the stage on behalf of the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and shared some very staggering statistics by which the disease is moving throughout the black and brown communities, and how women are greatly impacting the numbers of new cases.
He also shared with them ways to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as the importance of getting tested and knowing your status. The Experience Christian Ministries, Inc. is committed to working with AHF to help raise awareness and to end the stigma attached to the disease so that more will come forward and get the help they need.
Dr. Shalonda Crawford, wife of 14 years to Pastor Shep spoke on “Understanding Your Woman”, where she shared information to help the men better understand the mindset of the woman and how to respond to her emotional vulnerability in certain situations. The segment included a Q&A session that could have went on for hours.
The conference sponsored by The Experience Christian Ministries, Inc., GS Sports Bar & Lounge, and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition was an overwhelming success and left attendees wanting more. This will be an annual event. Pastor Shep hosts smaller gatherings for men throughout the year, please visit www.TheECM.org for more info.
source:
Reid J~Rich, Sr. Publicist
reid@iscopepr.com
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