Mensnetwork Camp 2012

MensNetwork Camp 2011 - life changing

It was with a degree of anticipation and some trepidation that nearly 40 blokes gathered on Mount Tamborine for Gateway's Mensnetwork camp 2011. We had intentionally set aside this weekend from the "business" of the Valley...to invest in our relationship with God and other blokes.

Once we registered, dropped out gear in our dorms ( blokes who all were to become our brothers) we ventured to our meeting area and plan "B" , otherwise know as ...Dale MaCarther, our speaker...who God had pre-planned  as A+++. So as we worshipped God and Dale began to share his life God moved our hearts, breaking down the walls we set up around us in the valley we were reminded again what it was to know our Father and what it meant to be a "Father" and a "Brother".

On the weekend we met some amazing men.......like Adam "the Brave" ( and Gordy) who encourage to step in by sharing the reality of his story. I think it changed his life too.

......and who said blokes didn't talk..................how do you stop them!

The weekend was marked by many amazing and powerful moments as we shared ,laughed, listened to God and yes, even cried together. We ate together and prayed together......we went up to the mountain with a few friends but coming back with 40 Brothers!!

On this weekend a line was drawn in the sand.... to be the men God had called us to be.....going deeper in our relationship with our "Father" ..... to be a brother to our "brothers".... a father to our sons and a husband to our wives....to leave any sense of  Isolation, rejection and failure behind..to know who we really are in Christ!

The images of  sitting under a large tree in silent contemplation list our God, seeing men from every background sharing.....men surrounding a fire...being real ,showing GUTS, will forever be etched in my memory. Guy's Using True Strength....WOW..can we live this way all the time. Everytime we catch a whiff of wood burning on anopen fire..we remember a special night, a turning point with our brothers.

Yes...and like any set of brothers we had lots of fun together....whether it was quite one on ones or groups enjoying time together .............. Vans overheating..........mens help....laughing....watching
how good is that.

So it was back down the valley for us again ..but we did so stregthened from encounter with God, with Plan A+++...thanks Dale and your son Nick...we owe you much for your leading out of humility.

As we made the journey back down the mountain we reflected on a poem of great perspective.

So, if you missed Mensnetwork Camp 2011 there will alway be 2012...but don't wait till then, get connected...don't do life on your own...be all that God has design you to be....check out our website.

http://gatewaybap.com/Gateway_Life/Men/