Men's Conference held on Saturday at recreation center

About fifty men paused Saturday morning at the Broussard-Harris Recreation Center in reverence to God and seriousness of purpose in hopes of lifting a standard among men in the community.
Reverend Benjamin Grimm, founder of the Christian-based group “Men of Standard”, brought area ministers and laymen together to talk about the tough issues that are facing men in the African American Community as well as society as a whole.
“It’s necessary because we need to empower, energize and impact God’s people and we see a lot of things are lacking in our community and we are more post active than preactive,” Grimm said.
The group gathered Saturday was made up of entirely African Americans, but Grimm said the message affects all men. “We all bleed red,” he said. “If we begin with men it would help advance our community, God made man first. We want to gather as men and have real talks, today is a moment we want to turn into a movement,” he continued.
Topics on Saturday’s agenda included…
“Violence in the Community,” “How do I Know that I am a Man,” “How to Treat my Wife” and What Do I Do if Homosexuality Hits My Home,”
Among the young men attending the conference was Courtney Odom, a 31-year old church musician who is a member of Hines Memorial Church of God In Christ.
“The reason I came is because I was invited and I wanted to support Pastor Grimm. You hear about a lot of women’s conferences but you rarely hear of any for men.”
Odom said he appreciated the openness of the conference and the topics which addressed everything from men his age who are into drugs, misogyny and lack of respect that is so dominant in today’s pop culture.
“There’s a need for mentorship because in this day and age there is a lack of male role models and men are not learning to grow up and be men. A conference like this helps bring men back to their proper place,” Odom said.
Grimm said his desire is to continue holding Men of Standard conferences, because as citizens of the Kingdom of God he feels charged to continue Saturday’s effort.
“If each one would teach one to reach one then we can save some,” he said.