Tuesday, May 10 – Here’s a roundup of news coverage about Saturday’s Men’s Rally, which drew an estimated 3,200 men to the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown.

3,200 men bond to display commitment to faith (Vindicator, May 8, color pdf)

3,200 men bond to display commitment to faith (vindy.com, May 8, link to text)

Men ‘huddle up’ at rally (Tribune, May 8, color pdf)

Men ‘huddle up’ at rally (tribtoday.com, May 8, link to text)

Men’s Rally in the Valley (WFMJ-TV, Channel 21, May 7)

Paramore also spoke at the 2010 Rally.

May 3, 2011 — Christian men need to put their egos aside and recognize the explosive power God can bring to their lives if they truly trust Him, Rev. Kenneth Paramore told a group of Men’s Rally volunteers Monday.

In the last volunteer meeting before Saturday’s Men’s Rally in the Valley, Paramore urged men to trust in God’s power and the power he provides to his people.

“The [Greek] word for that power is dunamis, which is where we get the word ‘dynamite,’ “ Paramore told about 200 men at Victory Christian Center in Coitsville. “We’re talking about a power that can blow things up.”

Opportunity to be a witness

Reading from the first chapter of Acts, Paramore showed how the disciples of Christ got the wrong idea about His power, and suggested that we often do the same.

“They asked Jesus whether he was going to restore the kingdom of Israel at that time, and he told them that wasn’t their business,” Paramore said. “That’s God’s business.”

But the opportunity for the disciples was to receive the power of the Holy Ghost in order to become effective witnesses to the Gospel. A witness, he explained, is someone who is willing to sacrifice all the way to death to advance the cause of Christ.

We have that same opportunity.

“That is the purpose of the power of the Holy Ghost – to make us witnesses,” Paramore said.

We need to submit fully to the authority of God, and act in humility, before we can expect to harness God’s “dunamis” power, he said.

All manner of diverse folk

Paramore ignited laughter and applause when he said God deserved praise Monday night for a worship center full of diverse people. The “church hour,” he said, is usually “the most divisive hour of the week,” because Christians tend to stay with their own kind.

“But tonight,” he said, “we’ve got rich folk, poor folk, white folk, black folk, old folk, young folk, educated folk, plain folk, cute folk and ugly folk.”

Paramore, pastor at Christian Revival & Discipleship Center in Youngstown, was one of the speakers at the 2010 Men’s Rally in the Valley.

Ad for Men's Rally program.

Tuesday, April 26 — Although the Men’s Rally in the Valley on Saturday, May 7 happens to fall on the same day as the Pregnancy Help Center’s Walk for Life, Men’s Rally organizers are showing strong support for the help center.

“We will be taking an offering at the Rally that is specifically for the Pregnancy Help Center, and we’ll be asking thousands of men to be generous,” said Bing Newton, Men’s Rally director.

“In addition, we have been asking men to encourage their spouses and daughters to attend the Walk for Life on May 7, and will be passing out Walk for Life sponsorship forms at our team meeting on Monday,” he added.

“The conflict in dates is unfortunate, but there is no conflict among these two organizations. We are on the same team.”

The Men’s Rally is a Christian men’s conference that encourages men to closer fellowship with God and each other. The Pregnancy Help Center shares the love of Christ with women experiencing unplanned pregnancy, empowering them to choose life over abortion.

An offering at last year’s Men’s Rally raised more than $1,600 for the center. This year’s offering has been promoted in advance in the Men’s Rally email newsletter, website and Facebook page, and in team meetings. Also, a half-page of space in the event program was dedicated free of charge to promote the Pregnancy Help Center offering.

“Men of God cannot help but be excited about the excellent work the center is doing to save lives, and of course we want to support those efforts,” Newton said.  

Men’s Rally volunteer Dave Plegge will be coordinating the Pregnancy Help Center offering.

# # #

Friday, April 22, 2011 — A short television advertising campaign promoting the Men’s Rally in the Valley began today with a series of 30- and 15-second spots.

Developed and produced by Men’s Rally volunteers, the spots aired today on the NBC Today Show and the WFMJ Channel 21 local news. Most of the mini-campaign, which runs through Friday, May 6, targets news broadcasts that enjoy high viewership among adult men.

Click below to watch the spot.

Special thanks to Tom Gregory of Gregoryfilms, Bob Popa of Bob Popa Entertainment and Dan Pecchia of Pecchia Communications for donating their time for the commercials.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 — Speaker David Kohout urged Men’s Rally volunteers this week to be like Joshua and Caleb, who returned from their Promised Land scouting trip with a positive attitude in spite of the obstacles they saw.

“In glory, you’ll get to see the lives you impact,” Kohout told about 90 men at Grace Chapel Community Church in Hermitage Monday.

“Wives and daughters will be impacted because of your faithfulness. There is a bigger plan. You are invited to be part of it.”

Kohout, director of Talk is Cheap, talked about the venture Joshua, Caleb and 10 others made into the Promised Land as related in Numbers 13. When they returned, most of the 12 talked about how difficult it would be take the land and how imposing the inhabitants were.

But Joshua and Caleb talked about the abundance of the land and their confidence that God would enable Israel to take it.

The same two mindsets can apply to the final preparations for the Men’s Rally, the Christian men’s conference set for Saturday, May 7 at the Covelli Centre, Kohout suggested.  Those working on and praying about the event could focus either on the obstacles or on God’s capability to overcome them.

“This rally is not about us,” he said. “No one can hinder God. Once he sets something in motion, nothing can stop it.”

Kohout will also be one of the speakers at the Men’s Rally.  His topic will be “Taking the Cross to Others.” (Read his bio here.)

# # #

Quoting from Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi, Rev. Joe Cameneti told a group of Men’s Rally volunteers Monday that he believes the May 7 men’s conference is a part of God’s plan to unite Catholic and Protestant Christians to do great works in the Mahoning Valley.

“We can put our differences aside and hang out with Jesus,” said Cameneti, pastor at Believers Christian Fellowship in Warren, speaking Monday at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in Youngstown.

“The heart of the Men’s Rally in the Valley, the heart of the Catholic Church and the heart of the Protestant Church is to connect sinners with Jesus.”

The meeting, opened by St. Dominic’s Pastor Rev. Gregory Maturi, drew about 100 men for worship, prayer and updates on the May 7 event planned at the Covelli Centre.

Cameneti, who grew up Catholic and served as an altar boy at St. James in Warren, has been pastor at Believers since its establishment in 1983.

As a young pastor, he recalled Monday, he was initially uncomfortable with cooperative efforts among Warren-area Protestant churches in the mid-1980s. But he came to realize that those churches could work together in spite of their differences over doctrinal matters.

He believes God’s plans to unite churches are now removing the wall that often separates Catholics and Protestants.

He read a passage Monday from the Gospel of Mark in which the apostle John expresses concern that someone who is “not one of us” is doing miracles in Jesus’s name.  Jesus replies to John:

“Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

Jesus knew his followers would have differences, but wanted them to work together to spread the Gospel, Cameneti said.

“This is what I think God is doing in the Mahoning Valley,” he said.

Although Believers is one of the area’s largest Protestant churches, Cameneti’s television show, “Pastor Joe,” is broadcast on CTNY, the Catholic Television Network of Youngstown (and on WFMJ-Channel 21). He read Monday from the New American Bible, the edition used most widely in Catholic churches.

Father Maturi said after Monday’s meeting that he was glad to have men from multiple church backgrounds singing and praying together at St. Dominic’s.

“That’s what this church is for – to worship God,” he said (DP).

# # #

Rev. David L. Thomas, lead pastor at Victory Christian Center in Coitsville and one of the speakers preparing words for the Men’s Rally in the Valley on Saturday, May 7, recently answered a few questions for us.

What makes a church grow?

Jesus said, “I will build My Church…” (Matthew 16:18a). Our job is to cooperate with Him in the building process. I believe people are looking for a church that is safe, loving, healthy, and family oriented.

What makes a real man?

A real man is one who loves God completely, loves others unconditionally, and loves life enthusiastically. He is a man of character and integrity, taking responsibility very seriously.

What keeps a man away from God?

Often pride and a “father wound” as he relates his often dysfunctional relationship with his earthly father towards his paradigm of God as Father.

What do you tell men who really want to serve God but are surrounded
by temptation and keep falling?

Keep your eyes on Christ, get into a healthy church, stay in the Word, and realize you will crawl before you walk, and walk before you run, and when you fall get back up, through 1 John 1:9.

What are three things a man can do to strengthen his marriage?

1. Let God’s love fill you and walk in love toward your wife.
2. Be forgiving, sensitive, and courteous.
3. Spend quality time together with communication being the main goal.

What thrills you about the upcoming Men’s Rally in the Valley?

Men coming together to become better men, husbands, Dads, and brothers through faith and growth.

Who’s going to make an impact in the Major Leagues this year?

The Indians, I hope!

____________
Pastor Thomas has been the lead pastor at Victory Christian Center
since 1978. He has been in pastoral ministry for the past 36 years.
Read more about him here.

WRLM Channel 47.1 in Kent, a part of the TCT-TV television network, plans to air a one-hour special at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 9, about the Men’s Rally in the Valley.

Gary “Judge” Brown, WRLM station manager, expects the special to reach about 1.5 million households through Channel 47.1 and the cable companies that carry it throughout the Cleveland/Akron market. Youngstown viewers can get Channel 47.1 via antenna, as it is not part of the local cable offerings.

The special will be based on footage compiled at the 2010 Men’s Rally by the event’s volunteer team.

Meanwhile, TCT-TV is looking for support to be included as an option on cable television carriers that serve the Youngstown market.

Although cable companies in the Akron/Cleveland area are required to carry TCT-TV, because of its Kent presence, the network is not required to be carried in the Youngstown area. However, if cable viewers in this market show support by asking for TCT-TV as an option, cable executives may respond, Brown explained.

REASONS. Here are a few reasons why cable subscribers request TCT.

• 1. The network has programs you would like to watch.
• 2. You saw TCT on the internet, DirectTV or someone else’s TV in another town and you would like the network on your own cable.
• 3. TCT’s programs are wholesome and different than what you already have.
• 4. TCT offers Christian programs in high definition.

CONTACTS. Here is some contact information for cable companies that serve the Youngstown area.  (Ask for Customer Service.)

Armstrong Cable
One Armstrong Place
Butler, PA 16001
877-486-4666

Time Warner Cable
530 South Main St. #1751
Akron, OH 44311
877-772-2253

Comcast Cable – Three Rivers
15 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
800-266-2278
www.comcast.com

Dish Network
9601 South Meridian Blvd
Englewood, CO 80112
888-686-2388

Att U-Verse
1880 Century Park East #1101
Los Angeles, CA 90067
800-288-2020

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 — Pastor Ricky Riggs, one of the featured speakers at the 2010 Men’s Rally In the Valley, said it’s time for men of the Mahoning Valley to “step up” and prepare for “the next great event” in God’s plan.

He believes that will be the second coming of Christ, as prophesied in the Bible.

“The time is near,” said Riggs, speaking Monday to some 80 men at the planning meeting at Salem First Friends Church. “I’m here to say tonight that we’re standing on the edge of the coming of Christ. I believe the stage is set for the last days.”

In his impassioned, often fiery remarks, Riggs said he was awakened one night not long ago with a message from God ringing in his heart that he needs to help prepare people for the “next great event on the horizon.”

Riggs, director of Oak Springs Ministry, said he believes the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami that rocked and ravaged Japan were not ordinary natural disasters.

Rather, they were a wake up call to the world that its people need to prepare for Christ’s return.

“Jesus is coming soon. Sooner than a sleeping church thinks,” Riggs said. “He’s coming too soon for a great many people.”

He said the 2011 Men’s Rally In the Valley, set for May 7 at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown, should be focused on harvesting lost souls.

“They’re either going to Heaven or they’re going to Hell. There’s no third choice,” Riggs said.

“Let’s have a harvest that will shake this area,” he said, noting that the 2nd annual rally is critically important in getting the word of God out to those who are lost. “Men, we ought to know the hour we are living in now. It’s time to harvest.”

Some 3,500 men attended last year’s inaugural rally, which was also at the Covelli Centre, but Director Bing Newton said planners are praying to see that number increase this year to 6,500. (RJ)