Free to Walk Forward

If your dad isn't around when you're a kid, which is what happened to Zack, out goes those simple things that bond dads to sons, like tossing a football to each other. On Friday night at the Free retreat, Zack picked up Jef's football and invited him to play catch. On Saturday during a break, two more guys joined in.
 
Most of the 20 men who gathered for Free's first weekend retreat never had a caring father. They were there to discover or rediscover their real Father and brothers. Free is an ex-gay support ministry at West Shore Church.
 
Leading the event were Darren Crowden, whose theme was "Strength Made Perfect in Weakness," and Jef Leaman, worship leader who grew up at West Shore. Both Darren and Jef are graduates of Free. "Yes," says Free director Gene Chase, "an ex-gay ministry does have graduates. It's not forever that one needs to come aside for a time to find healing in the company of other men who understand."
 
Important Enough?
It was an important event, and, to be honest, says Gene, somewhat anxiety-provoking. Top on the list of concerns was how many would find it important enough to attend. It was important enough for one fellow whose car broke down to rent one, and important enough that he was there that the conference speaker offered to pay for the rental with his honorarium. Then there was worry that the one African-American who had registered might feel uncomfortable. But another African-American showed up.
 
By the time the event started, the cabin capacity of 20 people had been filled. For many, the retreat was a beginning.
  • One man who had found it difficult to open up at his church's Celebrate Recovery group realized another opportunity to do that when a supportive CR member happened (?) to be there
  • Another, who suffered from loneliness, took the risk of honest sharing and was surrounded by others' God-love
  • Still another man told Gene that he now felt accepted.
  • Another, who stayed closed until the last hour of the weekend, broke free in tears.
  • And still another, who had been avoiding church, getting his spiritual food by listening to Joyce Meyer Ministries, felt convicted that he should find a church fellowship instead of staying a loner.
The weather was beautiful, the food delicious (Emily Chase somehow managed to feed 20 hungry men for less than $200), God continued to heal hearts, and Zack took home the football as a token of a time lost and yet redeemed.