Photo (left to right): Greg Arnold, Neil Brown, Mark Dehority, & Mark Lubbock
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Four persons with decades of experience will soon be available to assist local churches, districts and conferences expand their ministries to men.
Following the announcement that Larry Malone, director of Men’s Ministry, would retire at the end of 2010, Gil Hanke, top staff executive of the General Commission on United Methodist Men, recruited four volunteer leaders to assume the responsibilities of the 13-year veteran staff member.
The four volunteer leaders begin their service in January, and they are presently enrolled in electronic training experiences in order to ensure they will be able to provide consistent and powerful messages to annual conferences, men’s retreats, district rallies and local churches where they are invited.
Malone assisted Hanke in the selection process. “We had many excellent applicants, but these men each have unique skill sets that will broaden our ministry,” said Malone. “Each is heavily involved in men’s ministry and will remain active within their local settings,” said Hanke.“The commission will pay travel expenses when the host conference or district is unable.”
Hanke notes that last May and June, he represented the commission at four annual conference sessions; he hopes the four deployed staff will increase that number to twenty at 2011 sessions.
Deployed staff of men’s ministry:
Greg Arnold, Vancleave, Mississippi
A graduate of the University of Alabama in communications, Arnold worked for 10 years as an on-air broadcaster and program manager.
He developed a pilot program on men’s ministry called M3 (Men -.Ministry -.Mission).
He has written for several Christian publications and recently released his book for men titled, DIRT: Uncovering Authentic Faith.
He serves as a roster speaker for GodMen and president of his local UM Men unit.
Arnold serves as operations director for Stein and Associates, and is an equity partner in several healthcare and technology companies.
Neil Brown, Spruce Pine, North Carolina
A graduate of Cleveland Community College in operations management technology, Brown is a two-time president of his local UM Men unit and vice president of the Western North Carolina Conference UM Men.
He is a certified men’s ministry specialist who serves on the Men’s Ministry Advisory Team.
He worked for three years in disaster recovery with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and he is active in prison ministries.
Brown received the highest award given by the state of Kentucky as he was named a “Kentucky Colonel” by Governor Paul Patton in 2002.
Mark Dehority, Moweaqua, Illinois
A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois, Dehority is in process of fulfilling requirements for certification as a men’s ministry specialist.
He served as president of a local unit of UM Men, president of a district, and he currently serves as vice president of the Wisconsin and Illinois area of UM Men for the North Central Jurisdiction.
He is a key presenter in the area of intentional discipleship, active in national missions, and has professional experience in organizational development.
He operates a construction company specializing in in-ground pools.
The Rev. Mark Lubbock, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
A local pastor in the Louisiana Conference, Lubbock formerly served as pastor of three congregations.
As a certified men’s ministry specialist he now helps churches in the conference establish effective ministries to and with men through Louisiana Men of Christ, an organization he founded.
Before becoming a pastor he served as president of a local unit of UM Men and is current secretary of the District UM Men.
He has led Man in the Mirror, Promise Keepers, Men at the Cross, Kairos Prison Ministry, and Men Mentoring Men events. The self-starter served as chief executive officer and president of a technology company since 1987; the organization is now called Louisiana Data Systems.
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