“It’s really exciting to see how God can change people from all ages, successes, and ethnicities.”

Matt Charbonneau
Special to Spur Ottawa

Capital City Church is teaming up with Canadian Christian Riders (CCR), a Christian motorcycle group, to offer renewed hope and promise this year. The ministries will host the 6th annual Armour Up men’s conference on January 17 and 18, providing men an opportunity to grow in faith and professional success, while further discovering their divine vocation of manhood.

“We want to encourage men to be the best they can be and to see themselves as God sees them,” says Mike Welch, lead pastor at Capital City Church. “God made man to be more than a conqueror. He calls us to be champions.”

The conference, founded by local men’s ministry Ottawa PointMen, aims to promote strength when facing the challenges of today’s society. Welch believes a lack of leadership and confidence exists among men today. He says conference organizers are resolved to help participants refocus their lives to make better decisions through Christian values.

“There are a lot of distractions on men today, detracting from a belief and trust in God. We are bombarded by every other opinion except God’s,” he says, adding that this can lead to feelings such as oppression and depression.

“It’s all about seeing the goals God wants for us and then getting there.”

One of the strengths of Armour Up, Welch says, is that it offers strategies and solutions to overcome the challenges of manhood.

“It’s all about seeing the goals God wants for us and then getting there,” says Peter Thorp-Levitt, a CCR leader. “God has great plans that supersede secular and worldly messages, but with all the noise in the world, it’s hard to discern where God wants you to go.”

Welch, a motorcycle enthusiast himself, will serve as a key speaker at the conference, along with fellow CCR member and successful Christian businessman, Jim Beaulne, and Solomon Aroboto, an Ireland-based pastor.

“Christian men are called to be the light and salt of the earth,” Aroboto states. “Salt preserves and creates thirst and light provides illumination and clarity. I believe this conference will empower men to come up higher in their God-given office, to create a passion for God in their world, to pursue excellence, and to lead the world from darkness into light.”

The conference is open to men of all ages, catering to an audience ranging from successful business and government leaders to men battling or recovering from addictions.

“When guys can see this, they can see the potential of God living in them, working through them, and everything He is calling them to be.”

“It’s really exciting to see how God can change people from all ages, successes, and ethnicities,” Welch says.

He adds, “Man is wonderfully made by God and I don’t think a lot of men believe that. When guys can see this, they can see the potential of God living in them, working through them, and everything He is calling them to be. Jesus is the answer to help you succeed in life and be a better witness in the process.”

Welch’s father was an Anglican minister, but his parents both died during his teenage years. He believes his faith journey and past entrepreneurial success can serve as an encouragement to men to overcome life’s challenges.

“Jesus is a healer and we can use our personal experience to heal other people,” he says, adding that the conference will help position men for success in life. “It’s a good place to speak to men from a point of victory.”

Armour Up will take place at Capital City Church, in Orleans.