“When a man takes on his biblical role it has a ripple effect that keeps going.”

By Jason Rivers
Special to Spur Ottawa

Ottawa PointMen is hosting their annual Armour Up men’s conference April 8 and 9 at Capital City Church. Now in its third year, Armour Up organizers want to build on the events’ past successes, taking men into deeper relationships with God.

This year’s theme is “Stand up for Jesus” and Luke 9:23-27, where Jesus calls His disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him.

“It’s really important for men to step forward, for them to take on their roles as men of faith,” says Sean Davis, one of the founders of PointMen. “It’s important that they live out their faith at home with their families, at work, and in church. The ripple effect when a man takes on his biblical role as the spiritual head of his house is extremely positive for his wife and his children. It has a strong effect that keeps going.”

Nino Marte is one of the men who was deeply impacted at last year’s conference. He uses the analogy of a glass of water to explain a key principle from the event.

“If you take a glass of water and put filth into it, the water is not good for you, even if you can’t see [the filth]. We must be on guard not to put things into our minds that don’t belong in our lives,” he explains. “We need to stop justifying things by saying ‘it’s just a movie,’ or, ‘it’s just a song.’ If we let the wrong things come into our minds and hearts, we will have the wrong ideas and beliefs.”

The sessions at Armour Up are interactive and designed to help men apply what they learn. All of the speakers this year are local leaders, chosen for of their ability to dig deeply into scripture and help men apply the lessons in their everyday lives.

PointMen formed after Davis attended a conference in Colorado Springs, where he saw a healthy and effective men’s ministry.

“I was really impacted when I saw that, because for me it really confirmed my burning passion,” he says, adding that it made him want to start something similar back home in Ottawa. “What we want to do is network with the other groups in the city. We just want to reach out and offer a forum for men, on top of what is already here.”

Ottawa PointMen was formed based on the principle from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

The men meet for small groups. They fellowship, pray, and encourage each other, often over breakfast or for a barbecue.

Jared Grover is one of the men who has really connected with the PointMen vision.

“It’s easy to become unbalanced in life,” he says. “I had a stepfather who was not a good influence, spiritually. So, for me, I recognized a need. [This ministry] is a way to connect with guys, develop friendships, and encourage each other.”