Men’s Ministries’ Report

Dr. Samuel Huddleston

Let me begin by thanking our Lord for the privilege of seeing another year. I’m grateful for every day I wake up on planet earth. I am grateful for the love of the people of God. I am thankful for my wife Linda, our 3 married children and our 13 grandbabies. The privilege of serving this great district with Pastor Bret, Valerie and Dr. Jay and Teri reminds me daily that, #iamablessedman.

This year we were allowed to have the following gatherings for men online and in person:

MAN UP Humboldt - Eureka, California

Thank you, Pastors Willy and Marty. Although we had to do this event online, it was still a very special one for our men. These gatherings whether online or in person DO NOT happen without committed men who see the need and get involved. These two men do see the need and they did get involved. We greatly anticipate our next time together in 2023.

MAN UP Silicon Valley - Redwood City, California

This was our first Conference, since Covid began, that we gathered in person. The number was modified according to the mandates of the local county. I was not able to be in attendance due to my second full knee replacement surgery. However, the team that was led by Pastor Derik Scott (Rise City Church, Redwood City) did an incredible job ministering to and serving those who came. All the communicators ministered in such a way that touched the hearts of the over 200 men who gathered in the name of our Lord.

MAN UP - Sacramento, California

Our last event of the year was our Men’s Conference in Sacramento. It was almost cancelled, if it wasn’t for the words of a group of men in San Jose. When I spoke at their breakfast a few weeks prior, they commented, “Dr. Sam, we are sure looking forward to being at Man Up this year. There is a group of us coming.”

I am glad we gathered together at Trinity Life Center on October 15th & 16th. Thank you, Pastor Abe, for making TLC available for our gathering. Thank you also to all you Pastors that either encouraged your men to come or came with them. This didn’t happen without your leadership. God bless each of you. Thanks for having the precautions in order. There was enough Purell sanitizer in the building to fill a bathroom. So glad for Pastor Abe and Pastor Steve Severyn for looking out for and taking care of us. We felt your love, even that of the janitor. Thank you to Stephan and Levina Olariu of Apollo Cleaning for the excellent janitorial service.

From the opening song to the closing prayer, you could tell two things. The Holy Spirit was in the building and the men were glad to be together. Many came to the altar, knelt, lifted their arms, and cried out to Jesus. There was a deep hunger for more of His presence. We were not disappointed; He came upon us.

The 2021 Men’s Team

I am very thankful for Reverend Char Blair and all her hard work as the AG NCN Church Ministries Director. It’s both an honor and privilege to serve alongside her.

And thank you to the 2021 Men’s Team. I so appreciate and am very grateful for the level of commitment of the men who comprise the NCN Men’s Ministry Team. Let me take the time to list them here. May God bless each one of them. - Dr. Sam

THE TEAM: (Not all pictured on the left)

Ernie Garza, Isaiah Vi, Michael Trenton, Derik Scott, Jim Uhey, John Caravalho, Dan Chrystal, Kevin Townsend, Davin Johnson, Papa Greg Crabtree, Chris Johnson, Marty Pronovost, A.J. (Arthell Jones), and Natalie Aspenlind.

Encouragement from Dr. Sam

Thank you, District Presbytery, for the honor of serving the men in our district. I daily pray that lives will be changed, and men will become great leaders. May it been seen as they gather in their places of worship. May they leave these gatherings encouraged and challenged by the Holy Spirit.

I end this report with the following. The Bible says in Psalms 133:1, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (English Standard Version). My number one goal is we as men learn how to do just that, walk as men of faith in our communities unified in the Spirit. God help us to be one so the world can be won. May the presence and power of the Holy One of Israel make it so. Come Lord Jesus, even so, come.