This is my Men of Promise story. Approximately four years ago, a man from the San Gabriel Mission parish invited me to attend one of the fellowships held by Men of Promise. It took a couple of invitations before I finally agreed to go. The respect and admiration I have for this person is what drove me to accept this courteous invitation. Next, I will try and share my experience as best as I can for the glory of God.
My initial reaction to the invitation was: I do not have time for another meeting, and besides, I do not really need to attend a group of men to keep me in the path of our Lord.
Reminiscing on that day four years ago, there are a couple of things that come to mind often. One: I can honestly say that I did not recognize the voice of the vineyard owner inviting me to this fellowship but I am thankful that I didn’t ignore the invitation. Two: I am thankful that my ‘pride’ did not hurt my chance to find out what Men of Promise is all about. I pray for those men who get the invitation in person or via the Men of Promise publication. I pray that each man hears and accepts God’s invitation as related in Matthew 20.
Why did I come back after that first meeting? There are numerous reasons why I keep coming back month after month. The doughnuts and fresh coffee is always a good incentive but the main reason is that I need these meetings to recharge my spiritual battery.
I can honestly say that I need the help of others who walk in the same direction towards our Lord Jesus Christ. I am not perfect, and I often fall on the road because of my shortcomings. By the same token, I feel that I have brothers in Men of Promise who help me get up whenever I do trip and fall. It is through our sharing that I recognize God. It is through the questions we bring up at each meeting that we keep our feet on the road. It is through our experiences and trials that we overcome our individual trials. It is the Holy Spirit that looms over the gatherings and facilitates a message of substance at every meeting.
I urge and challenge every man to give himself a chance to know what Men of Promise is all about. Worst case scenario: you leave with a belly-full of doughnuts. Best case scenario: you discover a bunch of men who may have fallen on the road to Damascus but who now race next to each