mepastormike

I left on Wednesday of this week to attend the 13th Annual Conference of BISCMI (Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan) and returned on Friday. The emphasis of the conference was strategies for addressing batterers as fathers. I was invited to attend by the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition as a facilitator of the Proud Father's Proud Parents program. What I gleaned from the conference was the collaboration that is needed between batterer services and the ongoing work of addressing the needs of fathers. I see this whole collaborative effort as more preventative than reactive. Based on the panel of experts present at this conference Michigan is the leader within the states to offer such collaborative services. Another reason I was there as a facilitator was presence... to meet and share with various community, state, and national leaders the importance of reaching out to fathers and helping to give the skills needed to be the "Dads" they want to be.
Two conversations that stood out to me while I was there... One was with a father and son present to share how the Proud Father's class had impacted their lives. The son was now a teenage father. He shared with me the struggles and joys of being a Dad at such an early age. It truly requires the help of his supportive parents to make it. The other conversation was with the president of the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition. I shared with him some of my giant onion rings late on Thursday evening (was it ever a mistake to eat those that late at night). Our conversation turned from professional to personal as I asked about his faith. I believe it was a God moment as it seemed he needed to share what had been on his heart for a long time (hurt and disappointment). I pray our conversation may help lead this man to a time of spiritual renewal within his life.
One other neat God moment... on the way up to the conference we (Jack, the guy I traveled with) stopped for dinner at a Bob Evans. As the waitress brought out our meals I asked her name and then asked if there was anything she would like for us to pray about for her. She seemed taken back and had to ask what we had just said. I asked again and she just stood there for a moment and then shared a concern that was on her heart. She left and then we prayed. I don't do this every time I eat out (perhaps I should), but this particular time I just felt the need to ask and so I obeyed. I trust in the Lord for this to make a difference in this lady's life.