Everyone can use a little help and support - including men, according to the 2004 Men's Rocky Mountain Roundup organizers.

The Christian men's organization Central Wyoming Men of Integrity is sponsoring the event that is scheduled for Oct. 8-9 at the Casper Events Center.

"There are a variety of reasons (for having the event) but one would be to learn how to be better husbands, to be better fathers, to be better men of God," said Kirby Laughlin, an event co-organizer. "In Wyoming because of Wyoming's heritage, typically there is a spirit of independence that says, 'Hey, we can do anything and I can do it by myself I don't need anybody else to help me with this.'"

The idea behind the conference is that men do need other men to meet with and learn how to take the position as head of the household and build strong relationships, Laughlin said.

"Men need to recognize that they need other men for input so that they can realize in order to be a better dad here are some things I'm going to have to do. That some of these tools that I need, some of this equipment that I need, I wasn't born with it. It's not a natural thing necessarily but it is something we are directed to do through the Bible," Laughlin said.

The man taking the position as head of the household is not a way to make women subservient, but for men to "accept the responsibility of being a father, of being a husband, of being a man of the house," Laughlin added.

The conference brings four speakers - Chuck Brewster, Isaac Canales, Rev, H.B. London, Gabriel Medicine Eagle - to address the particular needs of men in Wyoming.

Canales is the president of Latin American Bible Institute in La Puente, Calif., and a minister with the Mission Eben-Ezer Family Church in Carson, Calif. He earned a Master of Divinity at the Harvard University Divinity School and a PhD in New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. He served as director of Hispanic church studies and assistant professor of New Testament at Fuller for 20 years, according to program information. His talk "Back in the Saddle," will open the conference on Friday evening.

Medicine Eagle is a Sioux tribal member and gifted speaker, according to program information. He started the first Youth Services Department on the Rosebud Reservation and supports a youth camp that averages more than 300 attendees from all over the U.S. He will speak Saturday morning on teamwork with his talk "Herdin' Together."

London is a fourth-generation minister and has served as a pastor for 30 years. He hosted a daily radio program "Lifeline to Truth" for 14 years in Salem, Ore. and another six years in Los Angeles. He also hosted a weekly television program "A New Way of Life" in Portland, Ore. He has been the assistant to the president for Focus on the Family, according to program information. He will speak Saturday afternoon on how men can balance family and work without neglecting either in "Head 'em up."

Brewster is a retired Air Force veteran and police officer. He started working with the men's Christian organization Honorbound after retiring in May 1998 following 23 years of service with the Secret Service, according to program information. He will hold two talks throughout the weekend. He will speak on Saturday morning on what it means to be a Christian man in "Tall in the Saddle," and his Saturday afternoon talk, "Staying in the Saddle," will close the conference.

Conference registration is $65 for adults, $40 for young men ages 12-18. The fee includes Saturday's lunch. Special one-day pricing is available and no one will be turned away for inability to pay, Laughlin said.

For more information call 235-4633.

Features writer Holly Strother can be reached at (307) 266-0586 or Holly.Strother@casperstartribune.net

On the Net

www.wyochristianmen.org

Schedule

Friday, Oct. 8

5:30 p.m. doors open

6:30 p.m. session one, speaker Isaac Canales

Saturday, Oct. 9

7:30 a.m. doors open

8:15 a.m. first session, speaker Chuck Brewster

10:30 a.m. second session, speaker Gabriel Medicine Eagle

11:30 a.m. lunch

1 p.m. session three, speaker H.B. London

2:45 p.m. session four, speaker Chuck Brewster