In the recent home going of Mike Brown, Rev. Al Sharpton said that “if we are going to turn America around than we have got to clean up our communities. Too many of our young MEN are dying in the streets but it started in the homes. We as MEN have got to stand up and hold each other accountable. MEN need to be present in their homes. MEN have to Stand up for injustice. MEN have to stand together”. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Said, If we dont learn to live together as brothers then we will perish apart as fools”. And I say....IT’S TIME TO STOP TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE “NEED TO DO” AND LET’S START DOING WHAT WE SHOULD DO!!!!! GOD has instructed and given me and my team the vision of bringing ALL communities and congregations in the Memphis metropolitan area together for a 3-day ALL MEN’S CONFERENCE/REVIVAL. The word “revive” means to LIVE again, to RECEIVE again a life which has almost expired; to REKINDLE into a flame the vital spark which was nearly extinguished. Our vision is to reach across the geographic, economic, and social silos that have divided us and UNITE in an effort to SPIRITUALLY EMBRACE, EMPOWER and ENCOURAGE MEN to seek positive change for our communities. Our ultimate goal is to use this event as a jump-start for future events that showcase our UNITY as a community. As a lifetime Memphian, I have always stressed that I am a product of what I call “my environment”. GOD graciously blessed me to be able to matriculate through grammar and high school; to receive a football scholarship to Vanderbilt; to graduate from Vandy; and to complete my D.D.S. from UT Memphis Dental School. But what I will NEVER FORGET is that GOD also consistently placed positive hardworking MEN in my path to model the behavior that I would need to accomplish my life’s goals. Though their economic means were limited as compared to ours now, they carried themselves with dignity and demanded respect through their actions. They had a profound impact on my perception of manhood and still serve as points of reference for me today. I truly believe and it has been proven that many of our societal problems exist solely because our MEN are not in their proper place as GOD intended. I also faithfully believe and have prayed that this conference would give US direction in improving and returning our MEN back to their proper place. Our ultimate goal is to UNIFY the Men of Memphis to work toward positive societal change. I have assembled an ANOINTED team of MEN from a diverse cross-section of the Memphis community including ministers, pastors, professionals, club owners, civic leaders, plumbers, doctors, felons, athletes, gay, straight, gang members, coaches, promoters, drug abusers, deacons, small business owners, CEOs, teachers, recovering drug users, former drug dealers, entertainers, etc. who share the same vision and concern for our city. Each of us respects what we have done in the past and what we are doing now, but we are ALL very passionate in putting our vision in motion in the name of UNIFICATION. This ALL MEN’S CONFERENCE is scheduled to take place October 28, 29 and 30, 2014. We have selected 3 different church locations on those nights. We need your support and would appreciate if you can help make this vision a reality along with the many other MEN in this city. IF WE DON’T DO IT FOR OUR CITY, WHO WILL????? AND THE TIME TO REVIVE OURSELVES IS NOW!!! Thanks again for your time and I would love to have your support anyway that you feel you can help!!! If nothing else, please keep us in your prayers as we walk into the Instructions that GOD gave us !!! Be Blessed, Derrick D Payne, DDS
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 17:20:11 +0000
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