Men’s Fraternity has recently joined Ouachita’s campus. This isn’t another social club or exclusive group of any kind, but rather a place for guys of all ages and walks of life to come and be a part of something while learning what it truly means to be a man.
Men’s Fraternity was designed to help men come together and strengthen each other through weekly meetings and discussion. Robert Lewis from Little Rock wrote the curriculum that encour- ages manhood through bibli- cal teachings.
“It’s not just another typical Bible study,” said Rusty Butler, a senior church music major. “It’s a program for men that are working to grow closer to other men and also seeking to learn what an au- thentic definition of a man is biblically.”
Men’s Fraternity started in 1990 and has many success stories. It has spread from Little Rock and can be found all across America. There are even known groups outside America, including Mexico, Africa, Australia and parts of Europe.
“I’m really excited to see where this will go,” said Jayson Harris, junior business administration and management major. “It’s known to be an effective tool in spreading the Gospel.”
Many people are working together in order to get this program up and running. Harris along with Justin Young, a senior business administration and management major, started brainstorming last semester looking for a wayto build a community among men in Arkadelphia.
“We want to build unity with guys in campus,” Young said. “This group can create a common bond between all the guys involved that allows us to look past surface level things.”
Shawn Barnard, senior pastor at Crossgate Church in Hot Springs comes to Arkadelphia and gives the group lesson every week and there are small group discussions led by selected men. Seventy-two men attended the first week.
“It’s really cool to see this actually take off,” Harris said. “There’s been a lot of talk about wanting to see something happen here, and there are a lot of guys making this happen.”
Lewis donated over 100 booklets making them free to students participating. Restau- rants around town also donated food the first week for those in attendance. Men’s Fraternity meets in the Tiger Den, but is open to all of Arkadelphia.
“We want this to be an Arkadelphia thing,” Harris said. “Guys from Henderson, Ouachita and guys not in col- lege whether that’s adults or even high school students [are encouraged to come].”
Harris and Young are looking into the possibility of alternating the meeting place between the Tiger Den and the Henderson BCM as a way to reach men not on campus.
“Our goal for starting it on campus was to reach guys that aren’t normally going to hear this stuff in everyday life,” Butler said. “I think biblical manhood is something people talk about a lot but is rarely defined, so having it defined right here is a big goal.”
Men’s Fraternity was de- signed for any man, not a specific type of man. The curriculum was made in such a way that no matter where a person is in life or what they are go- ing through, they will be able to relate and connect to what is being discussed.
“Hopefully people feel like they can come broken,” Young said. “We want them to feel welcome and accepted but still challenged. We want to draw in all sorts of people.”
The curriculum teaches men how to live as an authentic man rather than a man of worldly standards and gives men a community to learn with.
“The goal behind this is that it’ll create discipleship in its most raw form,” Harris said.
Men’s Fraternity meetings are held at 8:30 p.m. every Sun- day in the Tiger Den. Men are welcome to join at any point during the year. For more in- formation, contact Young at you48532@obu.edu
PHOTO CREDIT TO TYLER ROSENTHAL
