Lakeside Presbyterian Church has been our (Turners) home church exclusively as reformed Christians within the Jackson Metro. It's a place that's local for us (close to home), and therefore not surprisingly, a church that saw fit to provide some of those initial authentic friendships that were microcosmic of the Samson Society experience. These were friendships that showed me to how much of a personal resource real-time support can be.
I approached the session at Lakeside 4 to 5 months in advance of this Samson Society launch back in the summer of 2017. Thankfully, they were very receptive, and soon thereafter, the meetings began on Saturday mornings at 7 AM.
Why so early on a Saturday morning?
Personally, it's convenient for me. Plus, I find that it's a fantastic way to start a weekend.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Brandon
The newest Metro Jackson Samson Society group meets on Tuesday nights at 6 PM at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, MS. I've had the privilege of knowing Mr. Matt Flint, facilitator of this group, for a number of years. Starting with his Life Group, Matt has told his story with boldness, thereby impacting men's lives through his willingness to be authentic.
And it's authenticity that best sums up what Samson Society is. Though Crossgates Baptist Church bundles the group in with their other Life Groups, it's not completely fair to do so. Life Groups are essentially Sunday School classes. Their primary focus being Bible teaching and prayer lead by a teacher. And these are both worthwhile things, but they don't happen within a Samson Society meeting. Instead, Samson Society meetings are settings where men can talk openly about whatever is on their hearts / minds. In fact, they're expected to do so, otherwise they're just taking up space.
Matt's gift as a facilitator is essentially serving as a constant week to week. He opens the door for men to come, taking them through the Samson Society charter prior to listening in. It's his willingness to serve in this capacity that makes him so unique. Especially considering his youth.
How fortunate Crossgates Baptist Church is to now have a Samson Society meeting as a resource to that community of men!
And it's authenticity that best sums up what Samson Society is. Though Crossgates Baptist Church bundles the group in with their other Life Groups, it's not completely fair to do so. Life Groups are essentially Sunday School classes. Their primary focus being Bible teaching and prayer lead by a teacher. And these are both worthwhile things, but they don't happen within a Samson Society meeting. Instead, Samson Society meetings are settings where men can talk openly about whatever is on their hearts / minds. In fact, they're expected to do so, otherwise they're just taking up space.
Matt's gift as a facilitator is essentially serving as a constant week to week. He opens the door for men to come, taking them through the Samson Society charter prior to listening in. It's his willingness to serve in this capacity that makes him so unique. Especially considering his youth.
How fortunate Crossgates Baptist Church is to now have a Samson Society meeting as a resource to that community of men!
Thursday, January 24, 2019
Paying homage to our mutual Enemy
Evil exists in our world. Anyone can attest to that fact, but as Christians, we attribute the author of it all to Satan.
The Bible is clear regarding what Satan's motives are as well as where exactly he rules.
For me, looking back on my life, I can see clearly evil handiwork. Even as a small child, I can remember being cognizant of fear that was rooted in something much larger than myself. This something was hidden away, waiting for an opportune time to strike.
All of the emotional trauma (& by God's grace mine is much less than many other's) that I've endured over my 46 years finds its root within this darkness.
No amount of Hollywood entertainment can equivocally represent the personal suffering that mankind endures at Satan's behest. Not to mention the temptation he consistently elicits.
For me personally, I have a grudge against this being, and as a Christian, I'm looking forward to witnessing his demise.
In the meantime, all of the Metro Jackson facilitators of Samson Society serve you in light of that coming day. May we all huddle together as men, supporting each other through the storm, within Samson Society.
The Bible is clear regarding what Satan's motives are as well as where exactly he rules.
For me, looking back on my life, I can see clearly evil handiwork. Even as a small child, I can remember being cognizant of fear that was rooted in something much larger than myself. This something was hidden away, waiting for an opportune time to strike.
All of the emotional trauma (& by God's grace mine is much less than many other's) that I've endured over my 46 years finds its root within this darkness.
No amount of Hollywood entertainment can equivocally represent the personal suffering that mankind endures at Satan's behest. Not to mention the temptation he consistently elicits.
For me personally, I have a grudge against this being, and as a Christian, I'm looking forward to witnessing his demise.
In the meantime, all of the Metro Jackson facilitators of Samson Society serve you in light of that coming day. May we all huddle together as men, supporting each other through the storm, within Samson Society.
Clinton
It didn't take any convincing of the pastorate at DaySpring Church in Clinton to host a Samson Society group on Thursday nights at 6 PM. Mr. Lance Bowser, facilitator, had been a part of the Downtown group at First Baptist Church for some time. Upon approaching the pastorate at his home church, DaySpring, they immediately said "YES!". Therefore, this group has been consistently meeting ever since.
Obviously, DaySpring church is non-denominational whereas the other 4 Metro Jackson local churches where Samson Society meetings take place are not. Does this set this group apart? Not at all. If fact, I would argue that because the setting is a non-denominational church, it's that much more in-line with the Samson Society itself.
Speaking of the Samson Society itself, I would encourage you to check out the website. There are resources available there plus information on the virtual Samson Society meetings.
Obviously, DaySpring church is non-denominational whereas the other 4 Metro Jackson local churches where Samson Society meetings take place are not. Does this set this group apart? Not at all. If fact, I would argue that because the setting is a non-denominational church, it's that much more in-line with the Samson Society itself.
Speaking of the Samson Society itself, I would encourage you to check out the website. There are resources available there plus information on the virtual Samson Society meetings.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Gluckstadt / Madison county - Grace Crossing Church
Mr. Joe McCalman, and elder at Grace Crossing Church, facilitates this Metro Jackson Samson Society group. This was the second group that took root within the Jackson, Mississippi area. Sunday nights at 6 PM is when they meet.
Joe is deeply passionate about Grace Crossing as well as this Samson Society group (which he facilitates). I encourage you to consider attending. My experience(s) there were so very enriching and memorable. Plus, it's Sunday which means it's relaxed and very laid back.
Joe is deeply passionate about Grace Crossing as well as this Samson Society group (which he facilitates). I encourage you to consider attending. My experience(s) there were so very enriching and memorable. Plus, it's Sunday which means it's relaxed and very laid back.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Downtown - First Baptist Church Jackson
Samson Society met firstly in Mississippi here. Mr. Don Waller casts the vision and men began to participate.
I stepped into my first Samson Society meeting at First Baptist Church Jackson during the summer of 2014. Because I was a member of this church, perhaps it was easier for me than those who were not. Nonetheless, it was an eye-opening weekly meeting, from 6 PM to 7 PM on Wednesday nights, and from there, we'd go out to eat at a local restaurant as a group. Weeks went by and I found myself seeing and subsequently engaging with more and more men, hearing their stories and constantly being challenged by the rich dialogue. Eventually, by the end of that year, I realized firsthand what this men's ministry was all about, and the only way I knew best how to describe it was relational accountability.
Relational accountability is essentially being intentional (communication) with other men relative to building authentic friendship(s) and from there, experiencing the opposite of isolation whilst doing life as a husband, father, boyfriend, friend, son, brother, employee, employer, and so forth. The assumption here is that men tend to be more vulnerable to temptation alone, and as Christians, all manner of work tied to avoiding sin is worthwhile because sin is what ultimately separates us from God (as well as potentially many other good things). Hence, Samson Society is worthwhile through and through, not to mention a great deal of fun (if you're into authenticity).
I stepped into my first Samson Society meeting at First Baptist Church Jackson during the summer of 2014. Because I was a member of this church, perhaps it was easier for me than those who were not. Nonetheless, it was an eye-opening weekly meeting, from 6 PM to 7 PM on Wednesday nights, and from there, we'd go out to eat at a local restaurant as a group. Weeks went by and I found myself seeing and subsequently engaging with more and more men, hearing their stories and constantly being challenged by the rich dialogue. Eventually, by the end of that year, I realized firsthand what this men's ministry was all about, and the only way I knew best how to describe it was relational accountability.
Relational accountability is essentially being intentional (communication) with other men relative to building authentic friendship(s) and from there, experiencing the opposite of isolation whilst doing life as a husband, father, boyfriend, friend, son, brother, employee, employer, and so forth. The assumption here is that men tend to be more vulnerable to temptation alone, and as Christians, all manner of work tied to avoiding sin is worthwhile because sin is what ultimately separates us from God (as well as potentially many other good things). Hence, Samson Society is worthwhile through and through, not to mention a great deal of fun (if you're into authenticity).
Friday, January 4, 2019
Clique
My freshman year at Mississippi State University was spent in survival mode. I was enrolled as an architecture student, and each of us had been told to expect failure amongst our peers. In fact, I can now say that most of us first year students were in survival mode. It was daunting, and at times, really frightening.
At the same time, I was living in the dorm with a stranger who was terribly homesick. Though he was much more outgoing and friendly than I was, he missed his family to the point of traveling home at every opportunity which in turn left me back in Starkville all alone.
Education was my second choice as a major, and by the time I'd reached the end of my freshmen year in Architecture, I was ready to bail. I remember meeting with the Associate Dean about this, and he advised me to stick it out for one more semester.
A few weeks into my sophomore year, I was approached one Sunday afternoon while working at my drawing board by a fellow architecture student about sharing a meal at a local eatery with he and his friends. I asked who exactly would be going, and all of the guys he listed I knew of simply by seeing them and their work within Design Studio (the primary architecture school class).
So, I had a choice to make. Stay put at my desk or take a risk and join them for dinner on this fateful Sunday evening.
I'm sure glad I went with them.
In high school, I was always the boy in the background, making a point to be as invisible as possible. I never felt all that comfortable in my own skin, but especially in high school. Thankfully, Architecture School was somewhat different in this regard, but I had the previous years of existing socially incognito that had been ingrained in my way of living out my life.
At the restaurant (pizza), after we ordered our food, I sat down amongst 6 or 7 guys, and the one who'd personally invited me then proceeded to immediately take me through his newly developed initiation trope. It was hilariously ridiculous and by the end, we were all laughing hysterically at this guy's good humor. And by now, I was elated to be there, feeling welcomed and comfortable.
For years after this, our group ate pizza together on Sunday nights at this same restaurant. We even named our clique, but I can't remember what we came up with. These young men and all of the friendships that grew out of that group enabled me to move out of survival mode as a college student.
This was my first real taste of relational accountability, and it was heavenly.
At the same time, I was living in the dorm with a stranger who was terribly homesick. Though he was much more outgoing and friendly than I was, he missed his family to the point of traveling home at every opportunity which in turn left me back in Starkville all alone.
Education was my second choice as a major, and by the time I'd reached the end of my freshmen year in Architecture, I was ready to bail. I remember meeting with the Associate Dean about this, and he advised me to stick it out for one more semester.
A few weeks into my sophomore year, I was approached one Sunday afternoon while working at my drawing board by a fellow architecture student about sharing a meal at a local eatery with he and his friends. I asked who exactly would be going, and all of the guys he listed I knew of simply by seeing them and their work within Design Studio (the primary architecture school class).
So, I had a choice to make. Stay put at my desk or take a risk and join them for dinner on this fateful Sunday evening.
I'm sure glad I went with them.
In high school, I was always the boy in the background, making a point to be as invisible as possible. I never felt all that comfortable in my own skin, but especially in high school. Thankfully, Architecture School was somewhat different in this regard, but I had the previous years of existing socially incognito that had been ingrained in my way of living out my life.
At the restaurant (pizza), after we ordered our food, I sat down amongst 6 or 7 guys, and the one who'd personally invited me then proceeded to immediately take me through his newly developed initiation trope. It was hilariously ridiculous and by the end, we were all laughing hysterically at this guy's good humor. And by now, I was elated to be there, feeling welcomed and comfortable.
For years after this, our group ate pizza together on Sunday nights at this same restaurant. We even named our clique, but I can't remember what we came up with. These young men and all of the friendships that grew out of that group enabled me to move out of survival mode as a college student.
This was my first real taste of relational accountability, and it was heavenly.
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