This spring, an event aims to bring men together, strengthen discipleship and equip them to play a stronger role as faithful leaders.

A core group has coordinated the Finding The Way Conference, a men’s conference inspired and encouraged by a women’s conference in the area, also held annually, according to Will Page, a planning committee member. The committee is made up of members and laity from various churches in Washington, including First Christian Church, First United Methodist, First Baptist and Church of the Good Shepherd, to name a few and invites men throughout the region to register and attend.

“To be honest, it was kind of inspired and encouraged really because the women have been really successful in their efforts,” Page said. “We don’t have anything like that.”

Page said the committee hopes to identify needs among area men, groom them to grow in faith and to become better disciples and promote fellowship among area churches through the conference. It’s also a way to bring quality, national-level Bible teachings to Beaufort County, Page said.

This year’s event will feature guest speaker Ken Schultz with Search Charlotte Ministries, a ministry to create environments where the spiritual can come together, who will speak about the role of men in life and what they need to do to lead churches, families, relationships and their communities, Page said.

“(Schutlz) wants to talk to men about being intentional and taking the next step in their faith,” Page said.

For nonbelievers, that step entails bringing them to faith; new believers are aided in strengthening their faith, while strong believers are helped to become those who lead others to faith, Page said.

A musical component of the event will feature a six-person house band from the 10^th Street Church of God.

As a tool to promote community-wide Christian gatherings among men, the conference aims to strengthen ties between area churches through the interdenominational initiative, Page said.

“I think it’s more or less kind of identifying what a need is among men,” Page said. “Each church has their own thing for what families do, but I think the Christian faith is kind of, maybe, a little at fault with being too inward-focused. (This event) will be a vehicle to turn men on an outward focus to more of a community-wide gathering of men that could see what kind of ministries they could get involved with. Men are often so focused on their jobs and family that it’s hard to do something else. This can get them focused on turning their faith outward.”

The conference is set for March 4-5 and costs $15 for registration. The event is broken into three sessions — one at 7 p.m. on March 4 and two consecutive sessions starting at 9 a.m. on March 5. A breakfast, provided by Brothers in the Field, a ministry for men who love to hunt and fish, will be provided to registrants at 8 a.m. on March 5. The conference will be held at Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church in downtown Washington.

“The men’s conference is an opportunity for men in the community to come and worship the Lord and recharge our spiritual batteries so we can strengthen our personal relationships with our wives, children, church, community and more,” said Matt Carr, a member of the committee and Brothers in the Field. “We saw this as a wonderful opportunity to advance the kingdom church and reach out to people who may be un-churched in this community. We hope to ignite men’s sense of spiritual responsibility and just help this community come together and continue to grow as far as the Christian community goes and to be able to reach out to people who don’t have a relationship with God. It’s a powerful thing to see men from all walks of life come together and worship the Lord.”

First United Methodist Church is located at 304 W. Second St. in Washington. To register or for more information, visit www.facebook.com/FindingTheWayConference or www.findingthewayconference.com.