FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CoBAMM Holds 3rd Annual "Man on Fire" Conference

November 10-11, 2006

Nov 14, 2006 -- Ray Sydnor, former NFL Super Bowl player for the Philadelphia Eagles provided a message about making the right choices in life to a group of young men, coaches, and other guests at the Bowie High School, Saturday morning breakfast. He was speaking at the third annual "Man on Fire" conference coordinated by the Coalition of Bowie Area Men's Ministries (COBAMM) and co-sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

Ray shared how drugs destroyed his life, his purpose and his dreams. Always wanting to be a professional athlete, he had it all he thought … money and fame … as an NFL player ready to participate in the 1980 Super Bowl as a receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Then, because of a drug habit, he missed practice the day before the Super Bowl, and his career went into a tailspin and ended after two more years. What began as taking one simple drink of beer as a young teen, Ray never imagined the path his life would take because of the power of drug and alcohol. His dream of playing professional football was cut short by addiction and bad choices he made early in life. Sixteen years after leaving the NFL, someone gave Ray a Bible and shared if he believed and trusted in Jesus, Ray could be a new person … a new creation. Soon following, Ray knelt down one night and confessed his offenses and put his trust in Jesus. His life changed … he came to know he was an eagle that could soar high, not a chicken who can’t fly and hangs out in the barnyard. Through prayer and caring support, Ray kicked the drug habit and committed his life to helping middle and high school kids make the right choices. Today, Ray challenges men, young and old, to make the right choice. He challenged the young men at Bowie to take an interest in reading and math, even if it is the reading sports page or figuring out the batting averages of their favorite major leaguer. He challenged the audience to put their trust in Jesus and access His power to change their lives forever. Ray founded a Baltimore inner-city program for mentoring young men and women and now is a national spokesman for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The 2006 Man on Fire Conference opened with dinner Friday night at Mt. Oak Fellowship, followed by the praise band from New Vision Church. The theme for this year’s conference was “Choices That Can Change Your Life.” Ray’s message Friday night was targeted to the men with families, with life experiences, and a relationship with the Jesus Christ. Men from several Bowie area churches were challenged by Ray to live a life of integrity. He said you can teach what you know but you can only reproduce who you are. Every man should have someone in their life they are teaching and mentoring and showing by their example, how to make the right life choices, how to be followers of Jesus Christ. Ray encouraged the men to be a part of the “immortality of influence.”

Saturday morning a full breakfast was cooked by COBAMM members from Belcroft Bible Church and Cresthill Baptist Church. The men’s breakfast was held at in the Bowie High School cafeteria, the first time COBAMM held the conference at a location other then one of their churches. Mr. TeSelle, chair of COBAMM said because the focus was on reaching young men in the community our leadership felt it was best to go to the school. Invitations were posted and handed out at the two Bowie middle schools and the high school.

The Bowie High School football team was at the breakfast along with Coach Jackson. The Coach was presented a game ball by COBAMM member Bill Hall and Speaker Sydnor, congratulating him and the team on an excellent season and urging them on to make it to the county playoffs. The newly formed Bowie High School Gospel Choir performed three songs at the Saturday morning breakfast and Cedrick Dickens, the P.G. County Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) representative, provided an excellent overview of the purpose and mission of FCA. Cedrick also announced the newly formed FCA huddle group at the high school, a first at Bowie.

COBAMM called forward all the youth pastors and youth leaders of the various COBAMM churches who are on the frontlines of reaching the youth of the community.

On behalf of the City of Bowie, City Councilman and Mayor Pro-tem Dennis Brady graciously congratulated each of the youth leaders for making a difference in the lives of the kids in this community. The youth leaders who were recognized and thanked with a gift from COBAMM are:

Gavin Brown (Cornerstone)
Keith Marston (Cresthill)
Dione Bowlding (Mt. Oak Fellowship)
Lawrence & Terrence Ferguson (New Vision)
Zachery Villafuerte (New Life Community)
Cameron Howard (World Impact Christian Center)

COBAMM also recognized Tom Knorr for his steadfast service as founder of the Bowie Prayer Walk. Tom has faithfully led this multi-church prayer walk for seven years, praying for God’s protection and blessing, and the transformation of God’s people in Bowie. A drawing for an IPOD and several other give-away items was held at the close of the meeting. A primary financial supporter of the conference, Jerry Shallenberger, President of Heritage Realty, drew the lucky winners. Several other Bowie businesses joined in their support of the conference.

After the breakfast, COBAMM sponsored a Bowie High School volunteer work project. A group of men and boys from various churches labored to clean-up and spread new mulch on the memorial garden grounds at the entrance of Bowie High School.

For More Information Contact:

Turn On the Light-Bowie
12427 Sadler Lane, Bowie, MD 20715
Tel: 301-262-9116
FAX: 301-262-4178
Internet: mail@turnonthelight-bowie.org