A WORD FROM CARL BREEVELD

Fathers will always be important .

Father’s Day 2006. A good opportunity to think about the meaning of this day. When it comes to men in relation to children, we have two types:
1. men not (yet) being fathers and
2. men who have fathered one ore more kids with their wife
Men of the first group sometimes feel lonesome, embarrassed or incomplete, but they should realize that they can be of great importance for our community. Many kids lack a father in their family, but they have equal longings to have a father around. Men without kids of their own can help to fill this need. Think of the boy who needs an understanding man to share his enthusiasm for soccer or can take him to soccer training and collect him again, to encourage him from the sideline at a match. Another boy is probably in need for a guy to play chess or draughts with him.
Everywhere in our society there is a need for father figures. Many community centers will be pleased with your help, from you who have no kids of you own, to play a father role for kids in the neighborhood. 

Men of the second group have a direct responsibility to the kids under their care; a gift and an assignment, a privilege coupled to a duty.

On Fathers’ Day we should really celebrate. Celebrate, because you fill an important role in the lives of your children. Celebrate, because you have been given an opportunity to directly transmit love, warmth, and experience to the next generation; your actions will make a difference to the image of the next generation.

The Bible says to children that they must honor their father and mother (Ex. 20:12). Man Mit’ Man wants to pass on this commandment, because it is an important start point in a family for peace and harmony. Families are schools of training for our children to show their respect. At the same time parents should use this institute to give love to their children. The exchange will make Father’s Day into a meaningful day .

Carl Breeveld
Directeur Man Mit’ Man

Father’s Day: how it started
by Diego Donk

Many see Father’s Day only as a commercial initiative with mother’s day as example. But this is not true.

In 1909 Sonora Dodd, an American lady, introduced her idea to establish a national day as Father’s Day. This was her way to thank her own father, William Smart, for all he did for her, her brothers and sisters. William Smart was a war veteran. He became a widower when his wife died in childbirth of their sixth child. He never remarried but raised his children on his own. When Sonora grew up she realized how hard this must have been for her father.

Sonora Dodd

Father’ Day was announced the first time on June 19th 1910 in Spokane, Washington. Not long after, the day was also celebrated in other American cities. In 1924 president Calvin Coolidge supported the idea and announced a national Father’s Day but it was not until 1966 that a presidential statement was signed to establish the third Sunday in June officially as Father’s Day.

Happy 
Father’s Day  

We are convinced that this conference, held on Saturday May 27th can be regarded as successful. This year’s theme was: “Stand”. Erle Deira, director of the Suriname Bible Society and speaker this evening, encouraged men not to hesitate to live “differently”.
	Erle Deira, director of the Suriname Bible Society

About 400 men from in and out of the city participated. We had a vivid program with popular gospel performers such as the Man Mit’ Man House Band. The session started with a call to the participants to say hello to each other and something good and positive to other participants. “Suriname has enough males, but we need real men” Deira said.
Man Mit’ Man is very pleased with the number of participants and the quality of the subjects discussed as well as the course of the evening. Carl Breeveld, Man Mit’ Man’s director, is convinced that the men have experienced and extra push by this meeting. Please check our website for photographs of this men conference.

When I was still a young believer, I found myself one day next to someone who prayed in tongues. I thought that he was much closer to God than I and I wanted to be there too. I just gibbered something but it did not feel good; that was not for me. Years later I heard the minister say: “you have to seek God early in the morning! The best time is 04.00 o’clock”. I tried to do so two mornings, but I woke up on my knees. This was not for me.

Aalt and Tertia Fikse

The first part of the answer to the question: who am I and what do I want is: who am I not and what am I not? I am no model Christian, no prayer, no bible reader. I do not like to ask help for something I can do myself (and also not to the Lord). I hate people always complaining. As a pastor I dislike running behind unfaithful churchgoers. I do not want to be called “father” and I cannot understand why people must have consent for the smallest things from the pastor. I am not a talker, I am a doer. Nobody should harm my wife and children, because they will experience my fists. In my thoughts I am with God the whole day through. I will never let him go and nothing will make me doubt his love for me. I am aware of my faults and disabilities, but I am 100% certain that I am saved by Jesus’ mercy. I never ask God: “Why Lord?” I get angry by injustice. I fight with sexual temptations. I have pleasure in my work and I like to help others. I dislike to see people eat with their mouth open and I hate to wait. I speak the truth, but mostly I wrap it up in love. I do not understand why so many people must have a cell phone and I find it madness that poor people gamble as wild. Government officers can easily raise my blood pressure. I teach my kids bad things. I have trouble understanding women.

To be short; I am a MAN. Take it or leave it.

Secondary school motivation weekend
by Diego Donk

Mr. Serge Andre, director of Apollos Training Institute held a training for these students. He talked about having success in life using a “circle of balance” which he divided in four quadrants. These four parts: the physical, the mental, the emotional and the social part, should be in balance. The parts are linked in the center of the circle by a spiritual field. You will be a successful men or women when all quadrants are in balance. Mr. Andre discussed the choice of profession and he encouraged the students not to give up, however difficult the situation. “To get your diploma is now your highest priority” Andre pressed.

Man Mit Man is een Christelijke Interkerkelijke mannen organisatie in Suriname. Man Mit' Man legt zich op basis van Bijbelse principes toe op de vernieuwing van de man op alle levensgebieden . MAN MIT MAN e-nieuwsbrief is een uitgave van  Man Mit Man Suriname.