3/20/08
Record crowd breaks bread over wild game, spiritual message
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

A sea of over 2,000 men turned out to see speaker Rick Burgess, one of the hosts of the “Rick and Bubba Show.” Also performing were the Cross Anchor Quartet, seen here. Some of the tables in the back were removed to accommodate the massive gathering.

More than 2,000 men turned out with high hopes and good spirits to partake in what has become a men’s tradition in Clarendon County.

Starting with a few jokes about his flight from Alabama and his childhood memories, keynote speaker for the night Rick Burgess, co-host of the nationally syndicated “Rick and Bubba Show,” quickly started in telling his message and testifying to the audience about his belief and his vision for all men.

Burgess delivered a strong message about the role of men in society and the importance of their leadership in their families.

“One of the problems we have today we can trace back to a simple process and that my generation of men, the one behind me and the one in front of me are not getting the job done,” said Burgess about disciplining children. “We feminize men, we have men that depend on their wives to get the kids to church, there is a big impact of men on society.”

Burgess said that he believed that the only cure for what ails society today is for men to stand up in their homes, be better Christians and be responsible leaders in their family.

“It doesn’t matter what celebrities say, it doesn’t matter what society says, it matters what Jesus Christ said,” he exhorted. “The great thing about being a believer in Christ and learning about biblical masculinity is being ready.”

Burgess alluded to the recent death of his two-year-old son, who drowned earlier this year.

“I don’t say it pridefully, but when it happened I knew what God wanted me to do because I had been walking with Him long before that day. I was ready (to face his son’s death) because of the Bible,” he said.

Burgess made a point of saying that men are a bigger influence on their families than people would think.

“They did a survey. If a sibling in the family comes to know Christ only two percent may follow; if Mama comes to know Christ it jumps up to 15 percent chance that the rest of the family will follow. Did you know, my brothers, that if the man of the house becomes submissive to Jesus Christ, that 93 percent of the family will get to know Christ as well?” he said to loud applause. “Being a leader means being responsible for your household.”

He told the men a staggering statistic that seems to further emphasize his message.

“Did you know that right now on death row, 94 percent of inmates have no love for their father,” Burgess said. “You think its important how you act in your home?”

Burgess said that just being a leader in the family and a Christian is not enough; men must go out and talk with their families and others about Christ.

Burgess highlighted the accomplishments of what he called “America’s Greatest Generation,” those that fought in World War II.

“They got the job done. We are sitting here enjoying wild game, talking and breathing free air because of the sacrifices they made,” he said. “They understood and were raised by men that said ‘There is no greater honor than for a man to lay down his life for his country.’ They are the ones who said ‘If God has to use my life so be it.’”

Burgess said that of the generations today, the generations of 1985 up until now, only four percent claim to be Christian.

“If you will help me, before we leave tonight, there will be remnants of men like (The Greatest Generation),” he said.

Burgess said that the problem that men face today about being leaders in their families was uniquely American.

“The rest of the world is on fire for Jesus. In South Korea, there is a church that holds 750,000 members. They have Bible study in a stadium.

“China has the largest population of new Christians. The problem is here,” he said. “My biggest fear is that God had his hand on America and He removed it.”

After receiving a roaring applause Burgess invited people to fill out cards that were hung underneath their seats indicating if they wanted to be saved or rededicate their lives to Christ.

The Men’s Wild Game Supper is an annual event, held free of charge for anyone who wants to attend. Rev. Rob Piece, pastor of the Summerton Baptist Church said he was very grateful to those who gave money and their time to make the event happen.

The Wild Game Supper is made possible by the support of churches from Clarendon and Sumter counties.