Two weeks ago the Faith Matters page of the Anchorage Daily News announced (see below) a Beast Feast to be held later that day at Baxter Road Bible Church.
Beast Feast: 5 p.m. Saturday, Baxter Road Bible Church, 3600 Baxter Rd. Men, bring your favorite wild game dish. The event is free, Dave Bruss, an Alaska premier outdoorsman will be showing a hunting & fishing slide show. And Dave Lamaire will give his witness about how he survived the murder of his 11 year old daughter. For more information contact pastor John at pastorjohncarpenter@gmail.com.
I attended and was treated to a variety of game dishes, including moose stew, and many types of smoked salmon. The meal was hearty, the male companionship great, and the speakers were interesting.
After our bountiful meal, Dave Bruss, a rugged outdoorsman, trapper, and fishing charter operator gave an excellent presentation of his life in interior Alaska. Illustrated by excellent photos it gave me an exposure to a side of Alaska I had only heard about, but never seen.[img_assist|nid=160238|title=Dave Bruss: Trapper, Outdoorsman, & Fishing Charterer|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=350|height=263]
He was followed by Dave Lamaire, also from the Glenallen area, whose 11 year-old daughter had been kidnapped and murdered. Dave gave a stirring account of this tragedy and how his faith in God sustained and directed him. Beginning with “I called this my worst day, the day my humanity collided with my faith”, he articulated key imperatives about a man’s Christian life.
1. God has a plan for your life.
2. Stand up and be counted.
3. Rise above mediocrity.
He closed with a challenge to “Walk out of here changed because of our faith in Jesus Christ.” Dave now operates church-directed fishing float trips on the Gulkana and other rivers.[img_assist|nid=160239|title=Dave Lamaire Telling His Tragic Story|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=350|height=232]
I don’t often attend church social events but this event impressed me with it’s “men only” approach using themes calculated to appeal to men. I’m sure other churches must host these types of events, but this was my first.
Baxter Road Bible Church is a consistent and solidly growing church. Associate Pastor John Carpenter put much work into organizing this event. I’m glad I attended. More churches should do “men only” programs like this to counter the aversion many men have about going into churches.[img_assist|nid=160240|title=John Carpenter Seeking Advice From Dave Bruss|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=350|height=263]