Men in northwest Arkansas seek faith in 12-week quest

New program helping to form God squads of men around Fort Smith

Published: September 6, 2016

By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent

Maryanne Meyerriecks

The Catholic Men of Armor’s planning committee — Justin Biddle (back, left), James Barte, Eric Stein (front, left) and J.B. Willson — discuss the Sept. 9 kickoff at Christ the King Church in Fort Smith Aug. 17.

Maryanne Meyerriecks

FORT SMITH — Last spring, when J.B. Willson attended a men’s program at his boss’ non-denominational church, he began a 12-week quest to find a similar program for Catholic men. After contacting friends in other cities, researching available Catholic programs and wrestling with the Holy Spirit, he felt called to design a program, Catholic Men of Armor, and introduce it in the River Valley in the fall.

“This 12-week program will have physical, relational, spiritual and intellectual challenges,” Willson, who attends Christ the King Church, said. “We will study the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Scripture.”

The program is designed to strengthen men physically, mentally and spiritually so they can become leaders and servants in their families and communities.

“We’re inviting all men between the ages of 18 and 80,” organizer Justin Biddle said. “We want to help men build their relationships with Christ and everyone around them — friends, family and co-workers.”

While everyone on the core team is already active in many areas of parish life, each said their wives encouraged them to participate.

“I belong to several different church and community groups,” James Barte said, “but my wife wanted me to be involved in something more spiritual. When J.B. talked about how this program would be based on guys helping guys out, team building and camaraderie, she encouraged me to get involved.”

Speaking at weekend Masses in different parishes, Willson was upfront about the first challenge, the late Friday night kickoff Sept. 9 at the Christ the King gymnasium.

“We’re meeting at 11:25 p.m. when all the high school football games are finished and the evening honey-do list is complete,” he said.

At the kickoff men will join small groups of 10-12 participants led by a squad leader, who will serve as coach, mentor and catechism/Scripture study leader. There will also be several large group events at different area churches during the 12-week session.

“Not everyone will be able to meet every challenge,” Barte said. “Not everyone can run two miles, but they can get into the discipline of improving.”

“The challenges and team building exercises will meet us where we’re at just as God meets us where we’re at,” Biddle said.

Father Matt Garrison, pastor of Sacred Heart of Mary and Sts. Sabina and Mary churches and chaplain of the Arkansas Air National Guard, plans on taking up their challenge.

“It often seems fairly easy for women to gather and talk about their faith and their feelings, but it’s not always so easy for men,” he said. “I’ve often spoken with men who have a great desire to be able to share, but it doesn’t always come quite as naturally as it does for their wives and girlfriends.

“The leaders seem to recognize the fact that their approach needs to be much different than just sitting down with some coffee and opening up to each other. I’m excited to see the potential of this group to come to fruition, hopefully bringing about real change within these men and all the people in their lives.”

For more information, visit CatholicMenOfArmor.com.