By Sharon Mager
DAVIDSONVILLE, Md. — BCM/D’s 2025 Men’s Conference drew hundreds of men to Riva Trace Baptist Church, Davidsonville, on May 17. Men arrived cheerfully, greeting each other as men do, shaking hands, slapping backs, and hugging. They responded to the main speakers, sang loudly during worship, and prayed; some were on their knees. Many responded to an extended prayer time and altar call midway through the event.
Men enjoyed the fellowship between conference times. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
This year’s theme was “A Man After God’s Own Heart,” drawing insights from the life of David. Keynote speakers were Jamaal Williams, pastor of Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky; Dan Hyun, BCM/D director of formation and health and founding pastor of The Village Church, Hampden and Joel Kurz, lead pastor of The Garden Church, Baltimore, and executive director of One Hope Ministry and the Baltimore Baptist Association. Sessions and breakouts were based on the life of David.
Williams, the first speaker, set a tone of holiness and seeking after God. Using 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22, Williams said David sought to be in the presence of God, delighting in the Lord. “David says, the one thing that I desire is to dwell, this permanent residency, in the house of the Lord.
“In the Old Testament, to dwell in the house of the Lord meant to draw near to God’s manifest presence, and oftentimes it talked about drawing near to the tabernacle or to the temple, and that’s the place where the Lord rested. And the deeper you went into the tabernacle, the deeper you went into the temple, the more you experienced His glory. David said, I want to live in that glory. I want to live in that presence.” Williams challenged men, “The question for you is — is that where do you want to live?”
Dan Hyun shared how Jonathan strengthened David when Saul was pursuing David to kill him. Hyun said God allows friendship to encourage us. “Jonathan gave David the strength to hold on.
Jamaal Williams shares about delighting in the Lord. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
He said, “Part of how we persevere is through those who walk alongside us and don’t let go. Friends help us live out God’s will.”
Jonathan encouraged David not to give up. Hyun said, “Friends are there to tell you, I see the image of God in you.”
Joel Kurz’s theme was, “Live this day in light of that day.” He challenged men to run the race to win. Using 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Kurz referred to Paul’s encouragement to “submit our rights, purposes, and bodies for the use of Christ.”
Breakout sessions covered leadership, family, men’s ministry, spiritual disciplines, strategies to overcome temptations, managing finances, trauma, Godly generations, and peace in a divided world. These topics were all popular, and men in groups talked about them during their free time.
Lakeshore Baptist Church, Pasadena, member Greg McDonald highlighted a breakout on how men can be peacemakers, as David sought peace in a divided Israel. McDonald said, “That was so good. I wish I had a video I could go back and watch it and draw more from it.”
Men pray during the 2025 Men’s Conference. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
When asked his thoughts on the conference, Bill Dunkin, a member and musician at Lexington Park Baptist Church, took a moment before responding and said, “It’s an oddity in today’s society for men to come together. It’s refreshing.”
Bryon Self, the pastor of Tabernacle Church, Essex, said, “I was so encouraged through the times of worship and prayer and getting to experience those moving spiritual moments with God and hundreds of other men!”
Additionally, Self said he loved getting to meet new people and see some familiar faces. “Knowing I’m not alone in the work God has called me to was so encouraging,” he said.
BCM/D Executive Director Tom Stolle said, “I loved the men’s conference. It was really authentic. The men were ready. They were hungry. They were there! They were there to encounter God. Jamaal Williams, Dan Hyun, and Joel Kurz — those guys were ready. To me, it was the energy that came with the men, the way the staff served, and just how joyful all of us were!”
Dan Hyun shares about how God uses friends. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Director of Church Strengthening Jeremy Dickson, who organized the conference, said, “I was hopeful for good teaching and honest fellowship, but what I experienced went far beyond that. There was a noticeable hunger among the men who came, not just for knowledge, but for something deeper. You could feel the spiritual appetite in the room, a collective desire to grow, to be challenged, and to encounter God in a real way.
Dickson also echoed Stolle’s emphasis on ‘authentic.’ “Nothing felt forced or performative. The speakers were transparent, the conversations were vulnerable, and the worship was sincere. It wasn’t just having another event; it felt like a sacred space where men came not to impress, but to be changed. God moved in unexpected ways — through quiet moments, hallway conversations and prayers that weren’t even on the schedule. It reminded me that transformation often happens not in the spotlight, but in the in-between.”
Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D communications specialist/BCM/D news editor
Feature photo by Trevor Chin