Refueled: Igniting Men for Mission
By Sharon Mager
DAVIDSONVILLE, Md. — The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D) annual Refueled Men’s Conference filled the auditorium at Riva Trace Baptist Church on April 18, as men of all ages and ethnicities gathered for a day of worship, encouragement, fellowship, and challenge. The theme was missions.
Ronnie Martin told men, “Our model is one man whose name is Jesus — a man subversive in his approach — where the world flexes, he got on his knees to pray in a desolate place.” (Photo by Sharon Mager)
BCM/D Director of Church Strengthening Jeremy Dickson said men were engaged throughout the day and that the conference structure resonated with the men. “Morning sessions were intentionally designed to pour into the men, while the afternoon sessions focused on helping them pour out and live on mission.” He added that keynote speakers Ronnie Martin and Larry Anderson “served the men well.”
Martin kicked off the morning session, challenging men to look beneath the surface—“under the cushions”—of their spiritual lives and move beyond momentary inspiration toward deeper transformation.
“I’m less interested in igniting a flame than in building and maintaining the flame the Holy Spirit will ignite in your life,” he said.
Drawing from Romans 12:11, Martin emphasized that a sustained, Spirit-driven faith begins with love. Without it, even the most passionate efforts will fade. Love, he said, redirects men from self-centered ambition.
He also warned that zeal alone is not enough. Referencing the account of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, Martin said Passion must be guided by wisdom rooted in time spent with Jesus. Mission, he said, then flows from a heart shaped from being in the presence of God.
Men enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie throughout the conference. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Breakout sessions continued to emphasize missions while stressing authenticity.
In a session on emotional and mental health, Brian Bailey, pastor of Whitehall Baptist Church, Accokeek, addressed the burdens many men carry—often tied to long-held trauma.
Though men often appear strong, many struggle internally. “People ask, ‘Are you okay?’ and we say, ‘I’m okay… I’ve got it.’ We don’t.”
“We’re not sharing it… not explaining it… it’s our secret that we’re going to take to the grave,” he said.
“Why?” he asked. Echoing responses from the room, Bailey said, “It’s expected of us… I don’t trust you… you’re not my safe space… I can’t let my family know.” Then, drawing some laughter, he added that, meanwhile, inside, “I desire to cry with great snot balls.”
BCM/D Church Strengthening Consultant Victor Kirk, leading a session on building friendships and brotherhood, emphasized the benefits of sharing burdens with other Godly men—some who can pray for you and others who may offer wisdom from their own past experiences.
Jeremy Dickson (l) moderated a panel with (l-r) Ronny Martin, Larry Davis, Alejandro Molero, and Dan Hyun. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Baptist Collegiate Minister and U.S. Naval Academy chaplain Justin Woods, leading “Reaching the Next Generation of Men,” said one of the most important ways of reaching young men is ministering with them, not to them. “It’s the difference between colleagues and projects,” he said. “When you’re colleagues, you can charge hell together.”
Other breakout sessions addressed physical health, purpose, peacemaking, renewal, marketplace ministry, reclaiming one’s story and developing a devotional life.
A new panel discussion brought together men from diverse ethnic backgrounds and ministry contexts: Ronnie Martin, Larry Anderson, BCM/D Hispanic Church Strengthening Consultant Alejandro Molero, and BCM/D Director of Formation and Health Dan Hyun. Dickson moderated as panelists spoke candidly on a variety of issues.
Asked about distractions to mission, Molero said screen time is a major challenge for men, including himself. “It’s not only the phone—it’s the computer… even the Apple Watch… everything through a screen that can distract us from real life.”
He said screens should be tools, not replacements for spiritual life.
Men at Refueled reconnected with old friends and made new ones, and in some cases, discussed church partnerships. (Photo by Sharon Mage)
Martin added that sports, hobbies and entertainment can also become distractions when elevated beyond their proper place.
On living “on fire,” Hyun pointed to private faithfulness. “Being on fire publicly has to start with quiet things in your private life… committing to disciplines… even when no one sees.”
Anderson added, “Being on fire… is daily pursuing the holiness of God… reaching the lost and discipling the found.”
During the final plenary session, Anderson focused on faith and mission. Referencing biblical examples, he said, “Sight says I’ll move when I know where I’m going… but faith says I’ll go because God said, ‘Go.’”
He challenged men to return to discipleship. “If each man decided, ‘I’m going to pour my life into somebody else,’ it would change their life… our church… our community and possibly our world.”
“Don’t allow your faith to be limited by your sight… Say, ‘Lord, here am I. Send me.’”
Larry Anderson told men, “Sight says I’ll move when I know where I’m going, but faith says I’ll go because God said ‘go’.” (By Sharon Mager)
Hyun closed the conference by calling men forward for prayer, rededication and to answer the call, “Send me.”
Dickson said, “Refueled 2026 was a strong day overall. We saw meaningful engagement from start to finish, and the feedback has been very consistent and encouraging.”
Cresthill Church Pastor Jimmy Painter, an attendee, said, “The conference was, in a word, powerful — powerful worship, powerful preaching, powerful fellowship — empowering men to be the powerfully empowered men Christ calls us to be.”
BCM/D Executive Director Tom Stolle said, “It was inspiring to see approximately 500 men gather to praise God, fellowship, build relationships and seek to be more equipped. Seeing God move in the hearts of the men during prayer was phenomenal. Personally, I was challenged and encouraged. I can’t wait for Refueled 2027.”
Visit our website to learn how the BCM/D can equip and resource your church to make disciples.
Feature photo shows Dan Hyun leading a time of commitment and prayer. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D content & stories editor