ARUSHA, TANZANIA

FRIDAY MORNING MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

Location: Arusha, Tanzania
Meeting time: 7:00 a.m.
Contact: Emmanuel Lazier

WHAT IS FRIDAY MORNING MEN’S FELLOWSHIP?

When four men gathered for breakfast on a Friday morning in 1982, they had no idea what they were starting. The goal was to get to know one another, and discuss how to lead better in marriage, home and the workplace. They determined to find lessons in leadership from the greatest leader of all time—Jesus Christ. The Bible contains teaching on family and marriage, history and major events, prophets and kings, failure and redemption. It is the best source for leadership lessons, with faith as the foundation.

The group quickly grew. The Friday meetings began to include a short leadership talk, followed by time around the table. One table grew to several, and then dozens. A small corner booth became a fellowship that eventually took up the whole restaurant.

Men at the tables were comfortable enough to open up. They talked about challenges in life and work. Troubles in business. Marriages that were on the brink of ending. Difficulties raising kids. Succcesses in one area that masked deep failures in another. Older men shared wisdom and experience with the younger. Friendships deepened. When a man had a crisis, his group was there to offer support, prayer and real help.

Year by year, men were expanding in their faith and in their capacity to lead. Stories multipled. One man whose life was truly changed. And then another. And then scores. The central theme of them was the same. They had found a group of men that really meant something to them. A group that was authentic, self-sacrificing, willing to help. Always honest. Real.

One Friday Morning Men’s Fellowship grew to several. Men stayed with it so long that they began to bring their adult sons on Fridays. And employees. And friends in the community. When the pandemic came, the men kept meeting online. Today the fellowships meet in multiple locations, and a live-stream talk is available for those who can’t make it in-person. Several groups are hybrid with in-person and online attendees. But through 40 years, the theme has never changed. We are still equipping men to lead in marriage, in the home, in the workplace, and community.