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Keeping The Las Vegas Valley Informed
Founded In December 2003
December - 2003 Vol. 1, Num. 1
Secretary/Editor: George A. Bryant - 2375 E. Tropicana Ave. #8 PMB 349, Las Vegas, NV 89119 - 702.798.4123
CORRECTIONS: Please send corrections to the Editor above
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DISCLAIMER: The BMF Las Vegas Newsletter is an open forum newsletter. It is intended as an information source for all who are members of Business Men's Fellowship. |
t was around the third week in November, 2003 that I met Bill Shuck. One evening, while I was working at the radio station for another employee, I received a phone call from Bill. He was looking for someone to fellowship with while he was in Las Vegas. When he mentioned that he was a member of the Business Men's Fellowship I shared my past membership with him
We met the next morning for breakfast and a time of sharing. I told Bill that I had been praying for direction from God for two years to start a chapter, again, here in Las Vegas. Bill encouraged me to consider that now may be the time and he would make a few phone calls for me to the directors for this area.
That evening I received a call from the BMF USA President Ronny Svenhard who also encouraged me to start a chapter. He said he would have Bill Keith, National Director, and Chuck Evans, BMF CEO get in touch with me. The next day I heard from both of them and I believed it was a sign from God that now is the time to move forward.
A week later I heard from Bill Shuck again and we once more met for breakfast. He told me he and his wife had stayed over for another week and thought we should meet.
"Bill, I am so excited about what is happening" I blurted out as I couldn't wait to tell him. "God is really moving and I am going to commit to this right now. I want you to agree with me in prayer that The Lord will guide me and send men who will commit to the vision." We bowed our heads and prayed for Gods' Hand to protect and lead me.
he next week I had a meeting with Fred Hodges the manager of the radio where I worked. "Fred I want to start a program for the Business Men's Fellowship. I was wondering if my old time slot was still available?" I hosted The Helping Hands Hour for over a year but had to stop the program because of a lack of financial support. The 4 - 5 PM time slot followed The Bible Answer Man so we should have a good listening audience as many people were traveling.
I decided to start the next Friday as I wanted to find a place for us to meet for breakfast. The next day I checked out a few meeting places but to no avail. Finally The Lord suggested that I go to the Best Western Madi Gras Inn where we used to meet. I talked with the manager and his assistant and they were very cooperative.
he first radio show with Bill Keith as my guest. Bill explained about the vision and encouraged men to meet with me for more information. Bill also shared a few testimonies. My main theme was to explain the vision and encourage men to meet with me.
Even though I didn't receive any phone calls I knew that people were listening. If I had learned anything from my previous show it was very few callers but many listeners. It is a real walk in faith to continue on the air and not knowing if you were reaching anyone. But that is The Lords work not mine.
he first breakfast meeting. I arrived at the Best Western Madri Gras Inn at 6:45 AM and seated myself at a table that was pre set for the meeting. I explained to the waiter, Tom, I didn't know how many would show up as I had just made the announcement last evening.
I put my sign in the menu holder where anyone could se it and placed some Answer magazines and mini-tracts on the table and ordered a cup of coffee. The room where we were set up could seat about 75 people at the tables and 15 at the bar. There were a few people seated at the bar and about three tables were occupied with restaurant patrons.
I thought to myself, "I must be in the right place. A couple of prostitutes and a few men nursing a drink at the bar; or was it a hangover? It seemed that Jesus spent a lot of time in places like this. I wonder if my sitting here is like a light shining out in the darkness?"
I ordered breakfast and made a few phone calls. After I finished eating it was around 8:15 and I decided no one would be showing up so I left. At least the BMF Las Vegas had its' first meeting.
he 2nd Radio Show with your host and editor Chaplain George Bryant; Buz Swyers, the editor of Answer Magazine, was to be my guest but he had to cancel until next week.
I talked more about what the Fellowship has meant to me over the years and encouraged men to meet with me for breakfast.
he 2nd breakfast. I arrived again at 6:45 and this time I sat at a table next to the entrance. I again put up my sign and set out some magazines and tracts. When I finished my breakfast I engaged in a conversation with a man seated at the table behind me. I gave him an Answer Magazine and we talked about the time I spent as a prison Chaplain.
I was about to explain to him the Business Men's Fellowship when another man joined him for a business meeting. That ended our conversation and I left the restaurant.