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Men’s Conference

May 3-5, 2024

“The Sunday morning service was the best preaching I’ve heard at Mo!”

-Participant of Men's Conference

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20172018 |  2019 | 2021 | 2022

This conference is a retreat for men of all ages to come together and build connections through fun outdoor activities and worship!

 
 

71st Annual Men’s Conference

What Is Men’s Conference?

Men’s Conference is a God-filled weekend in the wide-open spaces of the Texas Hill Country along the banks of the Guadalupe River at Mo-Ranch. This is our single largest and longest-running conference where hundreds of men from all ages gather together annually for fellowship and spiritual renewal.

What Will We Do?

Conference activities will include keynote presentations, worship, song, relaxation and recreation. Workshop courses will be offered covering a wide variety of educational and spiritual topics through five primary categories: Bible study, church, mission, personal development and social issues. Other course opportunities will be available that include a chance to learn new skills, indoors or outdoors. During Saturday afternoon, optional free time activities include kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, swimming, ropes course, rappelling off the catwalk, fishing, washer pitchin’, sports activities and more!

Who Can Come?

All generations, men from 13 years and up. Ages 13-17 require an accompanying adult registration.

Conference Vision

The Men’s Conference at Mo-Ranch is a gathering of men who on a weekend meet to worship together in Word, song and Sacrament. United in their bond with the Lord and moved by His Spirit, they engage in fellowship, study, recreation and ministry to each other. Through the gifts of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, they receive renewed strength to go forth and live daily, sharing the love of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, through words, deeds and activities.

Conference Goals

  • Inspire the participants of this conference to reach beyond the manmade barriers of this world and share the love, understanding and joy of Jesus Christ.
  • Provide an opportunity for each man at the conference to experience the presence of God in his life.
  • To find it in ourselves to be open to finding ways to enrich our personal lives through establishing closer bonds among ourselves (men, fathers and sons/sons-in-law) using our faithfulness as a base.
  • Provide instructive workshops for spiritual development, daily living, personal and congregational ministry.
  • Encourage the men in the conference to minister to each other and learn from one another.
  • Create an atmosphere for each man to have a joyful weekend at the conference.
  • Increase the number of men of all ages whose lives are enriched by the conference.
  • Inspire men to go forward as ambassadors for the ministry of Mo-Ranch.

Don’t miss an unforgettable weekend to grow in your faith with God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Click here to listen to the 2019 Men’s Conference session recordings.

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Nathan Carlin

The Reverend Dr. Nathan Carlin is the Director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston). Dr. Carlin holds the Samuel Karff Chair and the rank of Professor.

At McGovern Medical School, Dr. Carlin was elected as Chair of the Faculty Senate for 2018-2019, and has an appointment in the Department of Psychiatry. At the UTHealth School of Dentistry, Dr. Carlin co-directs the Clinical Humanities Certificate Program for dental students.

Dr. Carlin’s teaching interests include pathography, physician-writing (especially the fiction of Samuel Shem), mental illness, death and dying, and other topics in medical humanities.

Dr. Carlin has published 9 books, and, in recent years, the focus of his writing has been oriented towards developing core texts for medical humanities. Some sample texts in this regard include Medical Humanities: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press); Teaching Health Humanities (Oxford University Press); Contemporary-Physician Authors: Exploring the Insights of Doctors Who Write (Routledge); and Pathographies of Mental Illness (Cambridge University Press). Currently, Dr. Carlin is writing a monograph (under contract with Oxford University Press) on medicine and secularization.

 

Worship Leader: Omar Rouchon

Omar studied political science as an undergraduate, and spent five years teaching math and science before answering a call to ministry — a call he first experienced as a teenager. Deeply interested in an array of diversity and multi-faith engagement, Omar pursued his theological studies at Harvard Divinity School.

Omar holds a B.A. from Yale and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Houston. In 2015, he received the Master of Divinity from Harvard and began serving at St. Philip.

Education and spiritual formation are two of Omar’s greatest interests and he is grateful to be in ministry with the children and families of the St. Philip community. Omar strives to make the love of God known to all God’s children of all ages, and help support the development of inquisitive, thoughtful, and compassionate disciples.

 

Music Leader: Josh Young

Joshua Young is the Associate Pastor of Connections at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, where he previously served as the Director of Student Ministries and then as the Director of Worship and Music Ministries. Josh also leads music for CLPC’s Sunday Night Worship service. He received his Master of Divinity degree in Worship, Theology and the Arts from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA where he met his wife Rachel (also an Associate Pastor at CLPC).  In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, listening to music, reading books, and playing baseball with his son Ezekiel.  Josh’s desire is to see people passionately partnering with one another in participation with God’s mission in the world. Josh has previously served as the music leader for the Youth Celebration and the Intercultural Youth Conferences at Mo-Ranch and is looking forward to another weekend of rest and respite at this years’ Men’s Conference.

 

 

Chaplain: Rev. Shane Webb

 Shane is a kilt-wearing, beer-loving, pastor at Woodhaven Presbyterian Church. He is a Houston native   (go Astros!) and previously served a church in East Texas (Mount Pleasant) before coming to Irving.     Shane and his wife, Sarah, served in Lima, Peru as missionaries with the Young Adult Volunteer   program. Shane is also a Spanish-speaking, salsa-dancing, soccer-playing, empanada-eating enthusiast   of Latin American culture. He is the proud father of a son, a daughter, a cat, a dog, and usually an exchange student.

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Study Leader: Rev. Dr. Bob Crilley

The Reverend Dr. Bob Crilley is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Grapevine, Texas, where he has served since May of 1993.  He and his wife, Judy, who is a chaplain at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, have three adult daughters, who live around the world—literally—one in Chicago, one in Copenhagen, and one in Seoul.  Bob enjoys listening to the Beatles, reading John Updike, and watching Laurel and Hardy movies.  He is a graduate of University of Michigan, Princeton Theological Seminary, McCormick Theological Seminary, and was recently awarded an honorary doctorate from Austin College.

 

 

 

2023 Men’s Council:

 

President: Marshall Nelson 

Marshall is the President of the Men’s Council for the 2023 Men’s Conference. He lives in San Antonio, TX with his wife Laurie. He is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church.  Recently retired, and he hopes to play more golf. He considers Mo-Ranch the best place on earth to relax, rebuild, meditate, and talk to God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vice President: Russell Richard

Russ lives in Dallas and is a member of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. Russ has been married to Julie for 26 years and they have 2 daughters and 1 son – all freshmen in college. So, they are learning the life of empty nesters. As a Pension Benefits System Analyst for Milliman (putting to good use his Math degree from Austin College), Russ enjoys music of all kinds – from Shostakovich to The Strokes, Mahler to The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and much in between. He treasures his years at Mo-Ranch and looks forward to many more.

 

 

 

Secretary: John Kusewitt

Currently President of 360 Consulting Services. Retired after 35+ years of law enforcement with experience in patrol, traffic, communications, emergency management, and special operations. Married to Paula, a retired elementary teacher, for 22 years. Live in Garland and members at FPC Mesquite. Serve in many capacities including Ruling Elder, and Safety Team Member. Currently serving on Mo-Ranch Men’s Council

 

 

 

 

 

Treasurer: Steve Flynn

Steve Flynn, AKA Flynn-Man, is in his 5th year of “an epic failed retirement!”  After 33 years with General Motors, Steve decided to turn the page to the next chapter in his life – and that is when the fun really began.  These days Steve finds himself busier than ever with church activities (Session Elder/Finance Ministry), finishing his Master’s Degree at Southern Methodist University in Dispute Resolution, and getting elected to Town Council.  In his spare time, he began his mediation practice called Flynn-Man Dispute Resolution Services, LLC, and has completed over 250 mediations.  Steve and his wife Teryl enjoy golf and travel and look forward to “seeing the world” – time permitting of course!  He loves Mo-Ranch and serving on the Men’s Council as Treasurer and continuing his faith journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Council Members for 2023 include Andy Phillips Jr., Ben Land, Rev. Christian Harrison, Clarence Greer, Dave Edling, James Taylor, Jeff Allen, Jimm Cooper, Martin Osae, Mike Miller, Randy Whipple, Raymond Clark, Rev. Travis Allen and William Harrison.

This year’s schedule is subject to change.

MC23 Schedule

 

Cost & Housing

Hotel/premium: $390
Wynne-Flato, Pheasant Run, Nicklos Place, Nicklos Barn, Westminster, Gate House, Chicken Roost, Braun House, Triplex Apartment

Group: $350
Guest Lodge, Milk Barn, Riverdorm Apartment

Dorm: $330
Log Lodge, Loma Linda, Riverdorm

Cabins: $285

Commuter: $250

Rates include tuition, meals and housing. After receiving your registration, a member of our team will contact you within seven business days to confirm additional details such as housing requests (roommates), dietary needs, t-shirt sizes, etc. 

Discounts

Participant under 40: $295.00/person Residence outside of Texas: $295.00/person NO child under the age of 13 may register, and ages 13-17 require an accompanying adult registration. All registration costs include a free conference T-shirt. An additional conference polo can be purchased for just $30 more during online registration. When registering online please note only limited housing is available for online registration. If you have questions, please give us a call. Registration form and payment may be mailed or faxed to the program office. Make checks payable to Mo-Ranch. Mo-Ranch Program Office Attn: Registrar 2229 FM 1340 Hunt, TX 78028 Fax: 830.238.4014

Scholarships are available! Click here to learn more.

For help or questions about registration, contact the registrar at registrar@moranch.org or call 800-460-4401 x 246.

Health Release Form

All participants are required to submit a Health & Release form upon arrival. Please bring a completed copy per participant on arrival; do not email it in advance.

Cancellation

Full refund minus administrative fee up to $75 per person will be made if cancellation is received more than 30 days prior to the conference. There are generally no refunds for cancellations received on or after 30 days prior to the start of the event nor any applying of the amount paid toward other charges or future conferences.

Arrival and Departure

Conference registration begins at 3 p.m. Friday.
The opening plenary will be at 7:00 p.m. Conference ends at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

What to Bring

Bring a Bible, notebook, flashlight and rain gear. Linens are provided. Bring shoes suitable for Mo-Ranch’s rocky, uneven terrain.

Transportation

Mo-Ranch is 90 miles one-way, or a 2-hour drive from the nearest airport (SAT), allow 3 hours travel/check-in time for departures. We recommend generally scheduling arriving flights before 3 p.m. and departing flights after 3 p.m. to be sure you do not miss any of your event.

If you are in need of shuttle service to Mo-Ranch, call Kars for Hire in Kerrville at (830) 890-8200 at least 15 days in advance to arrange transportation from San Antonio International Airport.

Click here for directions to Mo.

Ropes Course

This conference will include a selection of our ropes course elements. To read a description of each element, click here.

Bookstore

Make sure to stop by the Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly bookstore during your conference to pick out a souvenir, including a Men’s Conference t-shirt and hat!

Questions

We’re happy to help! Contact us at 1.800.460.4401 ext. 246 or registrar@moranch.org.

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