Men Under Construction: ‘God wants to fix us up so we can be used by him’

by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org

OVERLAND PARK — The name of the conference he was addressing at Church of the Ascension here on March 8, thought speaker Keith Nester, couldn’t have been more appropriate: Men Under Construction.

“We’re all fixer-uppers,” said Nester, executive director of Down to Earth Ministries, to the 600 men in attendance. “God wants to fix us up so we can be used by him to go into the world and preach his Gospel to every creature.

“That’s why we’re being fixed up. It’s not about us, but about what God wants to do through us.”

A Protestant convert, Nester spent years as a pastor and felt burdened at times by feeling the need to perform during his sermons. He felt like he was the most important person in the room, which is the opposite of what the Catholic Mass is about.

“The Mass is heaven on earth,” Nester said. “The focus is on the literal presence of Jesus and not on a human’s ability to capture attention or entertain.”

After Nester’s address, attendees spread out across six breakout sessions. One of the session leaders was Chuck Jansen, who presented on “Operation Windshield,” which focuses on the healing power of forgiveness.

“All relationships walk through the door of forgiveness,” Jansen said. “So, it’s best to understand some things about forgiveness. ‘Operation Windshield’ is about getting people to quit looking in the rearview mirror and help them to move on.”

Another breakout session leader was Brian Jacobson, who noted that Men Under Construction is a good way for men to build a deeper connection with Jesus.

“Men are craving brotherhood and authentic masculine friendship,” Jacobson said. “They are craving going deeper with the faith and a relationship with Jesus. That is truly what we are made for, and I think this conference provides the opportunity for them to get those needs met.”

The breakout sessions were a new addition this year, and Men Under Construction president Russ Engel said they were added in response to participant feedback.

“One of the pieces of feedback that we got on a regular basis was [the desire] for more opportunities for small group discussions,” Engel said. “This year, we developed the idea to bring in some speakers and break into smaller groups where people could have those discussions.”

The participants were then able to enjoy lunch and receive the sacrament of reconciliation  before the event’s second speaker began the afternoon session.

Jon Leonetti, a nationally recognized Catholic speaker, bestselling author and radio host, spoke primarily on what should be the one goal of all Catholics: to become a saint.

“What I am not telling you to seek is to become a canonized saint, which are those men, women and children in stained-glass around us,” Leonetti said. “The church’s definition of a saint is anyone in heaven. So if you want to be in heaven someday, there is no other meaning or purpose to life than to become a saint.”

He also noted that the most important thing we can do as humans is to pray and to make sure we are making time for that daily.

“If you want to be a saint, you need to will it,” Leonetti said. “Give God permission to work in your life by showing up and praying. There’s nothing more important in this life [that] you will ever do.

“You make time to eat every day. Food to the body is prayer to the soul. If we don’t eat, our bodies wither and die. If we don’t pray, our souls wither and die.”

 “God created us to become saints and be with him in heaven for all eternity,” continued Leonetti. “And to do that, we need to begin or renew our lives of prayer.”

The day concluded with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann. During his homily, he talked about the role of men as leaders and fathers.

“I always love this Men Under Construction event and it’s edifying to see so many men taking advantage of it,” Archbishop Naumann said. “Men are called to be leaders within the family and the church community, and you are called to live out your vocation of being a man of God and a man of faith.

“As a spiritual father, my vocation is to be willing to bear any sacrifice for the good of those entrusted to my care. I think it’s beautiful that we gather to hear the Lord’s call to be his disciple and to be a witness of Christ in the world today.”

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