BOND Holds Successful First Annual Conference

BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of A New Destiny, hosted a successful First Annual Fatherhood and Men's Conference on Father's Day weekend at its headquarters in Los Angeles. This one-of-a kind men's forum featured an all-male panel discussion with top-notch experts, as well as a powerful workshop designed to equip attendees with the tools they need to be better men and understand their central role in society.

Men of all races, young and old, packed the BOND headquarters for an afternoon filled with honest and bold dialogue on topics such as What it Means to Be a Man; How To Overcome Anger; and the Value of Fathers and Their Role In the Family, and much more.

The event began with a panel discussion moderated by BOND Founder and President Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson. Panelists for this event included: Dr. Stephen Johnson, Founder and Director of the Men's Center of Los Angeles; Giacomo Knox, Independent Filmmaker and Director of "A Week With My Father"; and Wayne M. Levine, Author and Director of BetterMen.org.


Rev. Peterson began peppering the panelists with questions about what it means to be a man and how men can overcome issues of anger in order to have better lives and relationships.

One question in particular elicited much agreement from both the panelists and audience. Rev. Peterson asked if the men have noticed that when a male steps up and tries to be a real man, he's immediately attacked from all sides. Most of the men agreed and said that they've witnessed that first-hand.

Dr. Stephen Johnson, a clinical psychologist who has practiced in the suburbs of Los Angeles for more than 30 years, recounted how the modern men's movement was gaining momentum in the 80's and how he witnessed its demise.

Johnson recalled seeing leaders of men's organizations being ridiculed and mocked by the media and attacked by feminists and "feminized younger men." He said that the onslaught of attacks and parodies making a mockery of the tradional manly man literally drove the men's organizations into exile or wiped them out all together.

Panelists Giacomo Knox and Wayne Levine discussed their theories about the state of men and responded to questions posed by Rev. Peterson regarding how society has reached such a low point that according to a recent Pew Research study 41 percent of all American children are born to single mothers.

Knox talked about his journey to reconnect and rebuild his relationship with his father, which he's documented on film and has turned into a weekly series (www.aweekwithmyfather.com). He also expressed the value and importance of fathers and how reconnecting with his father has been a very positive and freeing experience.

Another topic that started a robust discussion was whether men should confide in and tell their wives and girlfriends their problems.

Rev. Peterson stated that men should never complain or seek answers to their problems from women. He explained that men should look to Christ to guide them. He added that a woman cannot respect a man who's constantly looking to her for approval and for direction. The panel discussion ended with a lively Q & A session with the audience.

After a brief lunch break it was time for the workshop part of the program. The men were intrigued and captivated by the topics discussed that afternoon on the panel and the workshop session did not disappoint.

The workshop began with Rev. Peterson telling his story of how he overcame the anger and rage that he had towards other people. He talked about hearing a Jewish minister on a local radio station in Los Angeles some twenty-one years ago. He heard the man say that in order to find God all one needs to do is to go into their "prayer closet" and "be quiet"—the minister explained a simple technique of being quiet and Rev. Peterson said that since that day he's been practicing being quiet and his life has not been the same.

Jesse explained how anger was holding him back in life and that once he understood what the source of his anger was, how it got inside him, and that he couldn't remove it himself—God set him free of that anger. He was now able to see clearly and had the insight to start BOND, to help other men find that same freedom.

Audience participation was a major part of the workshop. Rev. Peterson asked questions of the men as a group as well as individually, and the men were honest enough to open up about their issues.

A father and his son from Los Angeles discussed how they've been unable to repair their fractured relationship. The son, in his twenties, talked about his desire to be closer with his father, but he didn't know how to even have that conversation. The father admitted that he too wants to be closer to his son, but lacked the patience to listen to and hear what his son had to say. After the workshop both said they now understand how to begin the dialogue and improve their relationship.

This is just one of many examples of the men who opened up and talked about their issues and concerns regarding their lives and relationships with their families. There were adult men in the audience who wanted to repair their relationships with their parents—especially their fathers, but they just didn't know where or how to start.

The men in attendance said they were inspired by the message and the honest discussions that took place. Some said it was their first time attending this type of forum and they appreciated the information and fellowship. And all the men asked said they were going to put into practice what they learned and that they were looking forward to the next conference.

"This was truly a day of spiritual awakening for men," said Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson. "This conference was about rebuilding men and reminding them of their leadership role in the home and in their country. We will continue providing a venue for men to come together in complete honesty so they can learn how to overcome their challenges. The goal is to awaken men and turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers."

BOND, the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is "Rebuilding the Family by Rebuilding the Man." Contributions are tax-deductible to the amount allowable by law. We don't accept any government funds and rely solely on the generous contributions of our supporters to operate our programs and services. The Men's conference was free of charge and open to all men. If you like our work and want to support us, click here to make a tax-deductible donation today.

BOND is celebrating its 20-year anniversary on October 16, 2010. For more information about this event, please visit bondinfo.org. Rev. Peterson is also available for speaking engagements, for more information call (323) 556-2623.