Bishop's Blog
King of the Castle
May 27th, 2009According to a recent report, the recession overall has hit men much harder than women, with four out of every five jobs lost being held by a male worker.
African-American men lead the unemployment surge, with an unemployment rate of 15.4 percent. More than one-third of young black men ages 16 to 19 in the labor market are unemployed. In fact, a recent report found that 8 percent of black men have lost their jobs since November 2007.
With so many men of all cultures—African American, Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian—losing their jobs, many have also lost their sense of self.
For generations, men have been judged on how well they provide for their families, and how well they take care of them. Their identities have been intricately woven into and forever linked with the job they perform from 8 to 5 each day. Their value, their place as the head of the household, and the king of the castle, are all connected to the paycheck they bring home each week.
Now, for many, that paycheck is gone and employment opportunities are scarce. Men are fighting for a sense of belonging, a sense of feeling needed, and a sense of, “I am still a man.”
The recession, while brutal on those who have gone months, some years, without a job, is equally as challenging on those who remain gainfully employed in the workplace.
For those who still have a job, the ever present fear of losing that job and the anxiety that comes from constantly wondering, “Is today the day?” can be overbearing and too much to handle.
For others, it is the guilt of watching their good friends lose everything—their homes, their cars, their families—due to the loss of employment, while they themselves are somehow still maintaining and still surviving.
Thomas Paine once wrote, “The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.” Never before in our history has that saying been put to the test on such a regular basis. The answer, my brothers, is simple—faith.
Faith to know that the sun will rise, the rain will stop, the pain will go away, and God, our God, has not left you or forsaken you. He is here for you, and He will uplift you.
You are not your job or your paycheck, you are so much more. You are a strong, resourceful, resilient man, and like those who have struggled before you, you will not only survive, but you will flourish!
As a matter of fact, from June 25 – 27, right here at The Potter’s House church in Dallas, Texas, I will be hosting Manpower, our men’s conference.
We will delve into many of the areas that I touched on in the above text, and many other topics as well. My hope and prayer for this conference is that it will be a safe place for warriors to heal and get back on the battle field no matter what your fight might be.
Space will be limited to first-come, first-served and there is no registration fee required so that men who lack the resources can still have the opportunity to participate in this life-changing event. Of course I would love for the men reading this to come. It is a men’s event. But what I really want from you today is for you to share tips on subjects you think men need help sorting through, such as tips for success. When responding, if you could share your gender as well, that would be great so that I can get a better understanding of your perspective. In other words, I want to hear from the sisters as well!
Maybe I can share some clips after the event for those who can’t come.
Those of you who are believers, please pray for its success.
In the meantime, stay strong my brothers, stay strong.
Blessings,
Bishop Jakes
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