By Clyde Wollenberg
The Men’s Good Friday Breakfast, a tradition that began on Good Friday 1976, will be held on Good Friday from 6:30-7:45 at the Family Life Center of the Clay Center United Methodist Church.
The speaker for this year’s 50th anniversary event will be Drew Reding, who served the First Presbyterian Church and the Idana Presbyterian Church from 2012-2019 as a Youth Director and Associate Pastor.
The original Men’s Good Friday Breakfast was a vision shared by a small group of men from various Clay Center churches. Included in that group were Charles Gray, Wade Bauer, Leo Chapman, Lloyd Starkweather and Wayne Ryan.
Their vision, organization and financial support, gave birth to this continuing Good Friday event. Through the years, 34 men from Clay Center churches have served as members of the committee to carry on the vision of the original group.
The current committee consists of 15 men all of whom have served with 10-35 years of planning, organizing and providing financial support.
The passage of 50 years has brought about some changes. Originally, the men did the cooking and serving of the breakfast, but for many years now the food is catered and the men enjoy simply serving up a plate for anyone who attends. The event was originally held at the Elks Club dining room, then was moved to the Catholic Parish Center in 1993, and this year has been moved to the UMC Family Life Center. The expenses have increased, which has resulted in increasing the number of men serving on the committee.
The purpose of providing the Men’s Good Friday Breakfast is one thing that has not changed with the passage of time: to encourage men and boys to gather for the sharing of a meal, for Christian fellowship, and to provide a message that reminds attendees of God’s great love for each of them. It is also a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for mankind.
Drew Reding, “Pastor Drew,” guest speaker, has served as the Pastor of Grace Community Fellowship, in Ottawa, Kansas, since leaving Clay Center in 2019.
He attended college at Pittsburg State, earned a master’s degree in Youth and Family Ministry from Denver Seminary and a Master’s of Divinity from Bethel Seminary.
Pastor Drew states that he grew up in a Christian home, but recalls that his faith did not become personal or real until after his time of attending Pittsburg State.
He shared that his involvement in a mission trip which involved passing out food on the streets of Chicago changed things for him.
During this experience he recalls coming to believe that God could love even someone like himself and that his faith became personal. This mission experience led him into parachurch ministry working with high risk and homeless youth, including ministry in San Francisco, California and Olympia, Washington.
While attending Seminary, Drew began to feel that God was calling him to ministry in the church, which he stated resulted in his coming to Clay Center.
While doing youth ministry within the Clay Center and Idana Presbyterian congregations, He witnessed youth placing their faith and trust in Jesus, which led him to pursue ordination as a Pastor.
“Our favorite part of Clay Center, was the people. Celisa and I both have countless stories of times where people made us feel like family, went out of their way to show us kindness, and made us feel loved and appreciated,” he said.
The title of Pastor Drew’s Good Friday message is “Lament and Joy.”
Dr. Tim Penner will provide music. Men and boys of the community are welcome and encouraged to join from 6:30-7:45 at the UMC Family Life Center.
