PORTLAND – The third annual “Men On Fire” conference will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 9 and 10, at the Holiday Inn West. This year’s theme is “More MenGreater ImpactMore Fire!”

Registration is $30. There is also a scholarship program in place to help those who need it. There are three ways to register: Go to www.men-on-fire.org and click on the registration tab at the top of the home page; call 539-2295 and ask Henry or Hanson; or send a check with a note including name, address, phone number and e-mail address. Make all checks payable to Men On Fire. Mail them to Men On Fire, 109 Schoolhouse Road, Oxford, ME 04270.

Two and a half years ago, evangelists Ralph Knight and Rick Kimball approached the pastors of their church in Oxford with an idea. They had a vision for a men’s conference to be held annually in Maine. The goal was to get men of all ages together for equipping and building up in the Christian faith.

By putting together a gathering featuring a music ministry tailored to men, preaching and teaching, hands-on prayer ministry and a lunch, the two believed that something great would start. Their pastors, Dallas E. Henry and Eric J. Hanson, agreed and planning began for the first conference, which took place in 2005 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Lewiston.

Two other area pastors joined to help with the next event: Pastor John Eckhardt of the Topsham area, and Pastor Robert Beaumier of Auburn. Quarterly breakfasts were added after the second conference. Plans are already under way for breakfast events in several cities throughout 2007.