Brent Henderson To Speak At Sportsman Banquet

Whether recounting stories of catching black mambas by hand or surviving a shipwreck off the Alaskan coast, outdoorsman, author, and Christian musician Brent Henderson has one goal for his audiences. "They are listening to more than great outdoor stories," said Henderson. "(Because) there's a relationship (they) can have with the One who made it all."

Henderson will share his stories with attendees of the Restart Training Center Ministry's (RTCM) eighth annual sportsman dinner on Tuesday, March 21, and Wednesday, March 22, at Shady Maple Banquet Hall, 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and the meal will be served at 5:30 p.m. RTCM is an organization that strives to help men who have developed addictions as a means of coping with difficulties.

Originally from Bethlehem, Pa., Henderson worked in a steel mill following high school leaving town to attend college in 1981, but instead venturing into Christian contemporary music. "I met a guy named Steven Curtis Chapman, and he and I traveled for a while," recalled Henderson, who later played with artists Sandi Patty and Crystal Lewis and the group Avalon. In 2002, he became the worship leader and ministry pastor with an organization in Meadville. "God moved me into speaking full time to men," said Henderson, who credited God with mixing his passion for men's ministry with his love for the outdoors in his talks. "It was the perfect fit." In that capacity, he likes to bring audience members to the edges of their seats. "I have hunted everywhere from Africa to Alaska," noted Henderson. "I've had a lot of crazy experiences." Among those are a brown bear attack and being stranded in the mountains when the flight back was delayed by bad weather. "(The stories) always lead back to God's faithfulness and care," shared Henderson. Henderson is the author of "Into the Wilds" and "The Roar Within."

Jaime Santiago, founder and executive director of RTCM, said that Henderson was recommended by Don Higgins, who spoke at a previous sports banquet. In addition to hearing Henderson's talk, attendees may bid on items in a live auction or purchase tickets for giveaways. Live auction items will include a cabin getaway, a 6-by-6-foot octagon ground blind, a Puerto Rican meal for up to 10 people, a deep-sea fishing trip, and tickets to a men's retreat being presented by Henderson. Ticket auction items include an in-line muzzleloader, a Ravin R26X crossbow, and a Weber grill. Grand prizes will be a Mathews bow and a Wicked Ridge Raider 400 De-Cock.

Tickets, which are necessary to attend the banquet, will be discounted through Tuesday, Feb. 28. To purchase tickets, please call 717-304-3291 or email officemanager@restartministry.org.