Mission Valley Men's Advance Group honors Two Eagle River School

By Alyssa E. Kelly

On March 9, 2007 the Mission Valley Men's Advance group honored Clarice King of Two Eagle River School with an eagle award for allowing them to host their meetings in the school weekly free of charge. Several Men's Advance Group members attended the ceremony as well as Clarice and her supporting staff including Lewis McCloud and Dianne Taylor.

"We want to honor you for being a big support for us. We've been praying for you and this school at our meetings and we appreciate what you've done for us," said Mike McElderry, one of the leaders of the advance group. After the ceremony, Sika Ulutoa (a group member) finished with three cheers of blessing for the school, a Samoan custom of which he descends.

The Mission Valley Men's Advance group is a Christian support group exclusively for men of the Mission Valley. "Our goal is to help men with all men's problems and support them in their journey with their walk in God. We encourage men to be good fathers and positive leaders in the community. It's time for men to raise up as warriors, only it's a different kind of warriorship this day in age," McElderry explains. The group has been running for 3 years and meets weekly. They cover issues that are of concern to men ranging from sexual and mental topic, substance abuse, raising children, and even career; they teach the men how to go about solving their issues through the Christian perspective.

Two Eagle River Schools' involvement with the Men's Advance group began when Clarice opened the building to host large church gatherings in the beginning of last April. Since then, the school opens early every Friday morning so that the group can meet with Pastor Chambers. They are appreciative of the school for allowing their meetings because they understand what a sacrifice it must be. "You know, there's no other kindness like you get from Indian country," says McElderry of the school's hospitality.

"A lot of guys feel like they don't want to be a part of a church thing because they feel it's not manly, but there are some strong men involved with our group," McElderry says referring to group member Sika Ulutoa. He is a Samoan member who runs the Zone program in Polson. The group has done several presentations throughout the Mission Valley to which they break objects using their own physical strength. Aside from their presentations they work with children and like the men's group, teach them how to go about solving their issues through the word of God. The group is welcome to anyone interested but practice a strong sense of no-tolerance. "Some of guys involved with our program have sons involved with Sika's group. We encourage men of our group to bring their sons to our meetings as well," adds McElderry.

The group has also prayed for several organizations throughout the community including the police department and the government, tribal, state and national alike. At one point, the group invited several members of the police force to attend a meeting in prayer. They have also hosted a three-day weekend of prayer in Bighorn, Montana.

Aside from the Two Eagle River School, several churches throughout the Mission Valley host the group. They have an 50 to a 100 members and it is open to grow. The group will be hosting a meeting at the Community Methodist Church in Ronan on Terrace Lake Road March 30, 2007. The meeting will begin at 7:00 P.M.

"I just want to encourage men of all ages to attend and see if we can help you," adds McElderry.

For more information, contact Joe Darlington at (406) 212-2203 or Mike McElderry at (406) 370-2602.