Dinner features a message for men

Men of all ages are invited to a steak and crab dinner fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. March 3 at Capital Christian Center with special guest U.S. Army Col. Mark D. Harris, M.D. Harris is the director of clinical and business operations at the Joint Task Force National Capital Medicine in Bethesda, Md., which includes all military medical facilities in the region of the nation's capital. He has also served in the War on Terrorism, is a Bronze Star recipient and has a top secret security clearance.Harris will be interviewed by Dr. Stanley Friend, senior pastor of the church, with a focus on how to be better husbands, fathers, members of the community and workers despite the challenges of this modern world. Jeff Love, director of Men's Ministries at the church and organizer of the dinner made connections with Harris through the colonel's brother, a friend of Love's.“One of my personal goals is to cross all barriers with men,” Love said. “This event does just that.”The sixth annual all-you-can-eat dinner is a fundraiser for the church's scholarship fund. Carson-area merchants have donated more than $12,000 worth of raffle prizes for the fund.“We make money on delivering really cool raffle prizes,” Love said.Over its first five years, the event has raised more than $23,000 for scholarships, awarded in amounts from $500 to $2,000. To qualify, applicants write essays on what they plan on doing with their life.Interest in the annual steak and crab dinner has grown substantially from a first year gathering of 78 to 437 men and boys last year from throughout the Carson City community. Only 40 percent of those attending in 2012 were members of Capital Christian Center, Love said.While the food is a big attraction for the men, the caliber of special guests also brings many to the event.The colonel's experience leading thousands of men as an officer, doctor and Christian gives him a solid foundation to offer advice, Love said.In the midst of an active medical and military career, Harris also has found time to earn a master of business administration, master of public health, and master of divinity degrees, and earn a pilot's license. He teaches medicine, has authored numerous medical papers on topics ranging from bioterrorism to sports medicine, worked as the Army medical ambassador with the Center for Disease Control on disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and worked with the Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on issues facing military families.There are only 500 tickets available. Tickets cost $25 for men and $15 ages 12 and younger. Tables of eight are available for $175. To purchase tickets, go to the church website at www.thecenter.cc. Click on “Celebrate” and then “Event.” Or call 884-1661. The church is located at 1600 Snyder Ave. “The event is for the men of our community,” Love said. “It is a great time for men of Northern Nevada to gather, hang out, eat top-notched food and have a chance at one of the raffle prizes.”