Sixteen East End churches are ignoring denominational borders in order to address the plight of Bermuda's men.

The East End Ministerial Churches, not as yet a formal organisation, are committed to reaching out to men across the island with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Its first event will be a special men's service to be held on September 30.

Entitled 'Men Being Equipped for God, Family and Community', the programme will begin at 4.30 p.m. and will encourage men to seek God's help and take their rightful place in society.

The service is the brainchild of church lay person Myron Brangman who saw a need to have the men of the church reach out to other men with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"I'm into the word, the Christian Word. It is something that the Lord led me to do,'' Mr. Brangman said.

The idea was well received by the pastors involved in East End Ministerial Churches.

''Many men have voids in their family and personal lives, so you see a decline of the family in Bermuda," Pastor Dean Smith of Open Doors Christian Assembly said .

"We are wanting to reach men whose families are broken and splintered,'' he said.

He added that the trend had already gone quite far and that the churches hoped to do some mending and "get the men of Bermuda back on track''.

''If men pull themselves together with the help of God the whole country will benefit,'' he said.

''We hope for great results . We want men to show up and find direction for their lives.''

Pastor Smith explained that the event had been advertised in many ways in order to reach as many men as possible.

''We sent flyers not only to the east end churches but to churches all over the island. We put up fliers in sports clubs and wherever men congregate.

"We also did it on an individual basis, passing out flyers to men who sit on the wall.''

He said it was hoped that the church would be ''full to overflowing''.

''New Testament Church of God can hold about 300. We plan to get about 150 chairs which will add to the pew space.

''We will occupy every available space in the church and hope to get 500 people or more if possible.''

The highlight of the service will be talks given by three pastors, who will each spend 20 minutes on different parts of the theme.

Reverend Wilber Lowe Jr. of Richard Allen AME church will speak on men's role in relation to the community.

Pastor Dwayne Wilson of St. George's Seventh Day Adventist church will talk about men's role in relation to God.

And Pastor Dean Smith will focus on men's role in relation to family.

The remaining pastors will be instrumental during other parts of the service.

The service will also include music given by a mass choir made up of men from all the churches involved.

The choir will be directed by two gifted musicians, Keith Lee of Open Door Christian Assembly and Richard Allen music director Conrad Roach.