Mighty Men Conference

{{Short description|Gathering of Christian men, 2004 to 2010}}

{{Infobox recurring event

| name = Mighty Men Conference

| image = Angus Buchan, Mighty Men, 2010, b.jpg

| caption = Angus Buchan preaching at MMC 2010

}}

The Mighty Men Conference, organised by Shalom Trust of South Africa, was an annual gathering of Christian men and boys which ran from 2004{{cite book|last1=Buchan|first1=Angus|title=The Mighty Men Journey|date=2012|publisher=Christian Art Publishers|location=Vereeniging|isbn=978-1-4321-0247-0|page=Preface|url=http://samples.sainsburysebooks.co.uk/9781432103699_sample_1076750.pdf|accessdate=18 September 2015}} to 2010.{{cite news|last1=Khumalo|first1=Nonku|title=Curtain falls on Mighty Men sermons|url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2010/04/19/curtain-falls-on-mighty-men-sermons|accessdate=18 September 2015|publisher=Times Live|date=19 April 2010}} The Conference included camping outdoors and preaching by Angus Buchan.{{cite news|last1=Kunerth|first1=Jeff|title=Christian groups duke it out in 'Mighty Men' lawsuit|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-mighty-men-trademark-lawsuit-20140826-story.html|accessdate=18 September 2015|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=26 August 2014}}

South African farmer Angus Buchan began the conference in 2004, with reports of attendees varying from a few dozen{{cite news|title=Mighty Men USA Christian Conference Debut Plans For 10,000|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mighty-men-usa-christian-conference-debut-plans-for-10000-202555151.html|accessdate=18 September 2015|publisher=PR Newswire|date=11 April 2013}} to 240.{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Myrtle|title=Farmer makes miracles|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/farmer-makes-miracles-398154|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306135050/http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/farmer-makes-miracles-398154|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|accessdate=8 July 2019|publisher=IOL|date=28 April 2008}} The number of attendees grew rapidly, with numbers reportedly rising to 600 in 2005 to 1060 in 2006, 7,400 in 2007 and 60,000 in 2008. The final national event in 2010 was attended by up to 300,000 men and boys. Mighty Men Conferences have continued around South Africa and the world, however these are no longer one central conference organised by the Shalom Trust.{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.mightymen.co.za/about-us/|website=Mighty Men Conference Central South Africa|accessdate=18 September 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=Efrem|title=Tenn. Arena Packed for 'Mighty Men' Conference|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/May/Tenn-Arena-Packed-for-Historic-Mighty-Men-Conference/|accessdate=18 September 2015|publisher=CBN News|date=6 May 2013}}

In 2014, Mighty Men of God, Inc, a Christian organization from Orlando, Florida brought a lawsuit against Angus Buchan and World Outreach Church of Murfreesboro Tennessee, Incorporated for using the name "Mighty Men" in the United States, which it had trademarked in 2004. In April 2015 United States District Judge Carlos Eduardo Mendoza denied a motion to dismiss the case from Buchan and the World Outreach Church.{{cite web|title=Mighty Men of God, Inc. v. World Outreach Church of Murfreesboro Tennessee, Incorporated et al, No. 6:2014cv00947|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/florida/flmdce/6:2014cv00947/298856/32/|website=Justicia US Law|publisher=Justicia|accessdate=18 September 2015}}