A former Atlanta Braves player, a national men’s speaker and others will come to Andalusia in the coming weeks for the third annual Iron Works Men of Steel Conference.

The event will be held Aug. 11-12 at the Covington Arena.

Mark Perry, an organizer of the conference, called it another opportunity for men to gather together, hang out together, worship together and hear the Word of God.

“It’s not just for men,” he said. “We have had some women who have come. We know we have a lot of them who help us.”

Sid Bream is a former major league baseball player who spent some of his career playing for the Atlanta Braves.

He is a corporate chaplain.

Also speaking is Dr. Crawford Loritts of Fellowship Bible Church.

Loritts has traveled throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Asia, Canada, South America, Africa and parts of Europe preaching in churches, evangelistic outreaches, conferences, in colleges and seminaries. He has also been the featured speaker at Super Bowls, NCAA Final Four Chapel, and the Pentagon with senior military officers.

John Ed Mathison will also be a speaker.

When Mathison retired in June 2008 after 36 years of serving as the senior minister of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church, several friends prayed with him about his next stage of ministry. Out of these prayerful conversations came the formation of a non-profit ministry designated as the John Ed Mathison Leadership Ministries.

There will also be worship with Matt Papa.

Perry said the conference will be set up like the past two years.

There will be a tailgate party on Aug. 11.

“We will be in the covered area beginning at 5,” Perry said. “Bring your grills, guys from work, guys from church and bring you some meat and drinks.”

Tickets are on sale now for $25 each, but can be purchased at the door.

Last year some 1,800 people attended the event on Friday evening.

“I hope we have that many people this year,” he said. “It is neat to see what God has done. We are looking forward to it.”

Perry said they are also asking for donations and $500 sponsorships.

“We’ll take anything,” he said.

Additionally, volunteers are need Friday morning of the conference to set up from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

“And we’ll need help tearing everything down on Saturday.”