Gospel recording artist Bryon Cage, Bishop Walter Scott Thomas, and producer/director Deron Cloud will be among featured performers and speakers at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church's International Men of War Conference, May 4-6.

The "Stand Up and Be Men!" conference is expected to attract more than 3,000 participants and focus on life skills for Christian men and the challenges they face when dealing with their faith, beliefs and women in different settings.

Cage who is the minister of music at Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, MA., will perform at 7 p.m. on May 4 and 5.

Thomas, pastor of the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, became a Bishop last summer. He grew his church from 200 members in 1975 to 7,000 today. He will speak on May 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Cloud, the producer, director and star of the one-man-stage play "The Boyfriend Girlfriend Thang" will speak on May 6 at 10 a.m.

He is the pastor of the Soul Factory ministry in Forestville and Waldorf Maryland, and the founder of the non-profit Sold Out Living Delivered In Everlasting Righteous Service (S.O.L.D.I.E.R.S) Outreach, that seeks to change lives in communities through drama, youth programs, seminars, television shows.

Cloud's play "The Boyfriend Girlfriend Thang" exposes the traps that women fall into when they get into bad relationships.

The Men of War conference opens at 7 p.m. on May 4 and New Birth senior Bishop and pastor, Eddie L. Long is conference host. On both day two and three, sessions will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and evening events begin at 7 p.m.

Conference registration is $30.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Lithonia. For more information, call 770-696-9600.