During a trip to the New England area several years ago, Jeff Kisiah, a frequent speaker at men’s events, observed a common scene from a ministry display table in a church foyer. He discovered this is the typical approach in the churches he had spoke at during a nationwide tour.
On the table were three baskets with brochures. As he looked at the three baskets he recognized that most churches tend to focus on three sub-groups in the church… Children, Youth, and Women. In the basket were brochures for the Children’s Minintry, the Youth Ministry, and the Women’s Ministry. But there was nothing for the Men’s Ministry.
While we definitely support discipleship efforts with children, youth, and women, and offer instruction about an “All-inclusive: ministry mindset. We are constantly having to raise the awareness level for reaching and discipling men.
When I review a church’s website, rarely do I find anything on the site regarding ministering to men. If I do, it is buried deep in the pages of the site and hard to find. Ministering to Men need to be VERY visable.
Let’s review some examples of situations where men are neglected. Remember the example of the church above that didn’t have a brochure for Men’s Ministry (probably because they didn’t really have one) is a clear example that men are not important to the church. Or the video I shared in my previous post about a church’s overall ministry and they did not discuss anything in regards to men. Churches that refuse to make annoucements from the platform on men’s activities because it only affects a small percentage of the church. Church leaders not talking about ministering to men and encouraging them to be a part of a growing movement of men in their church.
But then there are churches who take a different approach. Their men’s ministry leadership team is very visable on Sundays. They are meeting and greeting men as they arrive for church and personnally inviting them to a men’s activity. Signs and/or brochures are out for the men to pick up (maybe even for the wives to pickup and give to their husbands) about the ministry to men and upcoming activities. I know of church that has a TV dedicated to inform arriving men of future activities. A church’s website that has a banner button to discover what is happening in ministering to men on the front page right along with the children, youth, and hopefully the women. Church leaders are talking about upcoming events from the platform and inviting the men to join them on the quest.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, “How would men visiting our church finish this statement?” “Men are _______ here.” Would they say men are important here, are valued here, are needed here. Or would they say men are not important, they are a nuisance, they don’t care if I even attend.
I did not really begin to grow spirtually in my walk with God until another man ‘tapped me on the shoulder’ and invitied me to join him and some other men in a study to help me be the man God desires for all men to be. But this is another story for a future post.
So my final question to you is, How intentional is your church in reaching and discipling men?
The next post will discuss the #2 mistake churches make – Lack of Multiple Entry Points.
Together in the challenge and adventure to disciple men – Mike
Cape Fear Men - a Men's Ministry Coalition Blog 