Organic Growth

Dear Leader,

Imagine a farmer who buys a plot of land with great aspirations of a large, healthy, profitable yield of crops. Day in and day out he watches his patch of dirt, waiting for it to produce. After months of watching and waiting, his land has become nothing more than a dusty dirt patch full of weeds.

He had high hopes, but without preparing the ground, sowing good seed, fertilizing, watering, and stewarding his farm, he gained nothing of value.

Do we treat our ministry to men in this way? I sometimes hear pastors and leaders talk about "organic growth" as a desired method over using programs, structures, or formal processes. The idea is that as people grow in their faith and connect authentically with one another, the church will grow.

While the Church is a body, a living organism, and we want to be Spirit-led, we must also recognize that growth often needs to be supported by strategic processes. These concepts are not counter to one another, but rather complementary.

If we desire as a church to see a rich harvest of godly men, we must be willing to prepare the soil and provide a structure that guides men from initial interest to deep spiritual commitment.

In Christ,

Nate Flynn

Area Director

Organic Growth Dusty Field w Farmer

Organic Growth.

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A BIBLICAL MODEL

No Man Left Behind is a model of discipleship that is established on what Jesus taught and modeled for us. It is a strategic plan that leads to organic growth.

Culture of Discipleship: Everything we do is about making disciples.
- Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 12:2; Mark 12:30-31
Three Strands of Leadership: Enthusiastic involvement of pastor, a passionate leader, and a committed team.
- Ecclesiates 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 4:13
The Man Code: The environment your church creates for men.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13; Proverbs 27:17; 1 Timothy 6:11-12
Wide-to-Deep Continuum: A process that moves men from broad, general engagement to deep discipleship.
- Matthew 13:23; 2 Peter 3:18

Helping men grasp the gospel, develop a hunger to grow in God, and lead others to do the same.

All-Inclusive Ministry: Engaging every man in the church through intentional interactions.
- Ephesians 4:16; 1 Peter 4:10
Vision: A clear and compelling message that shows men what God wants to do through them for His kingdom.
- Proverbs 29:18; Habakkuk 2:2
Create Value: Offering men what they need in the context of what they want.
- 1 Corinthians 9:22; Matthew 14:16
Capture Momentum: Providing men with immediate, believable next steps that align with where they are on their spiritual journey.
- Hebrews 10:24; Acts 2:42
Sustain Change: Ensuring lasting transformation through ongoing relational discipleship.
- Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1

Ministry Highlight

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Annual Church Survey! Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and I especially love it when the survey reveals RESULTS!

One church in particular that has been engaging at continually deeper levels saw significant growth over the past year.

Thanks to their strong three strands of leadership and intentional efforts to pursue and disciple men, they have seen a more than 35% increase in the number of men attending church.

Furthermore, they have more than doubled the number of men engaged in discipleship. Men are placing their faith in Christ, getting involved in spiritual growth, and living out their faith through service!

2024 Annual Church Survey - Usefulness

2024 Annual Church Survey - Attributes

Action Steps4

YOUR ACTION STEP:

Consider Your Growth Mindset

Certainly, you're not like the farmer above who did nothing and expected results. I know that you desire to see growth and transformation in your men. It is important to consider though what our mindsets and methods are concerning the outcomes we hope for.

Many church leaders prefer the idea of organic growth because it feels more natural, unforced, and Spirit-led, as opposed to structured programs and processes. However, this approach can have its pitfalls if not balanced with intentional strategies and systems.

Churches can often invest a lot of time and resources in building programs and engaging in administrative tasks to the neglect of the actual people. For this reason, I think some have rejected structure altogether. Indeed, we want to see Gospel growth - people whose hearts are being transformed by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

While discipleship is always our goal in everything we do, we must be intentional in our methods for long-term engagement and sustainable growth. In short, we have to know where we want to take people and how we're going to get them there.

We cannot simply stand by and hope that men will find their way onto a relational discipleship path. If we scatter seed but do nothing to cultivate those seeds - such as offering clear pathways for spiritual growth, accountability structures, and consistent followup - the potential for growth diminishes significantly.

In the same way a farmer prepares the soil, plants seeds, waters regularly, and tends to his crops, churches must employ systems that support growth.

The key is not to abandon the desire for organic, Spirit-led growth, but to recognize that such growth often needs to be supported by strategic processes.

Organic growth can feel more natural and Spirit-led, but it is not mutually exclusive with structure. In fact, the most effective growth - especially in ministry to men - often occurs when organic relationships and spiritual movements are supported by well-thought-out strategies and systems.

By preparing the soil and tending to the crops, with intentionality, churches can cultivate a thriving, sustainable, Spirit-led ministry that bears much fruit.

Environment - Holy Spirit

GO DEEPER WITH THIS POST FROM THE MAN IN THE MIRROR BLOG

When Men's Ministry Leaves the Church Basement

When they consider all the twists and turns of the last 10 years, it’s obvious that God has been driving their ministry the whole time, taking them in directions they’d never imagined along the way, all to see no man left behind.

Continue Reading →

Check out our SoIN Touch page for an updated list of ministry happenings and resources for men in Southern Indiana!

FIGHT CLUB ROUND 20

Kickoff: September 13th

If you are tired of the status quo and ready to get your life back, this is for you.

Fight Club is full of real dudes, with real life issues, that form together to rebuild the walls of their families and community.

It starts with you.

Get in the Fight!

Xtreme Character Challenge

Join 4MUSA on the trails of Southern Indiana for an amazing adventure.

For 72 hours, you will be placed on a team to battle with the elements, with yourself, and with God. Eventually there is only one winner! Weekends are physically challenging with great spiritual lessons where you will examine your life and your purpose. You will hike many miles but ultimately it is the 18 inches between head and heart that truly matters.

Indiana XCC

Clark State Forest

November 7-10, 2024

Check out their website for additional dates, locations, and events!

Find Your Adventure!

Edge Weekend

Edge Venture is a Christian Ministry that focuses on men discovering who they are in the eyes of Jesus. Edge seeks to build a community of men that uses biblical principles and experiential tactics to help them hear the Holy Spirit in their lives and conquer the roadblocks and challenges ahead of them.

West Lebanon, IN

November 8-10, 2024

Check out their website for additional dates, locations, and events!

Join an orientation or host your own!

We would love to invite you and your men to be a part of this congregation-changing initiative. Through our campaign, we aim to empower and equip the mature Christian men in your church to become spiritual guides to the next generation of men.

We want to see 10,000 mature Christian men across the country disciple the younger men in their local churches - including your church! Let us help you restore the ancient art of one-to-one, intergenerational men's discipleship.

Together, we can invest in a new generation of strong, compassionate, and godly men who will lead the church for generations to come.

Learn more

If you have events, resources, or other opportunities for men in Southern Indiana, please use the form below to share them with our network.