Killing Men's Ministry

Written by Nate Flynn | Mar 1, 2024 12:43:44 AM

Dear Leader,

In any given church, we find at best only 20% of men are actively involved in the men's ministry. That is if there is a men's ministry to speak of at all.

The idea of "men's ministry" has long been woven into the fabric of church life. However, it often falls short of its intended purpose. After decades and repeated attempts to make it work, pouring countless time, resources, and energy into it, some pastors have given up entirely, concluding that "men's ministry" simply doesn't work.

That's why we need to kill the idea of men's ministry.

To be clear, I'm not advocating that we abandon our efforts to reach men. Rather, we need a paradigm shift from "men's ministry" to "ministry to men." It's a subtle yet profound distinction that holds the key to unlocking the full potential of engaging every man within our churches.

In Christ,

Nate Flynn

Area Director

Ministry to men is about more than a pancake breakfast and events we try to convince men to attend.

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Diagnostic

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YOUR ACTION STEP:

Shift Your Mindset

How many times have we witnessed the faithful few attending men's events while the majority of men remain on the sidelines, disengaged and disconnected? It's time to dismantle the barriers that hinder the full participation of every man in the life of the church.

Instead of compartmentalizing men's ministry - essentially attempting to create a separate church for men - let us strive to include, equip, and empower men within the context of the broader church body. It's about recognizing that ministry to men is more than a program - it's a purpose - a divine calling to disciple and mobilize men for God's kingdom.

When we understand that every interaction we have with men is a disciple-making opportunity, we begin to grasp the all-inclusive mindset of ministry to men.

For example, is the job of an usher simply to help people find their seats? Or is there a much bigger, grander role that a man can play here to make disciples? Week in and week out he has the opportunity to build relationships not just with the people he's seating, but with fellow ushers as well. Imagine the impact if God moved a man from serving out of a sense of obligation to serving out of the overflow of his relationship with Christ and others.

Take a moment and think about all the areas where men are involved in church - the sound booth, the praise team, youth programs, greeters, Sunday school classes. How can we help all the men in our church feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves? Wherever men are involved, we can "claim" them in a way that honors and supports other ministries.

While the monthly pancake breakfast, the men's bible study, or the annual retreat can be good opportunities, it's important that men realize they are part of your ministry to men whether or not they engage in these ways. The goal is to help a man grow in his faith and take a step forward in his spiritual journey. It is our job to meet them where they are at.

Everything your church does that touches a man is men's ministry. Everything.

With this mindset, the size of your men's ministry immediately grows from the less than 20% to ALL of the men in your church, plus every man you'd like to have in your church.

Ministry to men isn't about organizing events; it's about engaging hearts. It's about building relationships, fostering discipleship, and empowering men to live out their faith in every area of their lives.

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

No Man Left Behind: Model, Method, and Mindset

When a man comes to church for help, we need to be ready for him, because it’s a tragedy if he shows up and we aren’t. For 20 years, we've been training leaders to be ready for men through No Man Left Behind: a model, method, and mindset.

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