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Playing the Long Game

Written by: Nate Flynn

February 2026

 

Dear Leader,

When I began this journey with Man in the Mirror in October 2018, I knew this was not a short-term commitment.
 
My prior career was in law enforcement, primarily as a School Resource Officer. I spent 11 years building relationships, honing my skills, and establishing trust within that assignment. Around the five to six-year mark, I noticed a shift: My effectiveness grew, the value I was able to bring deepened, and my instincts and understanding sharpened.
 
The next several years were fruitful because of the time, energy, and intentionality invested from the start.
 
That experience shaped how I think about ministry. Shortcuts are rarely the answer, and building anything sustainable or worthwhile requires an investment. Often, lasting impact means planting seeds we may not immediately get to enjoy.
 
As Man in the Mirror celebrates 40 years of ministry, we're also looking ahead - investing in the next generations in ways that matter and last. In this month's post, and throughout this year, I want to encourage you to embrace a mindset I'm calling "Playing the Long Game."

In Christ,

Playing the Long Game

Nate Flynn

Area Director
Galatians 69

 

 

Leader Letter - NMLB Image Quote 05.2025

Insights from the Model

Ten Years to Sustainability

 
The No Man Left Behind book begins with a perspective that reshapes our expectations: building a sustainable ministry to men can take up to ten years.
 
While this may sound daunting, it is both a warning and an encouragement.
 
It warns us that ministry built on shortcuts, vague goals, or minimal investment may create activity, but not always lasting transformation. A sustainable ministry requires vision, intentionality, and leaders who are willing to build the right foundations.
 
At the same time, it encourages us to play the long game. You don't have to manufacture results or rush men through growth. You simply have to keep taking the next faithful step and trust God with the timeline.
 
Eventually, you'll look around your church and see men who are disciples and leaders. You'll realize that your ministry is responsible in some way for most of those men because you've built a culture of discipleship.
 
Over Under

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Create, Capture, SUSTAIN

Two partner churches started off the year creating value for their men through conferences.

Safe Harbor Christian Church in Henryville presented "The Playbook" - a Man in the Mirror seminar - and invited several other local churches to participate.

Christian Fellowship Church in Evansville hosted a simulcast of the No Regrets men's conference with over 200 local men.

Both churches captured momentum by offering men a six-week follow-up opportunity.

The most exciting part is it won't end there. Both churches have invested years in building the foundations of their respective ministries so that they can sustain change over the long haul.

Partner Connect Image (no text) Jan. 2026
Speaker team at "The Playbook" seminar - January 2026 - Safe Harbor Christian Church
Partner Connect Image 3 Jan. 2026
"The Playbook" men's seminar January 2026 at Safe Harbor Christian Church.
Partner Connect Image 4 Jan. 2026
"The Playbook" men's seminar January 2026 at Safe Harbor Christian Church.
Partner Connect Image 2 Jan. 2026
"The Playbook" men's seminar January 2026 at Safe Harbor Christian Church.
2026.02 CFC No Regrets - 1
No Regrets men's conference February 2026 at Christian Fellowship Church.
2026.02 CFC No Regrets - 2
No Regrets men's conference February 2026 at Christian Fellowship Church.
2026.02 CFC No Regrets - 3
No Regrets men's conference February 2026 at Christian Fellowship Church.
Action Steps 3.1

Your Action Step:

Evaluate Your Foundations

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In a later edition, we'll discuss the "cycle of inoculation" - the resistance that we experience after several failed attempts at starting a men's ministry. But what we're about is more than just having stuff for guys to do or checking the box of "men's ministry." We want to make disciples. We want to build something sustainable that moves us towards a preferred future - one where men are living vibrant lives wholeheartedly for God.
 
Anything built to stand the test of time must start with a solid foundation. Too often, we "launch" or "relaunch" our men's ministry because we feel the urgency (and the need is real). But in our haste, we start throwing up some walls or trying to add a roof without digging deep to lay the groundwork.
 
Before going any further with men's ministry, hit pause and evaluate these three foundations:

  • Your Overarching Purpose - What is your reason for existing as a church? Is it evangelism? Outreach? Fellowship? Those are all good things, but we would contend that they flow out of the bigger mission of making disciples.

  • Leadership - Do you have trustworthy men who are living out of the overflow of their personal relationship with Jesus - and who want to help others grow? Do you have a pastor, a leader, and a team of men who are intentional and committed to making disciples?

  • Environment - What does it feel like to be a man in your church? Are men welcome, wanted, needed? Are they given a purpose and a challenge to play a part in what God is doing to change the world? 

If we're just trying to put men to work or create more stuff for them to do without understanding where we're trying to take them or having a process to get them there, then we might want to push the pause button.
 
It is tempting to rush into building or rebuilding our men's ministry. If you're reading this, then you must know that there's a dire need for godly men.
 
The internal pressure we feel to meet that need, and the external pressure we receive from men who are trying to figure out how to fill that need (whether they realize it or not) can cause us to rush the process.
 
But a house built without a foundation will not stand - and neither will your ministry. Take the time now to build it right. In ten years, rather than restarting your men's ministry for the fifth time, you'll have men who are thriving as disciples and leading others to do the same.
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Called to be faithful.

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

DEVELOPING DISCIPLE-MAKERS TO SUSTAIN YOUR MINISTRY

In his book The Lost Art of Disciple-Making, Leroy Eims tells the story of a missionary named John. John spent the bulk of his years of service meeting with a few young men. Abruptly, his work was cut short when all missionaries were suddenly asked to leave the...

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Nate Flynn

Nate serves Southern Indiana as an Area Director with Man in the Mirror. He equips churches and leaders to build thriving, sustainable ministry to men. He is from Bedford, IN where he lives with his wife, Kristi, and their three children.