GUIDING MEN TOWARDS THE GOODNESS AND GRACE OF GOD
JUNE 2023 - ISSUE 24
Dear Family and Friends,
The finish line of our 2022-2023 ministry year is fast approaching. I'm excited to share what God has done and what is yet to come.
Last August I shared my goals for reaching churches:
4 new churches, 6 new Action Plan churches, and deeper engagement with the 10 churches that were already in Action Plan status.
The Lord provided SIX new churches, and TWO churches made the commitment as Action Plan churches. I am especially grateful for the churches that have gone deeper.
NINE Action Plan churches have been taking significant steps forward. ALL of these have an active Men's Discipleship Leader, seven of which volunteer their time!
SIX of these AP churches have functioning leadership teams, completing a foundational component we call the Three Strands of Leadership. This includes the pastor's enthusiastic involvement, a passionate leader, and a committed team.
The majority of this progress is a direct result of the work WE (that includes YOU) are doing through Man in the Mirror.
THANK YOU for your commitment to being SO IN for men's discipleship! As we look forward to the coming year, the goal is DEEPER STILL.
With Gratitude,
Nate Flynn
Men sharing their faith around the fire.
Catalyst
Moving Men Forward
Over time, I have been building a relationship of trust with Hillcrest Christian Church. They have a passion for reaching men and have even developed a men's leadership team. However, they realized that for all of their passion, they could use some practical guidance.
That's when they came to me and said "We want to disciple our men, and we would like your help." After casting vision with the team for what No Man Left Behind is about, they are striving to be more strategic in their efforts.
Recently, they hosted a men's event called Catalyst to motivate their men to action. Taking seriously the "Create, Capture, Sustain" cycle, they provided a "right next step" for men coming out of the event.
During the event, one man in particular was moved by a display of surrender and admitted that he wasn't sure he had ever fully surrendered his life. Yet, he desires to do so. This was the catalyst he needed!
I am looking forward to continuing to help the men's leaders at Hillcrest implement the concepts and strategies of No Man Left Behind and reach all of their men with the life-changing gospel of Christ.
Deeper Commitments
Action Plans in Action
Safe Harbor is another church I've been working with that has taken the commitment to go deeper seriously. Their men's leader Eric, working closely with Pastor Rich, has built a solid team.
Eric purchased a copy of the No Man Left Behind book for every man on their team, and they've been meeting weekly to study through it, pray together, and get equipped to disciple their men.
Building Better Men
A Church-Wide Initiative
After successfully implementing the GO Box last fall, the leadership team at Sherwood Oaks Bloomington is following through on a strategic plan to engage their men with the BetterMan series.
Integrating the concepts and strategies they've learned from No Man Left Behind, they are seeking to provide value to their men with this great resource on biblical masculinity. They are even striving to include other area churches on this journey.
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If you missed out on our Stronger Together events please take some time to go deeper into what God is doing through our ministry and consider your role in helping us grow stronger.
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End of Ministry Year Financial Update
It is important to me that the way we deal with money in this ministry is from a biblical, God-honoring, trust-centered approach. I love that so many of you get to be part of this mission through the sharing of resources that God has given to you.
I frequently hear the statements "It's not much" or "We wish we could do more." While I understand the sentiment, I want everyone to know that when you give with joy what the Lord has laid on your heart, it is always a blessing and I am always grateful.
My desire with sharing this financial update is not to cause anyone to feel obligated, but simply to be open, honest, and transparent with what our needs are and to celebrate how God provides.
Every year my budget is reviewed with my Regional Director and is also shared with my local Advisory Council. This budget covers everything from my salary, insurance, social security, and 14% administrative costs to training for me and local leaders, travel to churches, books, resources, and other training aids, as well as communications with partners and leaders. All the way down to the stamps, we account for what we think we need. I know that if God desires for us to have it, He will provide.
It is one of the absolute best things to sit in front of a pastor who says "Ok, but how much does it cost?" and I get to tell them "It is free to you." They can't believe it, and I always tell them I have a team of partners who invest in this mission because they want to see the impact of men's lives being transformed for Christ.
THANK YOU for helping to make this ministry possible. I praise the Lord for your generosity, your care, and your encouragement towards me.
Over 100 churches have been encountered with our mission and vision. Nearly 40 of those are in relationship-building or Action Plan status. We're even reaching a church in California through a pastor who moved from SoIN to serve there.
As we go deeper in this mission, we need more men who will take the courageous step of faith and become Area Directors. This is a vision of what our team could look like in Indiana to reach churches all throughout our state.
10,000 Reasons to Be Excited!
Full launch this fall!
One of the most significant new initiatives Man in the Mirror has ever undertaken is currently in progress. Our 10,000 Spiritual Fathers training launches fully in August.
For the first time in history, church attendance in America has fallen below 50%. The fastest-growing and second-largest religious category in the country is the 21% of Americans who claim no religious affiliation at all. Among men, 15% say they have no close friendships, a five-fold increase since 1990. And 69% of young men (ages 27-45) say it has been more than 10 years since their peak religious experience.
Young men are hungry for hope and guidance as they try to build friendships, a marriage, a family, and a career. The good news? Research shows that they are still open and searching for meaning—meaningful experiences, meaningful relationships, and meaningful faith. Millions of men in their 20s and 30s are trying to navigate how to build a life. Like Timothy needed Paul, they need someone more experienced to not just hand them a map, but to go with them as their guide.
In partnership with local churches, we are mobilizing mature Christian men to step into the lives of younger men and guide them with the love and intentionality of a father. We believe intergenerational discipleship is God’s plan to pass biblical truths to the next generation. Learn more at spiritualfathers.com.
Nate Flynn is committed to serving pastors and leaders in the communities surrounding Bedford. As a trained Man in the Mirror expert in men’s discipleship, Nate guides pastors and leaders through a comprehensive strategy to reach and disciple all of their men because every man discipled impacts a marriage, family, workplace, and community. Discipleship changes everything!
