The one consistent reality for most local churches is that ministry to men is very inconsistent. It usually gets started because one man, sometimes two, become very passionate about the need to reach men. They start putting all kinds of plans together and run hard to build the men in their church and community.
Then, something happens. Maybe it’s a crisis of some kind. Maybe they get tired or frustrated at the lack of response. Maybe they sense God leading them to some other area of ministry and service. Whatever that “something” is, the efforts to minister to men come to a screeching halt.
The biggest reason this happens is that there is not a discipline to build something that is going to be sustainable. The passion and energy are great, but it is like trying to build a house without trying to put the foundation in first.
Build A Balanced Team
The most critical element in preventing the start-stop roller coaster of ministry to men is the building of your team. When men try to do it alone, they are setting themselves and their church up for failure.
The most critical element in preventing the start-stop roller coaster of ministry to men is the building of your team. When men try to do it alone, they are setting themselves and their church up for failure.
For the man who is trying to reach every man in the church on his own, I would challenge you to take as much time as you need to personally invest in the lives of some men one on one. Get to know them, pray for them, challenge them to a cause greater than themselves, and eventually call them to join you in a plan to help strengthen every man in your church and community.
In building your team, you need to consider the different strengths and passions that men have. For example, you will need someone who loves to organize the logistics of events to be your “Events leader”. The follow-up paths after each event also require different types of men. Look for a relational man who loves to teach and study the Bible to lead the “Man to Man” small group follow up activities. There are other men who love to be hands-on in serving others, and this type of man is what you really need for the “Men in Action” follow up path. This is covered in our free Men’s Ministry Leadership Training 101.
Pray for God to bring the right men along, and then call those men to get involved.
Plan Your Replacement
As you build your team, it is critical that each man begin to identify another man who can get involved in the team – especially a younger man. At the beginning, begin thinking about who might replace you. Those men may not want a leadership position immediately, but they might be willing to get involved in some way. This will create a consistent process that will help the manpower of your team outlast you and help your church get off the roller coaster of starting and stopping ministry to men.
Be Patient
When you have at least three men who are on your leadership team, then you are ready to start going forward with the overall Impactus Men’s Ministry Leadership framework for your church.
Until you have these men, be patient, pray for God to raise these men up, and spend your time personally investing in men’s lives one on one.
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