I’ve seen it countless times in the churches I coach:
Ministries getting stuck.
Good people with good intentions become bogged down in the daily grind. Over time, mission drift sets in.
The result?
Momentum slows, internal conflict rises, and the team either burns out or gives up entirely.
But I’m convinced of this: the calling on your men’s ministry is too important to be derailed by apathy, dissension, or inertia. God has prepared good works in advance for you and your men to walk in (Ephesians 2:10), and that means your ministry was made to move forward.
The problem isn’t usually a lack of desire or intent. Ministries get stuck when they stop doing what they were meant to do and start doing what simply feels comfortable.
The question is, “How do we stay on course?”
The answer: we keep moving forward—together.
What does that look like? Here are a few key ideas:
Focus on the “Why”
Every effective men’s ministry constantly re-centers around its purpose. When teams lose their “why,” they often default to routine. That’s when things become stagnant.
Start asking “why” like a curious five-year-old:
- Why do we do men’s breakfasts?
- Why is our Bible study structured this way?
- Why do we always start our gatherings like this?
It might feel repetitive or even annoying at first, but these questions clarify purpose. They force you to evaluate ministry activity based on whether it accomplishes what it was created to do—not just how many people showed up or how they felt afterward.
If you’re unsure of your “why,” remember Jesus already gave it to us in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20):
Make disciples who make disciples.
That’s your filter. That’s your measuring stick. Every event, group, or program should ultimately move people toward Jesus and help them lead others to Him. If it doesn’t, it needs to change.
When the “why” is clear, it gives your ministry a spiritual and strategic compass. It becomes easier to say “no” to distractions and “yes” to activities that bear fruit. Clarity of purpose increases unity, builds team morale, and makes it easier to train and empower new leaders.
Another benefit of emphasizing the “why” is that it invites accountability. Team members and volunteers begin to measure their effectiveness not just by how busy they are, but by how closely aligned their work is to the mission.
When the “why” is clear, it gives your ministry a spiritual and strategic compass.
You stop celebrating attendance and start celebrating transformation.
Clarify the “Who”
In men’s ministry, the temptation is to paint with broad strokes. But real effectiveness comes when you define exactly who you’re trying to reach.
Start by profiling the men in your church and community:
- The night-shift worker
- The recently divorced man
- The young guy figuring out faith
- The retired man who feels he’s “done his time”
Develop empathy by stepping into their shoes. Ask, “What would help him take one step closer to Jesus?” With that target clearly defined, your ministry plans will be sharper, more intentional, and more inspiring to your team.
“What would help him take one step closer to Jesus?”
When leaders know who they’re trying to reach, their planning becomes purposeful. A clear vision for the who breathes life and urgency into the ministry and rallies others to the cause.
When you combine a clear “who” with a solid “why,” your ministry becomes like a laser—focused, powerful, and effective.
Targeting your audience isn’t about exclusion; it’s about intentionality. When you build out your programming, events, and small groups with specific men in mind, you’re more likely to meet real needs. Ministry becomes less about generic encouragement and more about transformational relationships.
Ask yourself, “What obstacles is this man facing in his spiritual life?” “What questions is he asking about faith, work, fatherhood, or purpose?” This level of clarity helps you craft environments where men can encounter Jesus in a way that speaks directly to their lives.
Cultivate a Culture of Peace
Any time people work together, conflict is inevitable. Personalities clash. Communication styles differ. Ministry doesn’t remove our human flaws—it reveals them.
That’s why ministries must proactively build a culture of peace. Don’t assume unity will just happen. It must be cultivated.
Start by naming your team values, things like:
- “We believe the best in each other.”
- “We choose trust over suspicion.”
- “We work hard and play hard.”
Don’t assume unity will just happen. It must be cultivated.
Use tools like Working Genius or 7 Life Languages to help team members understand how each person works best. Regularly revisit your values and hold one another to them.
And when conflict does arise, follow Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 18:15-17. Don’t gossip. Don’t ghost. Go directly to the person. Address it with grace and humility. Forgive. Restore. Move forward.
When peace becomes the norm rather than the exception, the entire team flourishes, and the mission stays front and center.
In addition, create pathways for feedback and open dialogue. If someone feels unheard or disconnected, it’s better to create space for healthy conversation than to allow bitterness to fester. Many ministries collapse not from lack of vision, but from unresolved relational tension. Build teams that practice emotional maturity and conflict resolution.
Build Rhythms of Team Life
The “together” part of “moving forward together” cannot be overstated.
Ministries need more than vision—they need team alignment, trust, and rhythm. Strong ministries have consistent relational connections and team practices that build trust over time.
Here are some practical habits that make that possible:
- Schedule regular team meetings at the beginning of the ministry year. Don’t leave it to chance. Get the whole year on the calendar. Meet monthly if possible and keep it structured and time-bound (90 minutes is ideal).
- Revisit your mission and vision at every meeting. Don’t assume everyone remembers it. Read it aloud. Pray into it. Let it shape the tone and direction of your discussion.
- Use team meetings for alignment and accountability. Ask questions like: “How are we doing with our mission?” “Where are we seeing fruit?” “What needs to be tweaked or dropped?”
- Schedule a yearly dream and strategy session. Block out a few hours to dream big, hear from God, and strategize for the future. This builds team ownership and invites the Spirit to lead you into fresh vision.
- Do fun things together. Go bowling. Grab dinner. Take a hike. Go to a conference. Shared experiences deepen relationships and prevent burnout. Don’t make every interaction about planning and performance.
When you prioritize rhythm, you build trust. And trust builds resilience. Teams that know, love, and enjoy each other are better equipped to weather ministry challenges.
Empower the Team
A stuck ministry often has a bottleneck in leadership. One person tries to do it all, or a few people call all the shots. Healthy teams share leadership.
Empower others to lead. Give real responsibility. Train people to disciple others, run events, lead discussions, and care for people. Don’t wait for perfection. Provide a safety net for learning.
Create an environment where people can grow in their gifting. Ask, “Who is God raising up on our team? What opportunities are we giving them to lead?” When you equip others and release them, your capacity increases exponentially.
Don’t wait for perfection. Provide a safety net for learning.
And remember—empowering leaders also means making space for failure. Be the kind of team that celebrates growth over perfection. When people feel safe to try, fail, and try again, they become more courageous and invested.
Final Thoughts
Ministries don’t thrive because they never hit rough patches—they thrive because they learn to get unstuck, realign, and keep going together. Forward motion is rarely a straight line.
But when you keep your eyes on Jesus, your heart focused on the mission, and your team is walking in unity, momentum builds, and the Kingdom advances.
The enemy loves to use distraction, division, and discouragement to keep ministries from moving forward. But when you are clear on your why, focused on who you’re reaching, committed to peace, grounded in team rhythms, and intentional about empowerment, your men’s ministry becomes a force for transformation.
So don’t settle for stuck. Don’t give in to ministry autopilot or passive maintenance. The call of Christ is forward. The work is too urgent. The mission is too critical.
Keep moving forward—together.
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