Today’s church has been steadily moving in the opposite direction of “manly” for the last several decades. We’ve managed to build an environment rich in talking about feelings… and that’s just not cool. At the heart of the matter we can confess that we have feelings and that from time to time, talking about them would be…”alright”, but let’s face it… that’s not how us guys are wired.
It’s challenging enough to get you to read this stuff… much less go face to face with a topic of “feelings”. so how do we reach out to other guys and still hang on to the swagger that makes us a dude?
When building men’s events at your church, there are 3 critical elements that must be in place for each and every event. Follow these guides and watch the guys start signing up for more and more.
1: Must involve the hands:
Every event should have something to do with the hands. Men are much better at tasks and doing than talking. If there is no task at hand… put a fork on the table and some good grilled food.
2: Must involve the mind:
And idle mind is the sandbox of evil. Your events should give the guys something to think about… a challenge, a problem, or a project that requires strategic thinking and solutions.
3: Must involve the heart:
Deep down, we men are devoted to protection and concern for the well being of our own. Make certain that whatever you do has a God driven purpose. The goal of each event should give your men some picture of Jesus and how we are striving to live like Him. Simply nailing up a fence board and going back to the house… isn’t mission work. Be intentional about building a devotion into the beginning and end of the project and involve the people you are serving.
And it goes without saying that if you want good attendance at any event, you gotta bring the grub… but not just any grub… you gotta bring the groceries and let them strut their grilling prowess.
Not every man will be bent toward accomplishing the task, so make sure you find positions for those who are physically unable to participate, or are not the outdoors type. Delegate planning, prep, clean up, and devotion at every event. Recognize the guys the following meeting or Sunday… by name. We like that too.
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#4. Must Involve Adventure and the Potential for Danger:
Most mission trips, whether or not they are organized by a church, involve some sort of “blitzkrieg” evangelsitic effort within or near the city limits of a nation’s capital. Don’t get me wrong; puppets shows, dramas and sharing testimonies are wonderful ways to lead people to the Lord… just don’t expect most men to sign up for round 2.
I hear you Evan. The “let’s do a project and check off our list” is doing more harm than good. I like Adventure and Danger… but have found just as many who would rather stick close to home and play it safe.
It really does take all types.
You’ll be really interested in the guy and ministry I’m profiling in June. Stick around and check it out. You’ll get a charge!
Sounds good, Greg! I always need a good charge/recharge