1. Church leaders need to own the vision and demonstrate enthusiasm and the importance of a ministry to men and work with key men to bring the ministry about. Men will respond to creative leadership.
2. Appoint a key man as leader with a good team committed to the ministry.
3. Some structure must exist that promotes the importance of men engaging in relationships that build Christian growth and spawn gospel outreach to other men based on relational priorities.
4. Make sure that those involved share the objectives (see below). You can ruin the future of a work at the very beginning by involving enthusiastic gifted people who may not share the fundamental aims of what you are trying to do in the ministry.
5. The whole church must recognise the importance of men’s ministry for the well being of the church, the home and the nation. Christian men need to be motivated and equipped for godliness.
Obviously there are a number of ways in which the ministry to Christian men and outreach to non-Christian men can grow and develop in a church but be wary of starting too much too soon. It is far better to start with just one or two specific events or regular meetings and build from there. Although we have described a range of ideas to help stimulate thinking, you do not have to create a full programme of men’s breakfasts, dinners, seminars, evangelistic social or sport events or weekend retreats from day one! Simply start with what is appropriate and sustainable in your situation.
Objectives!
It is vital to give focus to any activity by establishing the aim and purpose of the ministry.
Individual churches will of course need to establish objectives to suit their own particular circumstances but at the heart of any strategy will be found three core objectives around which any programme, however loose, should be built:
Tim Thornborough is the founder and Publishing Director of The Good Book Company. He is series editor of Explore Bible-reading notes, the author of The Very Best Bible Stories series, and has contributed to many books published by The Good Book Company and others. Tim is married to Kathy, and they have three adult daughters.
