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Forum Expert
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Last Login: 9/26/2009 2:37:07 AM
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Greetings, my husband asked me to seek advice from my board buddies. We are a smaller church and the men's breakfasts are getting tired and the numbers are shrinking. He has been searching for a new ministry that does not always involve work projects, or extended retreats.
Any men/leaders out there know of a cool men's ministry that he may look into? Thanks so much!
Donna NH
Donna in NH <><
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 5/22/2008 1:11:32 PM
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| Hi I know our churches mens ministry was having the same problem. What is it with us men? hehe Anyway, one thing we have switched to is rather than do a once a week breakfast and a yearly retreat, is that we do a once a month get together with a theme. It varies, but one was talking about our struggles, particularly in spiritual warfare. They did a goofy skit based on WWF and had some guys fake the wrestling. Then we talked about it in small groups. We're not a large church and it was a fairly small gathering, but it was impactful, and people felt more connected than just doing a breakfast. It was different and stuck in our heads as a result. So have your men get together and find out what you are interested in doing, what do they like to do? Then find something along those lines. If they are into basketball, you could even get together at a eating establishment, buy some wings, and talk about how the 64 college basketball teams get selected into the NCAA tournament and how is that like or unlike God 'choosing us'. You can pretty much make a connection point with anything. I know it's hard. ;-)
Be the Revolution
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Forum Member
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Last Login: 8/9/2009 7:10:47 PM
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| Hello there, We are also a small church, around 130 members. I am in charge of our Men's Group. We currently meet just once a month. We start out having right around 6 men show up, but after they found out what we do we now have about 20. We start off at 6:00 PM having a small meal, "potluck" style, then we have a "MAN" presentation at 7:00 PM that goes usually till about 8:00 PM. When I mean "MAN" I mean things then MEN like, not saying women don't like it, but you know what I mean. Here's what we have done so far..... October - Fire Prevention -- I am a Fire fighter and did the presentation. November - Venison meal -- Hunting stories December - Wife's were invited for Hand Bell Concert January - Ice Fishing February - Your Favorite Hobby - talk about your favorite hobby March - Build a Rocket April - Launch the Rocket / Car Maintenance May - Woodworking You get the idea...It's been going great so far for us. Good luck with your group, we will be praying for ya.
Jason Allen
Lydia United Methodist Church
Jordan, Minnesota 55352www.LydiaZionChurch.com
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 7:13:05 PM
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I did a Men's ministry for four years, years ago, as an ambassador for Promise Keepers. I got three other guys to join me as a leadership team. We used the Promise Keepers "Funnel" model. Maybe they have some info about that on their web site. It took a while to get going but was strong and steady.
Quarterly we did area-wide events to acquaint our guys with guys in other churches. We'd get a good speaker and either have a dinner or a snack. It was great to then see these guys during our normal work days and know we were not alone on our job sites. It grew to 600 men attending from about 20 different churches. From these events many weekly Bible studies and support groups were started in the area.
Often time men's groups revolve around an activity because guys open up when they spend time together. We plan activities together: go camping; shoot guns; play golf; build a youth garage; go to breakfast. Build relationships and talk about our issues. Guys need to perceive a value or benefit to themselves to carve time from their busy schedules to attend.
One cool thing is that really spiritually hungry guys will perceive great value to a seminary quality Bible course. Another course that did well was, "Valiant Man" by Careforce Ministries.
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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 8/11/2007 7:21:33 PM
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| Have you read "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow? I think it's the best book written so far in dealing with men & believe it has lots of ideas you could use for a Men's Ministry!
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/17/2008 3:16:22 PM
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Hello,
Our Mens ministry started Last year with our first No Man Left Behind conference. It took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, had several guest speakers, and amazing catered lunch, and then a tour of the Museum. At the end of the conference, we provided the attendees with the opportunity to sign up for one of our Cell Teams. Our cell teams are simply small groups. Each cell team is facilitated by a member of our Valiant Men Ministry who has undergone a training program. The cell teams meet every week, and are really the strongest tool in keeping our men together. It's often been said that a christian is like a coal...once it is pulled from the fire it loses it's heat. Well, the cell teams are how we keep our men in the fire.
Then, every six weeks, we have what's called Warrior Wednesday. At this event, all of our cell teams meet together, along with any guests we can get to come with us. We'll have guest speakers for this, as well as music, and snacks. This could be considered our pep-rally, so to speak.
Valiant Men Ministries has several opportunities for fellowship, such as a cycling group, a photography group, trap and skeet shooting events, rock climbing, bowling events, and softball teams. In July we had our third annual Car Show, and doubled the number of cars and vendors that took part. We were able to raise $2000.00 for Fostering Hope, an organizing that stands in the gap for teenagers who are "aged-out" of the foster system once they reach 18.
We have found that the Once a year pancake breakfast and Golf Tournament leave a huge void for the remaining 363 days in the year. Our format allows me to stay plugged in, gives then an intimate small group setting where they feel safe to "go deep" with their brothers in discussion, hold themselves and each other accountable, encourage each other, pray for each other, and teach and learn from each other.
We have just finished out website at www.valiantmenministries.com and have teamed up in a network form with other mens ministries in the area. We have found that trying to spread the word of mens ministries by going through the head pastor of a neighboring church tends to be unsuccessful, for many different reasons. What is working for us is finding that like-minded man at another church and working with him "from the inside" in getting a mens ministry established at his church. The key is finding that inside man and then partnering with him, and eventually you'll find that there are "inside men" all over the place who just haven't had the resources or connections to make their mens ministry grow.
This year, our No Man Left Behind conference will be incredible. Our special guest will be Author and Founder of Every Man Ministries Kenny Luck. It will be November 22, from 8am to 3pm give or take an hour or two. If you would like more information, feel free to contact me at bwolf@valiantmenministries.com
valiantMENministries.com
Men Helping Men Grow CLoser To Christ
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