Honor Bound
Men
Reach – Creating environments and opportunities to reach men with the Message of Hope.
Teach – Purposed to building men as they grow in their walk with the Lord.
Release – Releasing men to live out their God-given purpose to the church and the community.
“Deep in his heart, every man wants to be a part of a team that does something great. Just look at the movies men adore. A team comes together to save the world, steal the money, or win the championship.The Lord of the Rings, X-Men, The Matrix, Saving Private Ryan, Oceans Eleven, Remember The Titans… feature a band of brothers who attempt the dangerous, the outrageous, the impossible. Each member of the team has a specialty and makes a vital contribution. A band of brothers. Though he may not realize it, every man longs to be a part of one” (Why Men Hate Church, D. Murrow).
Men’s groups are not about having a club or a guild (people with common interests or goals); it’s about integrating men into church. It’s about camaraderie, affirmation, personal development and spiritual growth.
According to churchformen.com,
- A significant number of churchgoing men attend out of habit, unaffected by what they hear.
- Quite a few men go to church simply to keep their wives/mothers/girlfriends happy.
- The majority of men who attend church do nothing during the week to grow their faith.
- Relatively few churches are able to establish or maintain a vibrant men’s ministry.
Men are different. The common perception is men are self-reliant, don't feel, don't touch, don’t need fellowship, are too macho and are very competitive. Men see life as a puzzle.
So how do we integrate men in and outside the church community?