IPHC Men's Ministries Leadership Tips

Build A Winning Ministry To Men

By Patrick Morley

Ministering to men is challenging. As one pastor put it, “A man is a hard thing to reach.” Any church that has tried to get a Men’s Ministry off the ground will echo that sentiment.

The key to a growing Men’s Ministry is the management of momentum: Churches must learn to create it, capture it, and sustain it.

To start, churches must write down their vision and purpose for Men’s Ministry; This helps leaders make decisions affecting the ministry. For example, if the main goal of the ministry is to reach men and equip them to be spiritual leaders, you would probably focus on discipleship rather than service projects.

Once your mission statement is in place, establish leadership. All you need is one man with a passion to reach other men. Make sure, however, that your leadership is made up of men who are respected by other men. Ask the men of your church what they need. In what area of life do they feel the most pressure? What is the most valuable (or worst) experience they have had in church in the past year? Gather your leaders and talk with them about your findings.

The next step is to overcome the inertia that keeps men from moving forward. For many men, Christianity is like a spare tire – something to be only used in case of an emergency. It’s easiest to attract these men by offering a purpose-driven but non-threatening event, perhaps centered around sports, financial success, or fathering skills. The object is not to have an event but to have men engaging and building relationships with other men.

After the kickoff event, have a follow-up plan ready. Offer something like a small group study that will last for three, four, or maybe six weeks. Don’t overwhelm them and you’ll discover men on the fringe of faith making their way in.

To sustain momentum, give men every chance to connect to something such as a Bible study, a ministry project, or a prayer group. Do everything with your original purpose in mind.

Current Thoughts & Trends 2002. Reprinted with permission.

[ Return to Leadership Tips Index Page ]

Last update on 8/7/07
©IPHC Ministries. All rights reserved

Build A Winning Ministry To Men

By Patrick Morley

Ministering to men is challenging. As one pastor put it, “A man is a hard thing to reach.” Any church that has tried to get a Men’s Ministry off the ground will echo that sentiment.

The key to a growing Men’s Ministry is the management of momentum: Churches must learn to create it, capture it, and sustain it.

To start, churches must write down their vision and purpose for Men’s Ministry; This helps leaders make decisions affecting the ministry. For example, if the main goal of the ministry is to reach men and equip them to be spiritual leaders, you would probably focus on discipleship rather than service projects.

Once your mission statement is in place, establish leadership. All you need is one man with a passion to reach other men. Make sure, however, that your leadership is made up of men who are respected by other men. Ask the men of your church what they need. In what area of life do they feel the most pressure? What is the most valuable (or worst) experience they have had in church in the past year? Gather your leaders and talk with them about your findings.

The next step is to overcome the inertia that keeps men from moving forward. For many men, Christianity is like a spare tire – something to be only used in case of an emergency. It’s easiest to attract these men by offering a purpose-driven but non-threatening event, perhaps centered around sports, financial success, or fathering skills. The object is not to have an event but to have men engaging and building relationships with other men.

After the kickoff event, have a follow-up plan ready. Offer something like a small group study that will last for three, four, or maybe six weeks. Don’t overwhelm them and you’ll discover men on the fringe of faith making their way in.

To sustain momentum, give men every chance to connect to something such as a Bible study, a ministry project, or a prayer group. Do everything with your original purpose in mind.

Current Thoughts & Trends 2002. Reprinted with permission.

[ Return to Leadership Tips Index Page ]