How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry

Adapted from Top Gun Ministries Training
By Steve Sonderman

Where Do We Start?

You see the need for a more effective ministry for the men of your church. You may be struggling with the question, “Where do I start?”

You hear that question a lot from pastors, associate pastors and lay leaders in local churches across the IPHC.

The answer? Start by defining your ministry for men.

Why do we exist?

Jesus was a man of purpose. It is clear throughout His ministry that He knew where He came from, why He was there, and where He was going. This awareness affected everything He did, from where and when He went, to who He interacted with. In short, His purpose for living affected everything about His life. Likewise a leadership team must start with a very clear understanding of its purpose because it will affect everything that the team does.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20

This statement is a summary of the life of Jesus. Christ’s last words summed up the single mission of His life. In His last words, we have one command and three participle phrases:

One Command – “Make disciples”

Three participles – Go, baptize, and teach

Multiplication vs. Addition

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
2 Timothy 2:2

Addition: If you win 1000 men to Christ each day, you would have 10,960,000 men in 30 years.

Multiplication: If you build your life into 3 men this year and they in turn do the same next year, and this process continues, you would reach the entire world – 6 billion people in 20+ years!

Our goal is to make disciples, who will make disciples, who will make more disciples. Our desire is to see the men in IPHC churches equipped and motivated to reach their peers for Christ. This will be a ministry that is making disciples and multiplying itself out. The purpose of having a men’s ministry is much greater than just helping men become better dads or husbands. Those are good things, but not the best. Numbers are not important. Jesus was not concerned with numbers and neither should we be. With this as your ultimate purpose, it will affect everything about your ministry.

Begin at the beginning and write a purpose statement centered on multiplying disciples.

Helpful Resource: The Men’s Ministry Action Plan. See Section 7 of the Resources Information Manual.

How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry Conference

Steve has successfully developed Top Gun Ministries at his church in Brookfield, WI and he has been sharing the principles of effective local church-based men’s ministry across America and the world.

We are in the process of undergoing this training in April 2003 and will be prepared to offer it to conferences after June 2003.

This “How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s Ministry Conference” displaces some of the uncertainty surrounding men’s ministry in the church by taking a look at the “big picture.” Steve refers to this as “life at 30,000 feet.”

To find our more about hosting a conference or other training opportunities, contact Jack Kelley Toll Free at 1-888-867-4153.

Reprinted with permission.

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