3 Important On-Ramps for Your Men’s Ministry

Different men require different on-ramps into your men’s ministry

In every church, several different on-ramps which provide opportunity for involvement in the church’s men’s ministry need to exist. This is because men enter the life of the church for various reasons. On one end of the spectrum, some men attend simply out of habit or tradition and have very little commitment. On the other end of the spectrum, leaders in the church are heavily involved in providing spiritual oversight and active ministry to others.  How does an active, effective men’s ministry capture the attention of all the men along this spectrum, as well as the attention of men who are not yet attending or interested in the church at all? The following three-pronged approach is a winning strategy for attracting and involving men in ministry. The main idea: There must be a strategic reason for putting on any event! 

First on-ramp: come and listen events for the visitor or new Christian

Some think of men’s ministry as simply a monthly breakfast held one Saturday each month, or a time of service where men do chores for the church. But so much more can be accomplished with an effective, well thought out strategy. The first type of activity to consider is the come and listen event. This meeting is open to all. The only ask, the only commitment requested, is that men attend and be open to what the speaker or presenter has to say.

Some folks call this type of gathering a flag-pole event because it is open to all to gather around the flag pole. Flag-pole events raise the flag for a particular ministry. During a men’s ministry flag-pole event we are waving the flag of men’s ministry. This is the type of meeting where food is served, and a guest speaker or teacher might present an introductory type of lesson. Maybe the gospel is explained in a clear manner and men are invited to investigate the truth claims of Christianity. Worship music may or may not be included. But if so, the songs are often brief and upbeat. At my home church this event is held seven times a year and is called Man Church.

In my travels and work consulting churches on developing effective men’s ministries, I have heard of come and listen type of events where muscle cars, motorcycles or hot rods are displayed. Others serve grilled hamburgers or thick steaks. Lots of churches hold wild game nights where hunters and fishermen are encouraged to attend by serving fish, pheasant, quail, and venison.

There is no set formula for these events. Men’s ministry teams should hold events they believe will appeal to the men in their geographic community. To reiterate, this is an entry-level, low commitment type of event. What is being asked of the men is that they simply attend and hopefully bring a neighbor, friend, or colleague from work. The best guest speaker at this event is someone who can connect with men. Effective choices include a successful businessman, a former or current professional athlete, a military or political leader, or a man with an outstanding testimony of overcoming adversity. I have heard amazing presentations from men who have overcome addictions, clear speakers who present the complexity of the gospel message in simple, easy to understand ways, and godly Bible teachers with long track records of healthy marriages and families.

Obviously, Jesus Christ is our highest role model. Ultimately, all men are frail and but dust. But there is also nothing wrong with learning from other men who are fighting the good fight of faith and striving to be godly men. The apostle Paul encouraged men to give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). The come and listen large event is a foundational mainstay of an effective, growing men’s ministry.

Second on-ramp: come and learn events for the growing Christian

Come and learn events build upon come and listen events and asks men for a bit more involvement and commitment. This type of gathering often features worship and Bible teaching. Men may be broken up into small groups for reflection and discussion. The men are asked not only to attend (come and listen) but also to study their lesson beforehand or come prepared to discuss the answers they produced during the week. Examples of this style of event are the popular Bible Study Fellowship groups that meet across the country and Men’s Fraternity.

Come and learn events are held more frequently than come and listen events and require deeper levels of commitment and learning. Perhaps an introductory book on a spiritual topic or Bible lesson is the starting point. Men can be challenged to complete specific Bible studies or learn basic Christian theology. Some men’s ministries offer elective or “hot topic” classes on marriage or fathering.

These come and learn events may not be the best starting point for a visitor. Perhaps a first timer would feel more welcome at a come and listen meeting. But over time, challenge men: we want you to get involved in the men’s ministry at our church. It may sound something like this; “Men, some of you have been attending our monthly rallies for quite a while, and for you guys, the next step would be to check out our learning events which are held every other Tuesday night (or whenever they are held.) We’re going to pass out a flyer which provides all the details for this event. Again, if you are a first timer tonight, we’re simply glad you decided to attend!”

Offering varied meetings, gatherings, and events with different levels of commitment and challenge reflect the growth men encounter when they step out in faith and determine to become stronger in their faith.

Third on-ramp: come and lead events for the maturing Christian

Come and lead events involve the highest level of commitment from the men in the men’s ministry. Come and lead events are ongoing meetings where men are involved in praying for and planning all the other events. Men are challenged to make sure they are involved in a mentoring or discipleship relationship with mature, godly men in the church. Men are selected to become involved in these gatherings by older, wiser men who have walked with Jesus Christ and shown maturity in their faith. Some call these men elders. Others refer to this as a leadership council. Leadership in the church is a serious calling. James warned, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). In addition, in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul lays out the guidelines for those who would provide servant-leadership for the church:

“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”

© Dr. Paul Pettit

This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.