The church is a family – the family of God. As believers, God is our Father and we are his children. Jesus is “the firstborn among many brethren.” As one expression of this family all believers are in, it stands to reason that men’s team ministry to their widowed and single parents strengthens our earthly families.
Here are 9 ways men’s team ministry strengthens marriages and families in churches.
1. It teaches men what the love of Christ is and how to practically apply it in everyday life.
Men’s team ministry focuses on identifying with, committing to, and sacrificing for the person their team is serving. That is what Christ did for us in his Incarnation and in our redemption. And that is what he commands us to do for others. In the same way, marriage involves identifying with, committing to, and sacrificing for our spouse.
2. It gives men another example of relationship covenants and shows the importance of not treating them lightly.
Our relationship with God and with other believers is governed by a covenant (or agreement): the New Covenant found in John 13. Men’s team ministry to their widowed and single parents in their church is one expression of that covenant. If we ignore or treat lightly our covenant with God and other believers, it has dramatic effects on others. In the same way, if we ignore or treat lightly our marriage covenant, it has dramatic effects on our wife and children.
3. It turns men into loving servants.
The mind of Christ is a servant mind. Serving with others on a team of men is a great joy. That experience propels men to experience the same kind of joy in serving their family.
4. It exemplifies the key roles men should play in all families as providers and protectors.
God made men to be providers and protectors. This doesn’t mean women can’t play this role as well. But it’s the key role for men in families. Men’s team ministry teaches this role within the context of servanthoood.
5. It shows men how to treat all women as equals who have infinite value in the sight of God.
Male secular culture habitually objectifies women as sex objects; meaning young, beautiful and healthy women have more value than women who aren’t. Men’s team ministry overturns this value structure by focusing on all people in need.
6. It demonstrates to men how to have a balance between meeting the needs of their family and meeting the needs of others.
Married men are busy men, especially Christian married men. By limiting the time of service while also providing effective structure, men’s team ministry gives men an efficient way to meaningfully serve someone with significant need.
7. It gives men practical fix-it skills for the honey do list they face at home.
Many married men face projects at home for which they lack the skills to complete. Men’s team ministry puts both skilled and unskilled men together so they can learn from each other.
8. It gives men relationships with other married men who have healthy marriages.
Men need marriage mentors. Team members with successful marriages often fill this role for other men.
9. It provides a way for men to be accountable. Christian men need other Christian men with whom they can share their trials, struggles and failures. Men’s team ministry gives men the opportunity to “go deeper” in their friendships and have real fellowship.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
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