Regional men’s ministries can be an extremely valuable asset for any church, especially if your church is small. Over the years, several successful regional men’s ministries have put down roots. Here’s a list of five regional men’s ministries I’ve come to know well. They’ve been around for years and are currently ministering to tens of thousands of men every year. I’ve included links to their websites. Take a moment to check them out and then I want to ask this question: what has made them so successful?
- Relevant Practical Ministry for Men
- Focal Point Ministries
- Washington Area Coalition of Men’s Ministries
- Promise Keepers New Zealand
- Men’s Ministry Network
Okay, so now that you’ve looked over these ministries, here is why I think they have succeeded.
Successful regional men’s ministries…
- Have at least one full time staff member who is a mature, dedicated, gifted and godly Christian man. All successful regional men’s ministry leaders I’ve met have this in common: their passion to see Christian men grow into maturity is immediately obvious and they are completely committed to their cause.
- Have a clear vision of what men’s ministry is. The reason for this clarity is because they have seen what works in the trenches.
- Offer local churches in their area valuable and effective men’s ministry resources. A successful regional men’s ministry addresses a felt need most every church faces: how to genuinely minister to men.
- Are truly interdenominational. Successful regional men’s ministries don’t compete with pastors and churches, but rather support them.
- Demonstrate excellence and consistency in ministry year in and year out. They know what they’re doing and they do it well, so they become predictable (in a good sense).
- Partner with other regional and national men’s ministries. Successful regional men’s ministries are not one hit wonders. They learn from each other and from the experts in the field.
- Have a sustainable financial plan. They offer products that are valuable enough for men to purchase and they supplement sales by developing a regular donor base.
How about you? Are you active in a regional men’s ministry? Is there anything you would add to this list?
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
