Twenty-five years ago, when I was a pastor in Illinois experimenting with men’s team ministry to their widowed and single parents in my church, I realized we were on to something when one of our four teams decided to build their care receiver a Habitat for Humanity home. They got their care receiver qualified for the program, recruited volunteers from the community, and succeeded in building her a brand new home.
Last week I was thrilled by a newspaper article about Calvary Church Assembly of God’s men’s ministry in Marinette, Wisconsin. The men of Calvary Church are in the process of building a home for a family in their congregation who is in need. There are so many excellent principles these men are illustrating that I decided to write a post about them.
Here are some of the lessons we all can learn from this men’s ministry.
- They are directly addressing a very serious, ongoing pressing need in their church. The former home of the family they are serving was in complete disrepair and the husband is disabled due to a car accident.
- The men responded way above and beyond the initial request for help. The homeowners originally asked for help with the entryway. But the men have responded by building a completely new home.
- They set out in faith not knowing where the funds would be coming from. They are simply building the home “step by step.” They are a perfect illustration of 2 Corinthians 9:8: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
- Their effort has gotten the attention and support of the entire community.
- They are bringing great glory and honor to God. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
I research dozens of churches and their men’s ministries weekly. Sadly, the majority of them are moribund. But this men’s ministry made me sit up and take notice. It truly understands the importance of good works for the purpose of meeting serious long term pressing needs in their church.
You can follow the progress of Calvary Church’s men’s group on their Facebook page as they build the home.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
A Simple Ministry Concept with Profound Implications
Teams of four men serving widows, single moms, fatherless children and others with long-term pressing needs in their churches and communities.
