Men’s Ministry
OUR CORE VALUES
DISCIPLESHIP
Empowering Men
How? By establishing a small group of men who meet regularly to intenetionally encourage, equip and challenge each other, through Bible teaching and accountability, toward a deeper purpose in Christ.
Our Great Commission From Jesus:
"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." Matthew 28:19-20a
MENTORING
Life to Life Transference
By establishing relationships that go beyond the causal and enter into the personal. Investing oneself in another that they might find Christ in all His Glory.
Apostle Pauls’s Mandate to Timothy:
"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
MISSIONS
Discover Kingdom Purpose
Become a strong band of brothers as you step outside your own territoy to act on God’s behalf. Accomplish His purposes by working and witnessing to meet the spiritual and physical needs of others.
Jesus’ Last Words to Us:
"But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" Acts 1:8
THE CHALLENGE
Are these scriptural core values being acted out among the men in your church?
We challenge you to build a men’s discipleship group. If you need help contact or email a member of the EMM Council.
PRESIDENT’S PEN
REFLECTION FROM THE PRESIDENT
Recently, a young man from our church told me of an incident that happened in the Junior Church he was leading. He was teaching on the subject of “unity” and its importance in our personal lives and the life of the church.
The young man lay down on the floor and invited two of the larger children to pick him up. At six feet and well over two hundred pounds, it would be a very hard task even for adults.
The two children struggled for a short time but could not get him off the floor. The man, still lying on the floor, then invited the remainder of the class to try together to lift him. The children leaped from their seats, surrounded him and lifted him off the floor. A point well made and one not soon to be forgotten.
The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians in chapter four to “make every effort” to remain unified in what they have been taught by the Spirit.
Paul goes on to say some specific giftedness will come forth in people’s lives. But he also states we all need to reach “unity in the faith” and “become mature.” To attain a “whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” He encourages the Ephesians to move from infancy in Christ to maturity. They are to “build one another up in love.”
What strength we draw from one another! A young man told me, “I do not want to be alone.” He told me he did not want to be without a small group of men close to him and a strong congregation of people surrounding him and his family.
Unity throughout the EMC will raise it to greater heights of spiritual maturity and thus, greater works of ministry. Coming together in groups, seeking God in His fullest is the catalyst needed on the journey to the “fullness of Christ.”
Helping men establish a solid relationship with one another, with the centralization of Biblical truth and love, brings about maturity in Christ. This maturity brings forth the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus’ last prayer before the cross called upon the Father to bring “the disciples to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:23).
Discipleship will bring unity in our lives all across the denomination. It will greatly magnify the power we have to “make disciples of all nations.” We will be men with power. Men ready to serve wherever and whenever God calls.
Larry McDowell
CONTACTS
EMM President: larrymcdowell@emchurch.org
VP Web/Tech: kayalexander@emchurch.org
VP Education: chrisbaker@emchurch.org
VP Missions: mikenicholson@emchurch.org
Member at large: kenpenny@emchurch.org
Sample Men’s Meeting
How do you match up?
Wesley’s self-examination quiz.
Here is one set of nearly two dozen questions which John Wesley gave to members of his discipleship groups more than 200 years ago. The questions may have their origin in the spiritual accountability group started by Wesley when he was a student at Oxford — a group that detractors called "The Holy Club." Please recall that the EMM is committed to mentoring and accountability among me in order to be all that Christ for a man to become.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible believe in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
"Encourage one another daily . . . so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." — Hebrews 3:13
Meaningful Monthly Meetings
When an EMM meeting is on the schedule, folks automatically think of a Saturday or Sunday morning breakfast meeting in which men “meet, eat, burp and go home!” Unfortunately, this reputation is well deserved in many instances. But this is beginning to change. More and more, local church EMM leaders are discovering the need to stretch beyond the traditional boundaries of the EMM into areas that will attract non-active men to the ministry. One of the keys to this is helping men grow spiritually. Men want to be challenged. Many want a chance to learn more about their relationship with Christ and how to live a victorious life in Christ.
One area where men’s spiritual growth can be enhanced is the monthly men’s meeting. Rather than being a time for primarily reporting and planning, many Men’s Ministry groups are seeing the monthly meeting as a time for inspiration and growth. Most men are careful with their schedules these days. They are not likely to come to something they feel is not worth their time. Therefore, it is important that a monthly meeting be one thing—“relevant.” That is, relevant to a man’s needs— spiritual growth, involvement, and challenge.
Below are a few suggestions.
1. Consider a week night supper meeting once a month as an alternative. Once a month is not too much to ask. Remember that family time is a priority for a man of God. Many men today will not want to give up a Saturday morning for a meeting. If the intent were to meet, and then go do a mission project on Saturday, most men would rather meet briefly at the church or worksite, and “get on with it.” Sunday morning may not be the best time either. Time is limited. There may be a “formal” feeling to meeting on Sunday morning, and some men will need to go back home after the meeting to pick up their family. Men like to eat a good breakfast or supper meal.
2. Pray and discover ways to add spiritual depth to your meetings. This is what many men hunger for. This is also what will help you grow your Men’s Ministry. This will require a transformation for many as to what the purpose of the monthly meeting is. There should be a short time for announcements, planning and reporting, but those items are not the focus of the meeting. Focus on those things that will inspire and incite men to spiritual growth.
3. Singing. Believe it or not, men love to sing! You will need to find the type of music your men respond to most favorably. Many groups are finding praise songs and choruses (with the use of overhead or PowerPoint) effective in setting a worshipful, meaningful tone to the meeting. A men’s worship team works very well.
4. Teaching. This can be done with the use of a live speaker or video. Either way, it should be geared specifically to issues men face (how to be a better father, marital relationships, money management, sexual temptation, spiritual growth, etc.). Your pastor, visiting pastor, or speaker could be enlisted. A live speaker allows for interaction. This should be a time for challenging men and causing them to look at their own life and their walk with Christ.
5. Discussion. Once the teaching time is complete, organize the men into groups of three. Give them a sheet with three or four questions related to the teaching they have just heard, and ask them to discuss. This sharing will reinforce the teaching lesson.
6. Prayer. Ask for specific prayer requests in the large group setting. Then ask men to pray in their small groups for these requests, as well as others they may share among themselves. Encourage targeted prayer for spiritual and physical healing. Reaffirm that ‘nothing is too difficult for the Lord" (Jeremiah 32:27). Believe the Lord to saturate the meeting in the Presence of the Holy Spirit.
Keep your meetings on the announced time limits. Begin and end on time. If some men want to hang around and talk that is a good thing. Expect it. Many times a man will open up for help following a meeting
