There's an awareness that is growing in congregations around the country..."church isn't something that we go to...church is what we are..." It's about vision and movement and an intentional tending to the delicate needs of the world outside the door of our churches. And when that discovery becomes personal, congregations and in particular the men in those congregations find themselves involved in amazing things...
In January 2007, Pastor Ricardo Sinisterra led two car loads of men from New Life LC in Pearland to a "sister" congregation, Christo Rey in Reynosa, Mexico. The community's existence has taken shape as people continue to live on the "edge of town," near the dump with a population that continues to grow week by week. This community lives in extreme poverty and the roads are made of mud and only a couple of vehicles ever find there way there. People walk a variety of paths to come together on Sunday for worship and Bible study and a community meal, often the only meal some get on that day.
There are many children there and this new ministry finds itself with unique opportunities and unique challenges. Two challenges in particular were to bring joy to the lives of the children at Christmastime and to expand the worship space that has existed now for a number of months there. The men's group at New Life were ready to respond.
As the weeks of Advent unfolded, the New Life men asked families from the congregation to bring clothing and toys for the children at Christo Rey. The response was amazing! As a result, an entire SUV was converted, with seats taken out, to a U-haul cargo wagon top to bottom, door to door and were delivered on Epiphany Day, January 6, the day we recall the "3 kings" came to visit the Christ child. What delight the parents and children experienced with this huge surprise.
The next day, the men poured concrete and placed beams and added 40 feet to the existing worship space at Christo Rey. The men stayed for worship, they sang, they prayed and they gathered to celebrate the Lord's Supper and rejoice in the "family of God" which God had put together that day. One man mentioned, "it was a Christmas miracle! It changed their live and mine!"
Another trip is being planned to Reynosa on the first weekend of December. And more trips are planned after that. There's an awareness that is growing in congregations around the country..."church isn't something that we go to...church is what we are..." It's about vision and movement and an intentional tending to the delicate needs of the world outside the door of our churches. And when that discovery becomes personal, congregations and in particular the men in those congregations find themselves involved in amazing things...
How does your men's ministry reach out? A trip to Mexico or Port Arthur or New Orleans is not the goal. Mission trips that are a "one-time" event or projects that are ongoing both qualify...
- Is there a woman in your congregation (or a friend of the congregation) who needs her porch steps rebuilt?
- Can the men of the church provide a "quick stop" auto check (tires, oil, belts, etc) for those who are widowed or single parent moms, just before the weather turns cold?
- Does your congregation have a group of men trained to visit other men when they are hospitalized or at home, on the mend and unable to drive? Who can help?
- Which man has a "sermon" in his wallet and is ready to preach just in case the pastor gets sick at 7:30 AM on Sunday morning?
- Which men attend the City Council meetings and School Board meetings in your community and report to the congregation their work and decisions?
- Are the men in your congregation equipped to pray and then serve others willingly?
Intentional, perisistent and consistent efforts by the men in our congregations makes men's minstry both worthwhile and desirous for others to take part! Think BIG. God thinks BiGGER!
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