"No Man Left Behind"

THE IMPORTANCE OF MEN'S MINISTRY IS BEING ECHOED ALL OVER!

If someone came to your church and scribbled these letters on the whiteboard of your Fellowship Hall----Y C I P D T G T R I I G----what might you conclude?

1. You can predict a rainy day using the facets of trigonometry?
2. You sip Gatorade by the oil rig?
3. You see it's pretty darn tiring going to Randall's immediately in galoshes
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Actually, it's 5 ---None of the above...but the phrase Y C I P D T G T R I I G can be used for yourself, your family, your business and in this case your church...as in...

...Your Church Is Designed Perfectly to Get the Results it is Getting...

Now adjust that phrase and attach it to the existing men's ministry in your congregation...

...Your Men's Ministry Is Designed Perfectly to Get the Results it is Getting...

Someone has likened men's ministry to this kind of a scene...only 1 out of 18 men in America are mature men of faith...did you get that? Just one in eighteen men are disciple-making disciples of Jesus. For some that may be a surprise. For some, they won't care one way or the other. For others to consider this may be a staggering thought and yet for others it will be viewed as an opportunity to role up their sleeves and get to work. But, for our sake the importance is not that we know this; what is critical is that we can do something about this and the time is now. For if our ministry to and with men is for the long haul, the best place to start or continue is right where we are.

Another way of addressing this is to consider what many have learned in AA when it comes to the definition of "insanity." The definition? "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." So, let's not go insane here...but rather start or continue where you are in your ministry with men and do something different to foster different results!

Consider 18 men going out on a baseball diamond. All the equipment is present. Bats, balls, gloves, helmets, bases, the field is lined and the game is on. But, only one man knows the rules of baseball. Can you see it? 17 guys running around willy nilly inside and outside the lines, hopping the fences, running the steps of the stadium, playing hide and seek in the dugouts and back hallways, wondering why three bases are square and one in the shape of a pentagon and what the heck that little rectangle of rubber on the mound of dirt is all about? Can you imagine 17 guys tossing balls at each other, chasing each other around with bats and setting up duals with goofy looking boxing gloves? And one guy---just one guy---running around trying to get the other 17 to listen and to learn the way of the game...does your church reflect that image sometimes? Does your men's ministry have an abundance of players who still need to get to know the game and witg just a few coaches or with just one or none? I understand why so many get frustrated so easily.

As the angel said to Joseph, "do not be afraid..." And so we won't but we'll need to trust the story and direction of God to find our way to a deeper, more meaningful and more focused ministry to and with men...and know this...there is a growing movement in our synod and around the ELCA to expand and strengthen the work of Lutheran Men in Mission. It's a ministry that is both urgent and necessary for the long haul to benefit our congregations and for the spiritual well-being each and every man we know...including ourselves. As author Pat Morely suggests...the gospel of Jesus Christ and the saving message that is ours to share is so important that we should desire to have "no man left behind."

Here's a short list to get your congregation jump-started or re-strengthened...

• talk about men's ministry at your church every Sunday;
• find a place to post news and information about the work of your congregation's men;
• look beyond the boundaries of your own congregation and reach out to ELCA neighbors;
• Consider ways to "encourage" each generation---

1. Give a Master Builder's Bible to each male HS graduate;
2. Offer a parenting class to young men and their spouse with children;
3. Promote father-son gatherings and "one-night" fishing trips or camp outs;
4. Sponsor a "Financial Peace" seminar (ala Dave Ramsey) to promote good stewardship;
5. Honor the young and older men in your congregation who are serving or served in the military;
6. Help men in your congregation view "men's ministry" as more than cutting grass and handing out bulletins;
7. Mix the generations and host a tailgate party for a Texans game, etc.

These ideas can be good grist for your idea bank and remember that each congregation has it's own unique way of reaching out to men. Ask your pastor to pray for the men of the church in the Sunday prayers of the church. Pray for your pastor and your congregation often as this is the gateway to growing men's ministry for all of us...

It's my hope that as the days, weeks, months and years go by...all of us will seek to be that one man in the midst of 17 others to help teach, lead, mentor and coach so that as our LMM vision statement will be lived out..."That every man has a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men's ministry in every congregation."

Please echo those words nearby and far away...each and every day...the need is urgent and our efforts and even our neglect will not go unnoticed... with "no man, I mean no man left behind..."

Brian