Grace has a goal regarding men’s ministry:

Develop a comprehensive strategy and provide leadership to produce a men's ministry that forges bonds of brotherhood and trains men to be effective leaders in the home, church and community

It’s safe to say that this particular goal reflects something with which our leaders were not satisfied. We were happy with the direction of women’s ministry, but weren’t happy with the effectiveness of our ministry uniquely designed for men.

Many churches share this frustration. Men’s ministry can be very rewarding, but it tends to go in cycles of effectiveness to frustration. Men are unique. We want deeper bonds of friendship with other men, yet we fight it at every turn. We want to be in a group, and we put every obstacle in the way of being in a group. We want to be known, and we fear it.

Each of the key goals we have has now been given a staff members’ name as a leader. I am going to be the one primarily leading the direction of men’s ministry. I’m definitely looking for other key leaders to be a part of it, and in fact, recently, some men have been a part of the planning for men’s events.

In 2017, we’ve been focused on getting some events on the calendar so men regularly get together. That is important to developing a men’s ministry. Consistency will help build faithfulness. In the years ahead we will keep some regular things on the calendar, but will want to add some relationship pieces to the mix. We need some more men’s groups, both formal and informal, to forge the bonds of brotherhood more deeply.

This weekend is the first men’s retreat our church has had in many years. Please pray for us that the Lord will begin to forge deeper bonds of brotherhood. Pray that some leaders will emerge from this weekend to help us with all that is embodied in the goal above.

In Him,

Don Ward