PARTNER with us to
IMPACT men, families, and churches
Are you ready for some good news? We are very excited about the future and how God is using this ministry to impact men, families, and hundreds of churches. Take five minutes to read about the amazing things God is doing even during these tumultuous times and the plans we have for reaching 20 churches in each of 10 regions in 2010.
We’ve had the privilege and blessing of God for almost three decades of providing more conferences, retreats, Special Kids Day Programs for the disabled, sports show appearances, strategic resources, and evangelical outreach than any other men’s ministry in the country. And we can feel the power of your prayers. Like the Apostle Paul, we are so grateful for the many opportunities before us and the wonderful faith partners like you who have supported us to fulfill our calling, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:3-6 |
“I want to thank MMC for its efforts and resources in helping our pastoral team and men’s ministry in re-discovering the importance of developing a vibrant men’s ministry. Your timely counsel to our pastor and staff has helped us through some very difficult times. You have been a catalyst that God has used to help create a new spiritual culture in our church.”
Dave Mortara
Executive Pastor
Faith Fellowship Church |
Our Continued Call to Reach Men
And in our thanksgiving, God continues to impress upon us the importance of reaching men. Pat Morley, founder of Man in the Mirror states, “Nothing else has the power to change the world like reaching men.” Every day we see the need for Christ’s live-giving power to transform men into the leaders and providers God calls them to be. Through our many mentoring programs and consultation with pastors and men’s ministry leaders, we have witnessed some incredible changes. One pastor we spoke to put it this way: “Hardship will not harm a man but living a lie will. Not standing up for what is right, not standing up for truth will harm him at his core. He needs courage. He needs to stand up. A man in a wheel chair can still have courage in this way. So can a poor man, and an unemployed man. I think the truest thing about a man is his inner strength. And it is what is most needed from him. A violent man is a poser. The outward show of force is a cover up …. For a church’s men’s ministry to attract men, it needs to tap into and revive a man’s inner strength.” This pastor realizes that so many men today feel powerless, hopeless, and helpless. The message of Jesus will speak to men’s deepest need for inner strength that can only come through surrendering to God and His purposes. And we know that 93% of the time, when a man comes to faith, he brings his family, underscoring the spiritual influence he has in it.
Leveraging our Experience by Equipping Church Leaders
In addition to assisting the individual, we have also recognized the importance of equipping and empowering pastors and men’s ministry leaders in the local church. Our staff is lean and efficient, and we have realized that the best way to have the most impact with our 28 years of best-practice experience in discipleship and outreach is by equipping church leaders who can in turn reach and equip the men in their congregations and communities.
Our 2010 Strategy
Which brings us to our 2010 goal: the 20-10 Plan - 20 churches in each of 10 regions (Sandpoint, ID, Tri-Cities, WA, East Bay Area, CA, Spokane, WA, Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls, ID, Sacramento, CA, Chicago, IL, Greensboro, NC, Colorado Springs, CO). God is leading us to focus our efforts in 10 regions throughout the Western United States, with a desire to strengthen our relationships with the churches in those areas by providing consulting, messages, resources, training, and regional men's events. The impact? More men intentionally transformed into the likeness of Christ. Our strategy – and the fruit of this past year – looks like this:
- We will continue to use the Iron Sharpens Iron Conferences as our primary focus events that
 serve as the rallying point for men and their church leaders. Our four 2010 conferences are: February 20th in Castro Valley, CA; May 1st in Post Falls, ID; September 18th in Fair Oaks, CA; November 6th in Tri-Cities, WA. This past year:
- 500 men from 28 churches attended ISI in Castro Valley, CA (first year)
- 680 men from 40 churches attended ISI in Tri-Cities, WA
- 550 men from 13 churches attended ISI in Post Falls, ID (first year)
- On average 70% of the men recommitted their lives to following Christ more fully
Please pray with us that God would move men mightily at these 2010 events!
- We will complement the ISI events in each area with topically-relevant pastors/men’s ministry
 leaders workshops that seek to go deeper on specific topics related to reaching and inspiring men. This past year:
- We hosted 6 pastor workshops in 5 states averaging 20-25 churches per workshop
Please pray with us that God would inspire pastors and leaders in fresh ways through these equipping workshops!
- We will increase the proliferation of our best practice tools and resources by taking advantage of the digital medium and web-based learning tools, MM Encyclopedia and men’s ministry newsletter we provide. This past year:
- We provided resources to over 150 churches
Please pray for wisdom for us in deploying the best technologies and discerning the most useful materials to develop for church leaders
- We will continue to coach and consult one-on-one with pastors and men’s ministry leaders who are seeking to build vibrant men’s ministries. Currently:
- We have a database with over 2,200 contacts that represents 1,374 churches
Please pray that the words of encouragement and advice we offer would be Spirit-led and life-giving. Pray for the funds necessary to equip all the churches asking for help.
- We will help men’s ministry groups become more engaged with their communities by doing
 outreach events like our SKD programs for the disabled, sports clinics, and outdoor adventure events.
Please pray that communities would be drawn to Christ as His people reach out and more churches step outside the walls of their church to connect with their communities.
- We will continue to speak God’s truth into individuals and men’s groups by focusing upon Biblical principles that transform lives. This past year, men are knowing Him more daily, lives are being transformed, and men are walking in victory to execute God’s will and mission in the following areas:
- Sandpoint, ID, Richland, WA, San Leandro, CA, Castro Valley, CA, Spokane, WA,
 Danville, CA, Coeur d’Alene, ID, Hayden, ID, Pasco, WA, Post Falls, ID, Sacramento, CA, Chicago, IL, Colorado Springs, CO, Greensboro, NC, Seattle, WA.
Please pray that revival would happen and a spirit of unity would pervade the churches within the regions we serve.
Through Your Support We Can Help Transform Lives
How many men do you know living the abundant life Christ promises? Our hearts long for men to live that abundant life, and only the Holy Spirit has the power to transform lives and open men’s eyes to it. But the Spirit uses people like you and organizations like ours to present the words and love of Christ to open eyes and hearts. Think about this: everyone who met Jesus was transformed in some way. Sinful people were changed into forgiven people. Sick people were turned into healthy people. Those with heartaches and feelings of despair felt comfort and hope. Jesus turned the world around him upside down. Water became wine, water became solid enough to walk on, one loaf became many loaves, and a raging storm became calm. God’s greatest desire, and ours, is to transform people for eternity’s sake. And like Pastor Dave stated (see quote on page 1), OCM/MMC has been a catalyst to helping men and churches transform lives.
Our Urgent Need
Right now, we are projecting a $27,000 year-end shortfall that is an obstacle to the call before us. And our hope to fulfill the many requests for help from pastors and men’s leaders this next year has touched our hearts. So how can you help? We are looking for faith partners who would be willing to help support our work. A tax-deductible gift or pledge of $500 allows us to offer one church a scholarship for six months of our services; a gift of $1000 scholarships one church for a year. A generous gift of $5000 would allow us to support half of one region for an entire year! What a blessing that would be to offer churches struggling to get their men’s ministries off of the ground a scholarship that cuts our normal fees in HALF! Or maybe you would consider helping cover the costs of hosting our pastor’s workshops? A gift of $25 covers the upfront expenses associated with ONE pastor or men’s ministry leader attending our training event.
While we charge fees to attend our ISI conferences and workshops, many of the hours of consulting and the best practices we pass on to church leaders are given away to overwrought churches who can’t afford to pay. So really, a gift of any size will help keep us serving those God allows us to come alongside.
God has not changed, nor has the primary focus of this ministry. We're still on the same journey of making men’s ministry happen. And we know that God will lay it on the hearts of many to remove the obstacles and complete the journey ahead of us. There has never been a greater time of harvest for men’s souls than now! Men who wouldn’t normally give much attention to spiritual matters are now saying “I can’t do life this way anymore. I need your help and a relationship with the Almighty.” Please PRAY that our Lord will provide the needed funds for us to move forward into 2010 un-encumbered.
I trust that you will help us conclude this year in the black and provide the resources for us to meet the many demands on our ministry for 2010. That's why we’ve asking that you send the largest gift you can by return mail or via our secure website at www.mensministrycatalyst.org/2009.asp. Thank you for your help. May God bless you and your family during this holiday season.
In His Service,
Jim, Louise, James, Whitney, & Kristi
| P.S. - To thank you for your tax-deductible gift of $50 or more, you will receive Max Lucado’s book “Fearless” and Dr. Lee’s book “In God We Still Trust”, for a total value of $28.98: |
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For your gift or new pledge of $500 or more, you will receive the books above PLUS this engraved Granite Plaque and Easel for a total value of $50.98: |
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We
have a number of resources available for your
personal growth in the areas of discipleship
and sharing your faith and we also appreciate
support through attendance at and promotion
of our upcoming events. You can also read about
our monthly ministry activities.
Specific
Financial Needs
- Reprint
books
- Produce
training/curriculum
- Web-based
consulting programming and development
- Vocal
talent for audio-taping resources (devotional)
- New
computer for office staff
- Podcast
production and hosting services
- Donated
items for annual fundraiser (trips,
lodging, restaurant certificates, sports tickets)
Sponsorship
Opportunities
- "Sponsor-a-church"
(undesignated giving)
- Fundraising auction - various sponsorship levels with associated marketing benefits
- Take-a-Kid-Fishing
Program
Resources
(ongoing needs):
- Office
supplies (gift card to Staple's, Office Depot)
- Monthly
faith partner/special giver
- Video
supplies
- Airline
tickets
- Gasoline
for travel (use of corporate gas pumps)
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