July 2008
Men’s Ministry Best Practices: Avoiding Common Failures
Pillar 1: Create a Real Environment
If you want to create an environment where men feel safe, you need to "keep it real". Randy, one of the judges on American Idol, often challenges the audience and other judges to “keep it real” . A safe environment that models integrity encourages people to be honest and open. Transparency begins with those in leadership daring to be real and authentic. If you want your men to face their stuff and grow spiritually, you need to model transparency.
The people in the Bible that serve as our examples of how to walk a life of faith have experienced failure and brokenness and are not afraid to admit it. Look at Paul: "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing." Romans 7:19. And yet God saw fit to speak through Paul in the letters of most of the New Testament.
And consider David's prayer after committing adultery: "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." Psalm 51:1-2. And yet again God saw fit to bless David's reign as king (although his sin certainly had consequence), and David throughout the Psalms shows us his transparency as he walks with God.
Remind your men that one thing is consistent in life, and that's brokenness and it is only Jesus that completes us and can heal that brokenness. So start by modeling transparency to them. Give your men a safe place - around the table at your breakfasts, or in a coffee shop during a small group - where they can be real men, with real issues, seeking the real Jesus.
Read the other articles in this issue:
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