November 2012

Dear Friends of MMC,

God is moving to ignite men with a passion to better serve their families, churches, and communities. Over the past 32 years, faithful givers and prayer warriors, like you, have empowered us to stay focused on our calling. The investment of your time in reading this letter will help you understand how your prayers and encouragement can help change the world one man at a time. We send our year-end letter in response to Revelation 1:19, which says: “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.”

Current events have caused many people to feel hopeless and frustrated. Yet through the lens of biblical prophecy it all makes sense. As Jesus stated to the Jewish leaders who were instrumental in having Jesus crucified, “My Kingdom is not of this world… But now my kingdom is from another place” John 18:36-37. In light of the prophecies found in Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 12, Matthew 24, and the book of Revelation as well as the headlines filling our newspapers we have to ask ourselves two questions: Am I ready for Christ’s return? Whom do I need to talk to about Jesus?

Your partnership with MMC is making a difference. Your prayers and your generous support have made the following possible:

➢ Pastor’s Workshop in Oakland, CA
➢ Iron Sharpens Iron Conference in San Francisco (first time event)
➢ Over 600 men from 10 to 88 years of age attended the Sacramento ISI and 28 men received Christ as their Savior
➢ New Iron Sharpens Iron Conference in Boise, ID (2013)
➢ New Pastor’s Workshops will be occurring in Missoula, MT and the Central Valley in California during 2013
➢ New guidebooks for support of men
➢ Online and social media outreach efforts to 20-30 year old men, who are missing from most churches, impacts over 3,000 men every month
➢ Thousands of people use the free weekly devotional email we offer as an outreach tool.
➢ Using our proven men’s outreach tools and resources will add many new Pastors and Men’s Ministry Workshops to our schedule
➢ Both Logos Bible Software and Thomas Nelson Publishers are using MMC materials to form a men’s ministry platform to assist those that desire to reach men
➢ Guts, Grace and Glory (Jim Grassi’s new book) is complete and he is working on four more discipleship books that will be finished over the next 18 months
➢ The MMC team is also developing new concepts and plans that will assist the 7,000 churches and several denominations already receiving our materials.

At a time when demonic activity is at an all time high, Men’s Ministry Catalyst and our partners, like you, have taken the gospel to churches and men around the world. Through our extensive resources, messages, books, and conferences God has used us to change the lives and hearts of the spiritual leader of a home – man. C. S. Lewis and other respected scholars are right when they say if you capture the heart of a man you can change the dynamics of a nation.

Many of you are aware that the Pastor’s Workshops and Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Equipping Conferences sponsored by MMC have spread throughout the west. The testimonies we heard at the Pastor’s Workshop in Oakland, CA. were so powerful and emotional. Many inner-city African American pastors struggle with how to capture the hearts of young black men who can get involved in destructive activities during their youth. At the close of our presentation D.C., a middle-aged black man, came up to us and said, “I’m here today to learn more about becoming a full-time men’s ministry pastor. Last year you came to the Solano State Prison where I had been an inmate for many years. Your inspiration and the power of the Holy Spirit transformed my life. Now I’m a free man and I want to become a good role model for other guys struggling with the issues that got me into trouble.” The emotion in his voice as he spoke with us strongly conveyed his love and commitment to his mission of working with men.

Dr. Kevin Barnes, a well-respected pastor in Oakland, is working with MMC to create a model to reach men who wouldn’t otherwise attend church in an effort to change the inner-city culture. As this model is finalized, we hope to implement it in other inner-city areas. As D.C.’s pastor, Dr. Barnes has seen the impact MMC can make in the lives of men. Working together we can see a spiritual revolution or reformation take place in cities like Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Boise, Spokane, Denver, and Missoula. In order to continue to make a difference, we need your continued partnership.

The Iron Sharpens Iron Conference in San Francisco was crucial to the area because we went into the heart of the lion’s den—the Tenderloin District. Dozens of men came forward to accept Christ and commit themselves to following God’s Word. With tears in his eyes one of the elders of the sponsoring church said, “We didn’t think anyone would ever come to our city to do a conference like this. Most outreach ministries are afraid of our diverse culture and all the surrounding sin and crime. Thank you for coming! You have changed our church and community.”

Businessmen often talk about ROI – return on investment. MMC’s partners, like you, have helped us inspire, equip, encourage, and challenge men to become the spiritual leaders of their homes, communities, churches, and nation.

In September, the National Coalition of Ministries to Men presented MMC with the prestigious Men’s Ministry of the Year Award. Being recognized with an award is great, but the greatest reward comes from knowing we help pastors and men’s leaders within churches, like yours, by equipping them with biblically based plans and innovative resources that reach men! The ROI is evident — thanks to the support of ministry partners like you.

God continues to open many doors of opportunity for us to serve and challenge thousands of men and their families to follow Christ. In addition to assisting with conferences, retreats, workshops, Special Kid’s Day Programs for the Disabled and scores of men’s programs, our recent energies have also been devoted to assisting and encouraging pastors in their efforts to reach more men for Christ. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of strain on most pastors’ marriages and families and few people are adequately equipped to assist these servants/leaders. The cultural complexity and dynamics of the 21st century have created high levels of stress for many pastors and their churches.

• OUR CALLING: Investing in and Encouraging the Influencers
• OUR PASSION: Seeing Men Transformed into the Likeness of Christ
• OUR MISSION: Influencing Men by Equipping Church Leaders

Thanks to faithful partners, like you, over the past three decades God has empowered us with the knowledge and experience to develop practical messages, resources, and tools that are now having global impact on men. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” Mt. 9:37. MMC IS ONE OF VERY FEW ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES TO ACTUALLY HELP CONNECT MEN WITH CHRIST’S MISSION AND THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH, AND THEN HELP GROW THEM INTO MATURE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. GOD HAS PLACED A SENSE OF URGENCY ON OUR HEARTS – WE PRAY THAT YOU SENSE IT TOO.

Only with your continued support can we continue helping churches pray, plan, and execute an effective ministry to men that intentionally transforms men into the likeness of Christ. With God’s enabling power, we can make a real difference in the lives of thousands of men through consulting, best practices, training, special kid’s day programs, and regional men’s events.

OUR 2013 STRATEGY: Strengthening Relationships & Rallying Men
So what does this next year hold? God is leading us to focus our efforts on churches in the Western United States, with a desire to strengthen our relationships with them by providing even more coaching, resources, discipleship training, and regional men’s events. The impact – more men intentionally transformed into the likeness of Christ. The strategy – provide excellence in training and teaching through carefully designed messages, programs, and resources.

OUR CHALLENGE: Raising Up a New Generation of Faith Partners
Despite numerous salary reductions and budget cuts, we unfortunately anticipate finishing the 2012 fiscal year with a $49,500 deficit. In order to sustain our work with men and their church leaders, we are in need of more monthly faith partners willing to coming alongside us through regular giving. If 10 families gave $83/month (or a one-time gift of $1000), we could assist 10 churches that otherwise couldn’t afford our services. And if 50 families pledged to give just $30/month, that would help keep the mission of Men’s Ministry Catalyst funded. Or if 100 families were able to give only $10/month, we would rejoice in so many families doing together what we cannot do alone.

We are praying that you will consider a monthly pledge, of any amount, to help us finish the fiscal year strong and keep bringing relevant, biblical truth, and innovative resources to pastors and men around the country. If you would like us to charge your debit or credit card monthly, please click here to go to our electronic donation page (this is the most cost-effective way to give to MMC). If you’d prefer to print out and send in the form below with your pledge, we will certainly welcome it in that fashion too. Simply click on the image below, print it, fill it out and send it to the address listed there. If a monthly pledge isn’t realistic then any gift right now would go a long way in helping with our shortfall and future goals.

We pray that if you’re willing – and feel the call to be a part of a ministry that has and will continue to impact men and their families through the local church – you will send your best tax-deductible gift today. We invite you to join us in celebrating 30 years of doing together what we could not do alone! We love you and so appreciate all you do for others and for the Kingdom of God.

In His Service, Dr. Jim Grassi Founder/President & James Steiner CEO

P.S. We view 2013 as an equipping year. In that spirit, our Thank-You Gifts are resources to either assist you or to be passed along to others. An anonymous supporter donated these gifts to help you and your family to better know God and make Him known. We pray you have a blessed Christmas, and at this Christmas season, may you be encouraged and encourage others during these trying times with these new books and the comforting Word of God: