April in Minnesota should bring warm air and Spring flowers, but this year the lakes near Brainerd were still ice-covered and the air was "a bit nippy." But the cold didn't slow down the 97 men who came to the second annual Minnesota Conference Men's Retreat. The singing, praying, preaching and fellowship were all joyful, energetic and relaxing. As in most retreats for Adventist men, those in attendance represented all ages, types of employment and spiritual history. But all were there to grow as Christian men!
That descriptive paragraph could be written about all of the men's retreats that have been held across North America this year. Oh yes, the weather is different and the numbers vary, but the intensity and spiritual uplift are the same. Men are coming together for one reason: to grow as Christian men. And they are enjoying the process.
At the beginning of the Friday evening meeting at one retreat the leader asked, "What are you hoping to get out of this weekend?" Immediately a man in the back corner raised his hand. "There are three of us back here who hope to kick smoking this weekend." Their announcement brought immediate and long applause from the other men. Throughout the weekend those men were prayed for, prayed with, encouraged and strengthened. All battles are easier with that quality of support!
Starting your own ministry
So, how can you start a ministry for men, or keep yours going strong? These seven specific how-to's may give you some help:
1. Start with a small group of 3-7 men who agree to meet for Bible study and fellowship once a week for 6 weeks. The meetings should be no longer than 90 minutes and should be guided by a dedicated Christian man who is eager to see men respond to the calling of God.
2. Use simple material in the group. Books like First Class Male by Len McMillan and Marvin Wray or The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper by Bill McCartney are excellent books for small groups. Read a chapter together and discuss what these ideas could do to your lives.
3. Be honest. Be open. Be silent. This group must be a safe place for the participants to say what they are feeling. As one said, "This is one place where I can talk about my life and know I'm not going to hear about it from the barber next Tuesday.
4. Get involved in larger groups. Have all the men in your group attend the conference men's retreat. The more men from your congregation--the more fun you'll have at the retreat. If you have two or three small men's groups meeting each week, have a monthly meeting for ALL. Join Promise Keepers and attend one of their rallies as a group. Sit together. Wear the same T-shirts. Analyze all that is happening. Talk about what you're learning and plan ways to implement it in your congregation.
5. Do something for someone else. This one is the real "secret" of a successful men's group.) Start simple with "flowers for the woman in your life." Then graduate to offering simple maintenance for several "house-bound" people in the community. Hold a "car wash and polish" for all the single parents in the community. Go on a group "date" with your wives and girlfriends. Take a "men's" mission trip with Maranatha Volunteers International. Be creative and match the needs of your community with the talents of your men!
6. Start a prayer journal for the men's group. What prayers are you praying and how is God responding? What specific prayer answers can you list in the journal? What prayers of thanksgiving are you able to pray for how God is changing the lives of men?
7. Be evangelistic about your men's ministry. Invite others to join you. Invite your neighbor and the quiet old fellow three houses down. Talk about it during worship service next Sabbath. Pray for it in family worship. Invite your son to join. Always be ready to start a new group.
Remember the goal. Men's ministry exists to help men grow closer to Christ.
Dick Duerksen was working for Celebration Hospital in Orlando, Florida at the time this article was written.
