by Gary Yagel

Thousands of men’s ministry teams across the nation have found it helpful to evaluate and plan men’s ministry events based on reaching three goals: 1) Create value (overcome the inertia of men by offering them a program that they find valuable), 2) Capture momentum (move towards life-change through an intentional plan to build upon the momentum created by the planned event), 3) Sustain change (help men build habits of holiness).

Launching a ministry of any type usually takes enormous energy. Pat Morley likens this energy to the five hundred thousand gallons of liquid fuel it takes to launch the Space Shuttle. That fuel burns off in 8.5 minutes. Then the shuttle travels another four million miles on a bucket of fuel. The launch of men’s ministry events—whether a seminar on sexual integrity, a fresh challenge to form brotherhood bonds, or a golf tournament, usually takes a lot of energy. Often, though, much of that energy is wasted because there is no careful plan for capturing and building upon the momentum created by that event.

A cursory look at Scripture reveals the significance of capturing momentum, once it is created. One of the most climactic moments in all of Scripture comes when Elijah faces the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In this showdown, Yahweh shows himself to be the true god, by sending fire to consume the sacrifice. The people cry out, "Yahweh—he is God. Yahweh—he is God!" Elijah does not stop there, though. He captures the momentum of the showdown and immediately commands the people to seize the prophets of Baal to be executed. Had Elijah not captured the momentum of the moment, but allowed the prophets to go back home, the hearts of God’s people might have been quickly turned right back to Baal by the false prophets.

When Jesus showed his power to Peter, Andrew, James, and John by filling their fishing nets to the breaking point, he had a plan to follow up that dramatic event. He invited the four to become fishers of men.

Many church leaders are very discouraged about men’s ministry. They will recount a specific event from the past that usually went fairly well initially. But, the momentum was not captured and sustained. In hindsight, the event has become just a flash in the pan.

Don’t let this happen in your men’s ministry! Whenever you plan a men’s ministry event always plan how you are going to capture the momentum of that event. For example, if you have a seminar on "6 Principles For Being a Great Dad," have a guy on your leadership team ready to announce a 6 week follow up study on the material from the seminar. Plan to have him announce at the seminar that he is having some guys over to his house on the next 6 Monday nights to review one principle each week from 7:30-9PM and then watch the first half of Monday night football. (Later some of those guys may enjoy meeting so much that they decide to keep meeting regularly. This would accomplish the third goal, "sustain change").

A paintball social could be followed up by a guy who says at the event, "Some of us want to start doing this once a month, at least for the fall. If you want to be part of the group, come talk to me—we’d love to have you." This could be an effective follow up for a non-believing friend who comes to the paintball social. It will work much better if planned ahead of time.

Recently, a church I was assisting had a men’s dinner on a Wednesday night. The speaker challenged the men to be connected to another brother. The men’s ministry team captured the momentum by planning time during the evening for the men to fill out a questionnaire giving specific information about whether they were already connected to another brother in Christ, whether they wanted such a connection, and whether such a connection would happen better at the workplace or back home. Since then, the leadership team has been following up the questionnaires to sustain change by helping men find other men to meet with.

It is always worth careful, detailed planning on the front end of a men’s ministry event to determine how best to capture the momentum created by the event. That way the hard work and momentum created by that event aren’t wasted. (For more information about the create value, capture momentum, sustain change goals for men’s ministry, click here to order the Men’s Ministry Action Plan, jointly published by Man in the Mirror and CE & P.

A Word to Men's Ministry Leaders

In the booklet "Men’s Ministry Action Plan—A Strategy for Reaching Men" by Pat Morley he says on p. 8, "If we were limited to making one observation about men, it would be that men are tired—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually tired. Not only are men tired, thy often have a lingering feeling something isn’t quite right about their lives. Many times men’s lives are not turning out the way they planned. Often it just doesn’t seem to them like anyone really cares."

For those of you who are actively involved in leading, planning, and promoting men’s ministry in your local church you may be feeling some of the same things, but for different reasons. Because of the hard work involved in men’s ministry there can be times of frustration. Here is a suggestion when times are difficult. The Apostle Paul writes in II Cor. 4:1, "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." I’m sure the Holy Spirit reminded Paul of this truth more than once as he faced the difficulty of ministry. As a matter of fact in the verses that follow Paul lists the afflictions, perplexities, persecutions, and knockdowns, BUT NOT crushed, driven to despair, forsaken, or destroyed. Don’t lose sight of why you are where you are, and going through what you are. God in His mercy chose you to be the jar of clay in which to show the treasure of the gospel.

Remember Paul says, "we do not lose heart." A team of men serving together is key to keeping on, and keeping the main thing the main thing. Pat says on p.36 of the above manual, "Don’t be frustrated or angry with men because they are not more involved. They can sense your frustration and anger. Instead continue (don’t lose heart) to show them Christ through your lifestyle so they find themselves strangely drawn to be with you." Parentheses added.

Now is not the time to throw in the towel, rather wake up, redeem the time, press on toward the mark, and take hold of that to which the Lord has called you.