Ministry to men alive and growing

  • Jay Leno's Car

    What has this McLaren sports car got to do with men’s ministry? Nothing. I saw it on the NBC lot while I was in California. It belongs to Jay Leno.

    I’m in California this week to attend the National Coalition of Ministries to Men Reload ’12 conference. I’m happy to report that men’s ministry is alive and well – and growing.

    The 2012 conference drew a larger crowd than ever. NCMM’s membership rolls grew by more than 50% in the past year.

    The highlight of the conference was a trip to Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Saddleback is probably the nation’s most influential megachurch. The men traveled to Saddleback expecting to hear from Kenny Luck, the Men’s Pastor – but instead received a surprise address from Rick Warren, founding pastor of the church. You can hear Warren’s remarks by clicking here (sorry for the recording quality, I used my iPhone).

    No less interesting were addresses from actor T. C. Stallings, and Pastors Jack Hayford and Miles McPherson. NCMM has never had such a great lineup of plenary speakers.

    NCMM saw the release of two new, high-quality video teaching curricula for men. Men’s Fraternity has released “33: The Series”, a hip, modernized version of the leading men’s video course. Family Life is introducing “Stepping Up,” a new 8 week video based curriculum that will launch nationally February 3, 2013 (Super Bowl weekend).

    Book-based discipleship material continues to appear. Among these are Called to War, Christian Mentor’s Network and Knights of the 21st Century. A new rites-of-passage curriculum made its debut: Following Jesus – A Heroic Quest for Boys.

    For the first time, a seminary showed up at NCMM. Southern California Seminary sent a representative, indicating that at least one pastoral training school is interested in the world’s largest unreached people group.

    After reaching their nadir in 2010, Promise Keepers is back – focused on men again. PK sponsored four arena events this year, and expects to double that next year. Steve Sonderman’s No Regrets conference will be beamed into churches all over the globe February 2, 2013.

    There’s a growing realization inside and outside the church that society needs strong men. The future of men’s ministry is bright – because the need is so great.

     

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    September 20th, 2012 | David Murrow | 3 Comments |

About The Author

David Murrow

David Murrow is the director of Church for Men, an organization that helps congregations reach more men and boys. In his day job, David works as a television producer and writer. He's the author of three books. He lives in Alaska with his wife, three children, two grandchildren and a dachshund named Pepper.

  • Joel

    “There’s a growing realization inside and outside the church that society needs strong men.” Dave, can you link any articles or research on this point, specifically ‘outside the church’?

  • http://www.churchformen.com David Murrow

    Google “fathering” and see the many sites that are dedicated to helping men be better fathers.

  • Tim

    I pray that we will look to God and His Holy Word for the strength we so desperately seek! So many times large crowds and overwhelming support is usually a good sign in this world of a straying from our walk with the Savior..Like on the road to Emmaus it was in communing and reasoning together that He came along beside! I pray He comes along aside us as we do the same….In His Grip!