The average North American male is a man of few words. Busy. Work-minded. Competitive. Friendship-poor. Pleasure-seeking. Self-sufficient. Bottom line-oriented. Worried. Spiritually underdeveloped.

Do any of these describe you? Then perhaps you need to experience the positive benefits of a vibrant men's fellowship in your local church.

"At the heart of the secular men's movement," summarizes Rick Koepcke and James Wilder in an article appearing in the May/June 1994 issue of Faith and Renewal magazine, "is the estrangement men feel from their fathers, or the 'father wound.' Another villain, in the secular movement's view, is religion, especially Christianity, which they see as an emasculating influence."

The Christian men's movement is more diverse, Koepcke and Wilder go on to observe, manifesting itself in six directions (1) the men's liberation group concerns itself with "the fragile male ego." (2) The coaching model of groups like Promise Keepers seeks to motivate men with the right encouragement, admonition, and exhortation. (3) Some Christian men's movement leaders have adopted the secular call for healing as the primary need of men to be addressed. Others insist on making (4) fathering or (5) male sexuality the focal points of ministry to men. (6) Marriage advocates round out the list, placing more emphasis on saving marriages than saving men as the priority of men's ministry.

While the secular movement justly highlights the wounds and brokenness of men in today's society and their need for role models and vulnerability, it fails to point them to the Heavenly Father, whose heart's desire is that they be healed by His Son's stripes and empowered by His life's blood. The strength of the Christian men's movement is that, regardless of its diversity over different starting points and interests, it unites men by calling them to discipleship centered in Jesus Christ.

Why this resurgence of interest? It is obvious that enthusiasm for church men's ministry is growing today because men are hungry for integrity, wholeness, and empowerment through Christ for spiritual leadership in their homes, churches, and communities. Those who are following Him are spreading the word that there is great personal fulfillment for men in sharing relationships and ministry partnerships with each other. God's Spirit is calling men to salvation and more abundant life.

There are many personal satisfactions church leaders can tell men who work together in the cause of Christ to anticipate:

1. Discovery. As men invest their lives with other men in ministry, they discover a more powerful, personal spiritual life. True ministry is service for God that directly benefits others and it can only be done through the indwelling strength of Christ in us. This discovery challenges men to depend more upon prayer, calls them to deeper appreciation for worship, and causes them to grow more confident as they see the positive results of walking with God. Another discovery ministry leads to is the energetic fellowship men can enjoy together. Sharing ministry builds new and better friendships among men.

2. Direction. The stereotypical "mid-life" crisis plunges men into a time of doubt about their mission in life and their hopes of ever accomplishing it. Ministry is a source of renewed direction, as God shows us practical ways of utilizing our time and talents in people and projects that weigh in with eternal significance. The question, Does my life count for anything genuinely worthwhile? receives a resounding yes from the heavens when we lay down our lives for others in Christ's name.

3. Discipline. Integrity and character are hard to come by and easily lost in contemporary society. Ministry develops both by disciplining us to give the best we have to offer—ourselves. Self-discipline is the seed of success in any enterprise. It calls forth the toughness and greatness within us that earn the respect of others. One reason to commit ourselves to sharing ministry with other men is that the process will lead to growth in this critical area.

4. Distinction. Ministry produces a satisfaction that comes from doing what many men cannot do. Anybody can be religious. Anybody can go to church. Anybody can live a halfway decent life and do nice things for others. But it takes a better man to be righteous than it does to be religious; a mightier man to be holy than it takes to be Number One; a stronger man to be faithful than it takes to be first. Ministry sets a man apart from the crowd as one who can bridle his own desires and ambitions and channel his energies into God's plans for his life.

These are just a few of the things a vital men's ministry can do for you and the men in your church. Throw yourself headlong into the adventure of serving Jesus Christ and invite the men around you to come along as you do.

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