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Why a Men�s Ministry? �For we are God�s workmanship (poema in Greek, meaning masterpiece �) created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.� Eph. 2:10

The leadership role of men in the church. The Scripture and the New Testament is clear about the leadership role of men in the church. David defined to his son Solomon what true manliness means. 1Kings 2:2 � be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:� The Old Testament overwhelmingly showed the leadership role of men in the nation. In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus chose men to be His apostles. The Twelve were men. The seventy mentioned in Luke 10:1 are presumably men as well. The first mention of the Holy Spirit choosing and appointing people to do apostolic work, He chose two men: Barnabas and Saul. Acts 13:1 In his letters, Paul assigned the function of overseeing the church to men. I Tim.3:1, Titus 1:6 1Tim. 2:8-15 Clearly contrasts the leadership role of men against women in the church. Even in the home, the primary responsibility of the spiritual nurture of children is given to fathers. Eph. 6:4 It�s essential for spiritual growth. Discipleship and spiritual growth comes out of obedience and service. Scripture full of exhortations on the fruit that God expects from our faith. We are exhorted to provoke one another to love and to good works. Hebrews 10:24 Jesus� parable of the tenants in the vineyard spoken to the Temple leaders clearly says that God expects fruit from his vineyard, the church. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit precisely to be able and empowered to do ministry. In fact our good works are simply the fruit of the Holy Spirit�s work in our lives. Why should the NGOs, the Red Cross and the government get our energies and attention and the credit goes to them, instead of God�s work in the church? We must fight against the prevailing misconception that we come together as a church solely and mainly for worship. It�s drying up the church (remember the fig tree that Jesus cursed? See Mark.) No question that worship is important but without service, worship becomes hollow. Read Isaiah. �I hate your worship services. Give justice to the widows and the orphans �� We can be so good managers, organizers and professionals in our �secular occupations� but virtual �bonsai plants� when it comes to using our skills and gifts for God�s glory in the church through its various ministries. We are robbing the glory that is due to God by our good works. More than as individuals, we are called to work together, as a BODY, the Body of Christ ~ the Body Principle. We are a hundred times more effective and fruitful that way than working individually. Look at your fingers! Our Christian forebears understood this very well. That�s why they composed the song, RISE UP OH MEN OF GOD, THE CHURCH FOR YOU DOTH WAIT. HER STRENGTH UNEQUAL TO HER TASK, RISE UP AND MAKE HER GREAT! BE THOU STRONG THEREFORE AND SHOW THYSELF A MAN!

Vision: General outline of the development of the Men�s Ministry

Stage 1. Infancy. Various groups of men meeting regularly (weekly, bi-weekly, etc. depending on the group members� schedule) for mutual edification, mutual encouragement, prayer, fellowship, and service. Relationships deepen so that a strong brotherhood develops, a sharing of one another�s burdens. Stage 2. Early growth. Knowing that our Lord Jesus calls us to service, each group is encouraged to engage in service/ministry projects, while continuing with the �one-anothering� activities of Stage 1. They start with the simple and easy ones, e.g., assisting existing ministries. The men are challenged to lend their gifts and talents � skills they have developed in their professional careers, this time applying them to ministries, for the glory of Christ. Gifted as lawyers, managers, accountants, educators and teachers, engineers, architects, medical workers, agriculturists, management consultants, salesmen, training and human resource development experts, scientists, graphic artists, information technology experts, caterers and cooks, even soldiers and policemen, to clerks, drivers and production workers, at various stages in the development of their gifts and talents, they lend their expertise more and more to ministries on volunteer basis. One important principle: the body principle ~ they work together on projects, more than independently and/or to each his own. Stage 3. Further development. The learning experiences of Stage 2 makes the men�s groups realize the tremendous potential of working together. They somehow experience what Jesus means in the gospel of John where he said: Greater things than these shall ye do because I go to the Father. They are challenged and inspired to stretch themselves even more for Jesus to address issues and evils that demand increasing sacrifice of time and resources. From assisting existing ministries, they are challenged to even start new ministries. Stage 4. Maturity. The men�s groups mature in their long-term fellowship, mutual teaching and service. They begin to see the institutional nature of evil in society. From seeing the individual victims of the enemy, they begin to perceive the principalities and powers that manufacture evil on a mass scale, victimizing countless souls. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the men�s groups work even more closely with the ekklesia / church of Jesus Christ. While continuing to do ministries in Stage 2 and 3, they start working on programs that address institutional evils (e.g., fighting pornography, or drugs, etc.). Relying on Jesus� promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church, they wage spiritual war and overthrow one stronghold of Satan after another and extend the controlled territories of the kingdom of God farther and farther � until it covers the whole earth. * In all this, God is glorified because the good works that help people and complement the preaching of the gospel (lending greater impact and credibility to the latter) are emanating from the church. �I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? � Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division �� Jesus Christ (Luke 12:49 ff)