Why Fish for Men? To Change the World!

1. Why Fish for Men? To Change the World! Steve Crawford

2. Who are we? Why are we here? • Local church / regional Men’s Ministry since mid 1990’s • Worked with PK, Man in the Mirror, Iron Sharpens Iron, many others • Men of AIM (Action, Integrity, Maturity) • Networking / Communication • Taking A.I.M. newsletter – men’s event info • Heart of Illinois Christian Movie Central • Training for churches / leaders

3. Why Fish for Men? To Change the World! • This Workshop is NOT: • “Men’s Ministry in a Box” • “Five Simple Steps to Men’s Ministry” • “Why NOT to do _____ ministry” • Top Goal of Today – plant 2 seeds • “Is it really that important?” • “Are we as effective as we could be in reaching men?”

4. Current Landscape(Stats from David Murrow’s book –Why Men Hate Going to Church) • Typical congregation 61% female • 25% of married women attend church alone • 80-90% of boys IN CHURCH will leave by age of 20 • “Dad doesn’t go.” (ages 3-6) • Putting away childish things (ages 8-12) • Youth to Adult transitions (ages 18-23)

5. Swiss Demographic Study • Robbie Low - Church of England – The Truth About Men & Church • Reviewed “The demographic characteristics of the linguistic and religious groups in Switzerland” Swiss study • In their 1994 survey “The question was asked to determine whether a person’s religion carried through to the next generation, and if so, why, or if not, why not.” The answer, how involved is the FATHER in his family’s religious upbringing.

6. Results of 1994 Swiss StudyGrown Children Attend Regularly / Never Mother’s Attendance Father’s Attendance

7. Results of 1994 Swiss StudyGrown Children Attend Regularly / Never Mother’s Attendance Father’s Attendance

8. Results of 1994 Swiss StudyGrown Children Attend Regularly / Never Mother’s Attendance Father’s Attendance

9. Results of 1994 Swiss StudyGrown Children Attend Regularly / Never Mother’s Attendance Father’s Attendance

10. Why so much on kids? • It is imperative that we first understand the impact having, or not having, the father in church impacts their children. It is critical to reach men to reach kids (future adults) for the long term • Reach the men of tomorrow today – and KEEP THEM IN THE CHURCH

11. Ministry Pipeline ( Ministry ) ( Discipleship ) (Outreach / Evangelism)

12. Nothing for me LEAKS Put aside childish things “Dad doesn’t go” Many Churches Today ( Ministry ) (Outreach / Evangelism)

13. Adult Outreach College Ministry Youth Ministry Children’s Ministry / VBS Many Churches Today ( Ministry ) (Outreach / Evangelism)

14. What is “Men’s Ministry” today? Your 1st thoughts What are Expectations of men in today’s church?

15. Simon & Andrew:“Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”At once they left their nets and followed him. James & John:Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:17-18, 20 Where did Christian Men’s Ministry start?

16. Simon & Andrew:“Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”At once they left their nets and followed him. James & John:Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:17-18, 20 Where did Christian Men’s Ministry start?

17. Simon & Andrew:“Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”At once they left their nets and followed him. James & John:Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:17-18, 20 • Where did Christian Men’s Ministry start?

18. How do we invite men today? • Example invitation • Provides 1,000 excuses (Audio) • Trying to get men to do something they don’t want to do and that you are not really sure you want them to do!! Jesus didn’t promise REWARDS, but OBSTACLES!

19. Why do we not ask? • We don’t see it being relevant to our friends • We don’t see it being relevant to ourselves Why are we so concerned with relevance? Christ was not concerned with comfort! He was concerned about saving the LOST.

20. What is our Primary Objective? • Get men to church? • Get men to breakfast? • Get men to a retreat? • Get men to Promise Keepers? • Get men to move tables? • Get men to usher? • To smile / shake hands / hug? (and like it!)

21. Go and make DISCIPLES What is our Primary Objective? • Get men to church? • Get men to breakfast? • Get men to a retreat? • Get men to Promise Keepers? • Get men to move tables? • Get men to usher?

22. Preaching God GodlyFamilies Teaching Mentoring Fellowship LeadershipTraining Service/ Missions Bible Study Evangelism Relationship Great Commandment Mark 12:29-31 Seminars Discipleship Stewardship Small Groups Vocation Christian Literature Worship Private Study Social Justice Neighbors Informal Discussions

23. Three Strands of Leadership Man Code The Portal Priority - Discipleship More on this at 11 AM Tomorrow or stop by booth 100

24. Equipping Men to Lead • Men’s Huddle • Hand to hand contact • Additional Challenge / study • Equip the men to be the Spiritual Leader of their family • Touchstones • Small items to represent a story or challenge • Regular reminder of what they heard

25. Bottom Line • Ministry is not a zero-sum game • Reaching one group does not mean ignoring others • It MAY mean adjusting resources • Take Big Picture view • Long term – which group will lead to the most committed Christians in the future

26. More Men in Church provide: • God FIRST relationships • Stronger, covenantal marriages • More committed and available women • Less tug-of-war between church & home • Stronger marriages & families • More kids see God as priority • A stronger, long-term church – for generations!

27. Thank you!! Stop by and see us at Booth 100