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CEP Partners with Man in the Mirror

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ChristianEducation and Publicationsis partnering with Man in the Mirror to
offer the best in training and resources for men’s ministry in local churches.
The mission of Man in the Mirror is “Serving church leaders who are reaching men”.
View the Man in the Mirror website.


GREAT MAN IN THE MIRROR RESOURCES

Faith is Sometimes Best Understood by Looking Backwards

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I read once that faith is sometimes best understood by looking backwards. Now, on the surface that statement feels a lot like the inside of a Christian greeting card or one of those posters with cute animals and trite sayings that we hang on our walls to inspire us to do great things. However, in this case, I think instead of motivational drivel, this statement is actually biblically correct and has application for youth ministry.

Let me explain. Often times, particularly in the Old Testament though the various epistles of the New Testament have examples as well, individuals or groups of people are called to remember something that the Lord has done or that someone has done on the Lord’s behalf for them. In the case of the giving of the Law in Exodus 20:2, the look backward is a reminder of the Lord’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. When the Covenant is renewed at Shechem as the Israelites are about to establish roots in the land of Canaan, Joshua speaking for the Lord recounts how God made them a people and brought them into the promised land. Asaph in Psalm 78 recalls for the current generation of Israelites the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord so that they then will grow the next generation into one that seeks the Lord.

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It seems that these types of memories are in actuality anchor points for one’s faith and the call to remember them serves as a way to either help gird oneself for difficulty or to motivate to action. In my mind, this begs the question for those of us involved in youth ministry as to what types of memories we are forging for our students that one day when they are faced with difficulty or the need for action that they can cling to and see the Lord’s faithfulness.

As someone who loves funny skits, a good practical joke and trips to amusement parks this next statement is hard for me to make. But I can’t help wondering how many of my students when faced with severe challenges to their faith in college or who find themselves in difficult life circumstances will say “the time that Danny dressed up in a chicken suit and did the funky chicken dance is a memory that makes my struggle make sense.” I will grant you that most young adults do not process life in statements such as the previous one. They do, however, have significant life struggles that put their world view to the test and it is during those moments that they need anchor point memories of God’s faithfulness to hold to during the storm. Because of this, I am forced to ask myself this question that I believe every church should ask of its youth ministry: “What memories are we creating for the students in our church?”

YXL 2009 Update: This past July over 110 high school students and adults representing 43 churches from 14 states gathered at Covenant College for the Youth Excelllive free.jpging in Leadership conference sponsored by CEP. YXL 2009 was a great week spent exploring the theme “LIVE FREE” through Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Danny Clark (RUF campus pastor at College of Charleston) and John Craft (RUF campus pastor at University of Tennessee-Chattanooga) provided in depth teaching on the theme and Eric Ashley (Young Adult Pastor, First Presbyterian Macon) led us in worship. Highlights included a ministry project with Hope for the Inner City, whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River and hiking on beautiful Lookout Mountain. Perhaps the most meaningful event for all involved was the concert of prayer on Thursday night of the conference. It was one of those rare moments in life that youth leaders long for… students complaining because our one hour of prayer was not long enough. Next year’s dates are already set for July 5-10. You can find out more information at www.pcacep.org/yxl.

Men’s Ministry FAQ’s

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Frequently Asked Questions
about Men’s Ministry

Why have a men’s ministry?

What is the Biblical basis for men’s ministry?

Why is it so difficult to get men to attend men’s ministry events?

Why is it that a successful men’s event or ministry in my church is so often followed by a total loss of momentum?

What men’s ministry programs are working in the PCA?

How do you build a sustainable disciple-making ministry for men in the local church?

How do you obtain the pastor and session’s support?

How do you build a strong men’s ministry leadership team?

What do men identify as their greatest spiritual needs?

How can I get my men spiritually connected at the level of their walk with Christ so they are not so alone in their spiritual battles?

How can I be better equipped for men’s ministry?

No Man Fails On Purpose

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“No Man Fails On Purpose”
Excerpts from No Man Left Behind

MANY IF NOT MOST, of our cultural problems-divorce, abortion, juvenile crime, fatherless ness-can be traced back to the failure of a man. Ironically, it’s a man who got up in the morning hoping to succeed.

The signs are all around us. We live in a country where every third child is born out of wedlock; where 24 million kids don’t live with their biological fathers; where about half of all marriages end in divorce. We can read these statistics and just blow by them. Or, we can consider what they mean for our country and our churches. Wouldn’t you agree that there must be something systemically wrong with a culture that allows these things to happen?

These are all symptoms of deeper, systemic issues. Treating symptoms is necessary and good, but you can’t cure a disease by treating the symptoms. So, while there are many sociological and psychological studies to explain why we have so many problems-the systemic problem-is that we have not properly discipled our men. The only way to solve systemic problems is with systemic solutions.

If most of the major societal problems we face can be traced back to the failure of men, why aren’t men in the church doing any better than men outside the church?

We are not discipling men to be followers of Jesus Christ. Our churches are not effectively helping men understand what it takes to be a godly husband, a godly father, and a godly man. Of the 42 million men (in America) who profess faith in Christ, only an estimated 6 million men are involved in any kind of ongoing or intentional discipleship program. That is one in seven of the men who profess faith in Christ and only one out of eighteen men in America.

A spiritual reformation of society starts with a spiritual reformation of men. Jesus discipled twelve men and they changed the world. If you will disciple the men of your church to follow Christ, what will happen? Marriages will improve, then families, then the church, and finally the world.

Filed Under: Men

Overcoming the Performance Orientation In Men

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“Overcoming the Performance Orientation In Men”
Excerpts from No Man Left Behind (Chapter 4)

How are men successful in the world?

So, we take a man from this world’s system and plop him down in church. He wants to be a “successful Christian.” He looks around and decides he needs to dress a certain way, use certain phrases, attend church a certain number of times, give money, serve on committees, and join a men’s class. Often, we take a man from one performance-oriented culture (the world) and move him right into another one (the church).

In both of these scenarios a man is basically relying on his own strength to be his god. We end up with men who are focused on whether their external behavior matches some ideal, but who are disconnected from a heart of faith.

Men know how to play the game, and if you let them, they will follow your rules to perfection. The only problem is that in ten or twenty years, like Lou (who suddenly had an affair), they will realize that their hearts are dead.

We must get beyond a performance orientation. A man’s actions will eventually reflect what is happening in his heart. Just like you can’t treat cancer by putting a Band-Aid on a man’s skin, you can’t help a man become a disciple by fixing his behavior and ignore his heart. Christianity is not about behavior modification; it is about heart transformation.

We quickly figure out that we have to dress a certain way, have a certain job, make a certain amount of money, live in the right house, or have a good family. The focus is on external things that we can do or see.

Filed Under: Men

Intergenerational Relationships… Crossing the Great Divide

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By Susan Shepherd
Director of Women’s Ministries
Christ Covenant PCA, Matthews, NC

The Great Divide. I looked it up in Webster’s Dictionary and here’s what I learned: “The Great Divide is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems which drain into the Atlantic Ocean.” Unfortunately, I am geologically challenged and I have no idea what that means…except that it’s a bunch of mountains with water running among them that separate that water from other water. Clear?

I know it may seem strange to be discussing geology in this publication. And I admit that it is a little unconventional. But as I read the story illustrated by this picture, it gave me hope for a vision that has long been lingering in the hearts and minds of our leadership.

Arizona and Nevada are building a bridge. To cross their piece of the Great Divide. What began more than 4 years ago will be completed next year, at a cost of more than $110 million. The 1900 foot long suspension bridge will be supported by the longest concrete arch in the country. But when it’s finished, Arizonans will cross over to Nevada without the long, narrow, winding roadway built in 1936. And Nevadans will pass them going the other way.*

In my minds’ eye, another bridge is being built. It is taking a long time. It is costly. And it requires a strong, solid support system. But some day, people from one side will cross to the other…and they will joyfully pass one another on the way.

There are mountain ranges on both sides. On the one side stands the generation of women over 40. Strong, steady, solid and secure. Their families are grown. Their careers established. Their homes paid for. On the other side stands the generation of women younger than 40. Passionate, purposeful, personable and powerful. Their friendships are diverse. Their careers are a priority. Their energy is boundless. And between these two mountain ranges flows a river of misunderstanding. Sometimes the river flows at a trickling pace; during other seasons it rages by, carried along by an alarming current. Historically, traveling from one side to the other has seemed tedious and time consuming, and, perhaps, hardly worth it.

But I’m so grateful that we’re beginning construction of the bridge. We’re seeing signs that women are anxious to cross, hopeful that going from one side to the other will be safe. And they are beginning to believe that the travel will be worth the effort. Nevada has something to offer (other than Las Vegas).

Paul was right. Older women have something to offer their younger sisters…and those younger sisters bring their own value to the lives of their seasoned friends. Our vision is for women to grow in their understanding of the covenant family and, specifically in their appreciation for the experience of their sisters. We really believe that God has given us to one another as a gift. The bridge was His idea. Solomon described it this way: “Two are better than one…if one falls down his friend can help him up…” Who better to “help up” a younger woman than one who has fallen in just that same spot?

Three strategic elements comprise the “concrete arch” in the bridge that God is building across the divide between our women.

1) The deep and serious study of His Word together. We are investing in the lives of women by inviting older to disciple younger in a regular, structured ministry built on the personal and corporate study of Scripture.

2) Creating natural opportunities for women to “find one another” relationally. Manufactured relationships rarely last. We’re looking for ways to help women discover women …older and younger … who are “like-minded”. Around interests. Around issues. Around needs.

3) Encouraging meaningful dialog that leads to understanding. We’re talking a lot about the divide, and the bridge that is desperately needed. We’re giving women language to help them understand one another and we’re working hard to bring clarity to their assumptions and expectations.

Practically, we’ve built a team that represents every season and situation in the lives of our women. We have so grown to enjoy and appreciate one another, and we’ve gained so much from each other’s experience and perspective. We’re prayerful on this team that our relationships are a model for women who are hesitating to make their way across the bridge.

We’ve been there, and the view? Breathtaking.

*New York Times Magazine, June 9, 2009