Accelerating Your Men’s Ministry
Tim R. McCary

In the past, we have focused our ministry on children, youth, young adults and singles. We have gone out of our way to make sure others are taken care of: women, married couples, and the elderly. But by and large, our men have been expected, over the last few decades to figure it out on their own, and many Apostolic men have done well, until now.

Over the last thirty years our culture has changed dramatically and Satan has done his part in compounding the problem. The average man in our society must daily evaluate his response to the ever changing unwritten rules for men. These silent edicts drip down from the cultural god named “political correctness.” Now a man is faced with questions such as: “What is a Man really supposed to be?”

This is when the Apostolic church steps in�to give men biblical answers and spiritual direction! A vibrant ministry to men will not be an additional burden, but rather, an invaluable aid to every United Pentecostal Church.

Why Men’s Ministry?

Because the threat to godliness is so great–and the opportunity before us so immeasurable that ministry to men is an idea whose time has come. Men’s Ministry will afford your church the chance to equip and enlist men to display Christ-centered perspectives in their homes, churches, and communities. Men’s Ministry will enable you to under-gird godly men in their quest to find and fulfill their calling in Christ.

Men’s Ministry will create a meaningful forum in which you can motivate and mobilize the Apostolic men around you. Men’s Ministry will facilitate the pastor’s unending effort to build better men�and thereby grow greater churches.

Quick-Start Guide for Men’s Ministry:

Communicate the need for ministry to men. In the context of the challenges facing our society both within and without the church, it should be almost effortless to convince your assembly that ministry to and for men is not just noble, but necessary.

Establish opportunities for men’s gatherings. Under the direction of the Pastor or designated lay leader, plan events for men, something as simple as a men’s prayer meeting or something more elaborate such as a Men’s Retreat.

Plan presentations that address relevant issues for men. These sessions should deal with real issues that will strengthen their faith, resolve and obedience. Some ideas follow:

* Stewardship of time, talent and treasure.
* Commitment to God, family and church.
* Purity – Maintaining moral purity in an immoral world.
* Evangelism – Man to man evangelism. Witnessing in the workplace.
* Finding your place in the local church ministry
* Prayer for family, pastor, kingdom of God.
* Spiritual Leadership – God’s ultimate plan for men.

Develop accountability among Apostolic men. Provide the internal framework that will enable men to be accountable one to the other.

Get Outside. Offer opportunities for fellowship and interaction between Apostolic men outside of the normal church environment.

Help Apostolic men find their place. Through personal testimonies, involve laymen in motivating and mobilizing others to find and fulfill their place in the mission and ministry of the local church.

Teach Apostolic men to pray. Teach them HOW to pray and teach them TO pray.

“I will therefore that men pray ever where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (I Timothy 2:8)

“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke l8:1b)

Tim R. McCary is the Men’s Ministry Secretary of the United Pentecostal Church International.

This article “Accelerating Your Men’s Ministry” by Tim R. McCary was excerpted from Apostolic Man magazine. Fall 2008. It may be used for study & research purposes only.