Finish strong
By Mark Lubbock
In my travels across the nation, I’ve discovered effective leaders engage in the same five spiritual habits:
- Fix daily time in God’s Word.––No matter the time of day, every man should set aside time to read his Bible.
- Engage in daily private prayer.––Too many men think a weekly prayer at church is all that they need. Group prayer is good, of course, but Scripture teaches us to set aside time to speak personally to Jesus.
- Keep a journal.––There is a wide variety of types of journaling, Keep a diary, a prayer journal and just write notes about personal thoughts. Do not be legalistic about this practice; it is OK to miss a day or two.
- Participate weekly in a small group. ––There is a wide variety of small groups, but they are all held weekly and they all develop intimate relationships. Long-term groups may use the Wesley Class Meeting, Men’s Fraternity & 33 the Series. A few participate in 4th Day communities following Walk To Emmaus and Cursillo events.
- Engage in service projects–– Every man needs to engage in a project that serves the church or community.
Men of today are repelled by pointless, action-less meetings. Growing churches create new spaces and interactions for younger men. It is not a “build-it-and-they-will-come approach,” but rather an “empower-them-to-build-their-own process.”
Consider an inclusive planning session for the year. Invite men of all ages and walks of life, but be sure to include leaders from your target age group. Share your experiences but allow them to fix the plans.
What does your church offer to help men grow spiritually? Let me know and I may highlight this in a future article.
Blessings,
Mark Lubbock, a certified men’s ministry specialist and a deployed staff member of the General Commission on UM Men.
mlubbock@gcumm.org