Bob and Rita Lohery are loyal fans of the  Green Bay Packers and Bob is a leader of UM Men organizations.

This is a story about Bob, a Methodist man with a heart for Jesus Christ and for sharing Jesus with others.

This is one of my favorite stories of Methodist men. There are other stories; the countless lives that are touched, the hundreds of thousands of Scouts that are engaged, millions of pounds of food distributed, a connection of 4,000 churches and on and on. But they all start with a simple story like “What about Bob?”

A few years back I made a presentation at the Wisconsin Annual Conference. Bob's wife and spiritual partner, Rita, approached me to say that Bob was interested in men's ministry. She said that he was at home in Algoma Wis., and was active in the church, but he wanted to become more effective with other men. She asked me to connect with him.

Robert (Bob) Lohery and I connected.

On a trip to Wisconsin I stopped at Algoma First UMC. We had a fun and very normal presentation followed by a church dinner. Bob and I started to talk on a regular basis.

Bob started the process of becoming a men's ministry specialist. With his pastor as his spiritual mentor he continued to grow in Christ, and his ministry started to gain momentum.

Bob started to connect with other churches in his home town of Algoma, both Methodist and other denominations. Also, men's activities became more focused in his church.

Bob is now a certified men's ministry specialist (MMS) and became president of UM Men of the Nicolet District. He began to connect and strengthen the district. He started a relationship with our counterparts in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Now, other United Methodist churches in the area are starting to connect. For example, after meeting Bob at the Methodist men's booth at the Wisconsin annual conference, another church in a neighboring district started a connection.

Bob called the other day to share his joy about a presentation to the men of this church. They are filled with excitement and trying to reignite their men. They just needed some help and leadership – a connection.

Christ centered activity in Bob's life is demonstrated in his relationship with Rita, their children and grandchildren. His witness extends to his relationship with his neighbors and the people in his community. On a daily basis he witnesses to Christ with his love for the Lord and the people he encounters.

Real men leading a Christ centered life, connecting and sharing Jesus is the real story of UM Men.

“What about Bob” started with; “What about Paul?” “What about Timothy?” “What about Silas?” or “What about Barnabas?”

Jesus connected with Paul and the disciples. They connected with others. By the grace of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit this connection continues today. Christian men connecting with other men for more than 2,000 years.

It is about the people who disciple and connect us. It is about the people we connect to and help find Jesus. It all started with “What about Jesus?”

This article is part of a bimonthly e-letter to leaders of UM Men. Other articles in the February letter may be found at:

http://www.gcumm.org/news/2015/02-03/spiritually-daring-men-by-bishop-james-swanson
http://www.gcumm.org/news/2015/02-03/who-mentored-you-by-gil-hanke
http://www.gcumm.org/news/2015/02-03/itrsquos-all-about-the-offense-by-dan-ramsey
http://www.gcumm.org/news/2015/02-03/faith-and-leaders-by-larry-coppock
http://www.gcumm.org/news/2015/02-03/the-gap-between-ignorance-knowing-and-doing-by-jim-boesch
http://www.gcumm.org/news/2015/02-04/are-we-really-making-disciples-by-mark-lubbock.