Plan for a Men’s Ministry Sunday

By Dr. Rick Vance

I am frequently asked to suggest ways for a church to raise interest in men’s ministry. One of the best ways is to celebrate a Men’s Ministry Sunday. The 2016 Book of Discipline (¶264.4) authorizes a Men’s Ministry Sunday to be celebrated on any Sunday determined by the local church. Its purpose is to “celebrate the men’s ministry within and beyond the local church. This includes organized units of United Methodist Men; male Emmaus reunion communities; work teams; prayer groups; Bible studies; study and enrichment groups; and other places and organizations where men of The United Methodist Church join together for fellowship, nurture, spiritual development, witness, and outreach.” There is a dual purpose for this important event: 1. This special Sunday provides a sacred time and space to celebrate the unique ministries of the men in the church and community. 2. The day highlights all of the opportunities for ministry, small group and activities for men in the church and community.

The Rev. Dr. Rick Vance is director of the Center for Men’s Ministries at the General Commission on UM Men. The essential elements related to the event are prayer, passion, and a plan.

Pray

1. Pray for the congregation to express its enthusiasm for the positive contributions of men as role models, mentors, fathers, husbands, and witnesses. 2. Pray that the congregation will invite others to be part of the celebration. 3. Pray that the congregation will have a spirit of hospitality to non-members. 4. Pray that additional men will become engaged in some aspect of this ministry as a result of this celebration.

Passion

1. Engage all the men of the church in the planning of the event. 2. Include men of all ages, ethnicities, and interests. 3. Make sure you include input from young men.

Plan

1. Consider purchasing ($3) a Men’s Ministry

Sunday planning booklet 2. Speak with your pastor about a possible date for a Men’s Ministry Sunday. Seek his or her suggestions for leaders and resources, 3. Select at least two men to serve as coordinators of the event 4. Form a design team that will meet at least two months before the event.

5. Prepare announcements for the church bulletin, newsletter, and local radio and television stations. 6. Involve youth in making posters. 7. Create a video featuring photos of men’s ministry conducted at your local church during the past year. 8. Order shirts, caps, videos, or gift items from the UM Men store 9. Honor your pastor or a leader of UM Men with an award. 10. Prepare a display board. Include photos of activities in which your men, youth and boys have been involved in your local church and community.

Related events

Your Men’s Ministry Sunday may include additional events: • A father-son breakfast or dinner. • Work on a Habitat for Humanity house. • A potato drop or gleaning at a local farm with the Society of St. Andrew.

• A short-term study on a difficult issue • Anger, loneliness, guilt, sadness, shame. • Fathers (being one, having one). • Health and sexuality • Abuse (experienced, discovered) • Relationships • Love • Betrayal • Society (roles, problems) • Spiritual integrity • Sponsor a prayer service There are a variety of prayer foci that may be used. Pray for your community, pray for frontline workers, pray for unity, and pray to dismantle racism. The commission has videos of some of these services here. A litany for a service to combat racism may be found on the pages following this article.

Importance of the day

These special events not only recognize and celebrate men’s ministry in your community, they also serve as ways to invite others to participate in these ministries.

MEN OF ST. PAUL UMC IN SAN ANTONIO CELEBRATE MEN’S DAY. THE MEN RAISE FUNDS BY PROVIDING PARKING SPACES IN THE CHURCH LOT FOR EVENTS AT THE NEARBY ALAMODOME. THEY ALSO SPONSOR QUARTERLY SUNDAY BREAKFAST TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES. SOME 25 MEN ARE EMS MEMBERS.