Men's Ministry

[stevenson]

Anyone know why we did away with Men's Ministry? Does this mean that we'll be closing down Women, Youth & Children's Ministry? If so, why didn't it happen all at once?


Just curious?

[fezzik]

What was the purpose of the Men's Ministry? What did it accomplish?

Seriously asking...not trying to get anybody riled up.

[RamboPreacher]

i noticed it wasn't announced as a ministry as well. I wonder how many active men's ministries there are in local CoGoP congregations? we have one, and I loved having someone from HQ come out to our regional men's retreats.

[free]

The states or regions are supposed to pick up the ball and run with men's ministry noe. That's what my overseer said.

[Pianoman]

Anyone know why we did away with Men's Ministry?

They've got a letter posted now on the website:
http://www.cogop.org/334809.ihtml

It's only been around since 1997. Not personally acquainted with
what's been going on - but there are a lot of other venues/curriculum
that provide for ministering to men: Promise Keepers, Men's Fraternity,
etc.

Appears they weren't saying to do away with men's ministry on the
local level - but why spend time and energy developing material for this
when there is already quality curriculum available. It really boils down
to what folks are doing with it on the local level anyway.

Keeping it around just to have someone from headquarters come
for a visit doesn't seem like enough reason in itself? Seems like this
would be a good oportunity to have a guest minister or someone
from a surrounding state/region who is already operating a
succesfull men's ministry to come in & offer their expertise.

[stevenson]

Here is the letter put out by mark menke from HQ. My question is, if this the focus of the GO, why not close Women, Yout and Children's Ministries? And if your intent is to close those departments in the near future why bring in a new Youth Director? Like I said, just curious?


Dear Brothers,
Greetings to you through our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. I am writing to inform you that the Men’s Ministries Department at the International Offices of the Church of God of Prophecy will close as of August 31, 2008. We will publish one final commemorative issue of our newsletter soon.
Men’s Ministries is closing at the direction of our General Overseer, Bishop Randall E. Howard. Bro. Howard’s vision for our work at International Offices focuses on two major components: Harvest and Leadership Development. The close of Men’s Ministries is a move away from the paradigm of running all ministries from the top down, and a refocusing of our departmental energies specifically toward leadership development.
This closure in no way signals that ministry to men is unessential. It proposes that individual states, regions, and nations can provide Men’s Ministries leadership productively at that level. Today, many of our state/regional/national areas conduct successful men’s retreats and fellowships. In our day, there is much quality curriculum available in the broader church world that our men and their leaders are already in touch with. So it is our desire that Men’s Ministries continue in the Church of God
of Prophecy world-wide.
It is my personal belief that ministry to men ought to be a component in our future leadership development efforts. Here’s why: First, our pastors are mostly male. They need gender-specific ministry. Secondly, when you serve and equip the men of the Church you bless the church at large.
It is with sadness that we say goodbye to this ministry department. Since 1997 the International Offices have sought to provide quality ministry to men. Larry Duncan spear-headed the launch of this ministry. From the start Men’s Ministries brought quality vision and resources and encouraged linking arms with proven national ministries like Promise Keepers. I know you join me in thanking Larry for his foresight and passion toward men and their Christian walk. Following Larry, Marvin
Eskew continued providing leadership with passion, focusing on bringing Men’s Ministry to the local church venue and encouraging men to follow the greatest man that ever lived–Jesus Christ. Thanks to these brothers for their labor in Jesus’ name.
I sign off with a heart full of gratitude for a ministry to men in the local church. As a pastor, I have been blessed with quality leaders who had a God-calling to love and serve men of the church. I have personally seen and received the benefits of the local men’s group no matter the group’s size.
Dear leader, it should be your aim to keep this ministry going, especially at the local level. Great Christian resources are available. Great anointing and inspiration, however, comes directly from God. Seek Him and submit to Him and let’s keep the adventure going. God will continue to call and supply the leadership. He wants to touch men in the local church and in their communities.
God bless you as you go forward in serving men. As your brother in the Lord I stand ready to help in any way I can.
Through Jesus Christ, Mark Menke, International Men’s Ministries Director

[RamboPreacher]

...My question is, if this the focus of the GO, why not close Women, Yout and Children's Ministries? And if your intent is to close those departments in the near future why bring in a new Youth Director? Like I said, just curious?...

good question. I am curious too. maybe someone in the know could comment, otherwise all we can do is guess.

[Dr. Ron]

Hmmmmmmmmm, things going from the top down to the local and regional level.......hmmmmmmm how progressive......

Methinks that maybe someone may be on the right track....less HQ and more local control!!!! Wow, what a concept.

I may wind up thinking Randy has a handle on things.lol

[KBevangelist]

Well I worked very closely with Marvin Eskew in ministry while I was state director. It is a much needed ministry. I also saw the handwriting on the wall. It needs to be local based (if you can get the local church to buy into it) and regional retreats or state retreats are a good idea.

I told my wife on the way home from the Assembly, women's ministry would be next and this may be Cathy's last two years - just my thought.

KB

[stevenson]

I agree. It just seemed to me that if that's the new vision and focus, why not do away with all of those minstries?

[Pastor Bill]

I would venture to say Men's Ministries was probably the less effective, and most redundant. On an international level, most that were involved were probably already leaders in the church and the focus on leadership development would cover them anyway.

Men (BIG GENERALIZATION HERE) tend to seek these things out less than women and youth do. Our state Women's retreats are packed out, often running out of space at the camp grounds and turning people away to stay in local hotels. Our Men's retreat many times has only used one cabin, and we had a couple years where we went without between leaders.

Those that do come, are largely pastors and leaders, that are also coming to leadership retreats and activities, for the women, this is not the case, and it is much more a cross-section of the churches.

[stevenson]

I agree with what your saying. But I do think the Men's Ministry was growing. I think we had 3 great leaders in that area who brought alot of attention to the need for Men's Ministry in the local church.

[Pianoman]

Well said Pastor Bill!

One of the key aspects of the Children's Ministry is to develop
leaders in Children's Ministry - which falls right
in alignment with the leadership development.

I would think that in itself would be all the more
reason to place more emphasis on it (Children's Ministry).

Ditto for our area on the Ladies Retreats vs. Mens. The ladies
seem to respond much more than the men. In all honesty -
in the 10 years the IO Men's Ministry has been active - folks from
our local church only had 1 direct contact with anything related
to it. (That probably wouldn't have happened either but we
worked it in so Marvin could come to our church while he was
visiting his father who lives close by). Granted it may have
been our own fault - we just haven't felt the need for it as much
as other ministry opportunities.

We have both Promise Keepers and Men's Fraternity chapters
in operation in our area & I really feel those both minister to
the segment this was ministering towards.

Why should we try to duplicate something that is already there.

In regards to the Children's Ministry (and really the ladies as well) -
I don't know of any other efforts that minister in this means?
(They don't have a Promise Keeper type of thing for ladies do they?)

If that's not valid enough - I was just going to say that they must
have felt the ladies needed it a whole lot worse than the guys did!

[fezzik]

(They don't have a Promise Keeper type of thing for ladies do they?)

Yes - Women of Faith.

[Pastor Bill]

Oh I know, but it's much more of a local/state ministry that doesn't need to be as heavy at the top. Those same leaders seem to be involved in Leadership Development anyway, so it's not like we're losing them. They'll probably still even be invited to minister in Men's retreats and things as they have been.

The last Men's retreat I went to (didn't get to go this year) Marvin Eskew preached and it was wonderful, but he also mentioned and addressed many leadership development issues as well, because the two seem to just go together when you look at the attendance and needs.