Impact

After a church-wide emphasis on the Lord as healer, one man asked the Lord to heal his chronic hip and back pain. After a week, he chose to go off all pain killers, and still experienced no pain. When his co-workers saw the obvious lift in his life, he reported: "It is hard not to be joyful when my Lord has acted in my life so strongly!"

One man, in a particularly difficult season in his marriage, has said: "Divorce is not an option. I trust the Lord to work through this!"

What is God doing in your life? Send your testimonies to men@cmamad.org.

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News

Appointment:
Rev. John Zuch, Executive Director of National Church Ministries, has appointed Len Ruffner as the National Director of C&MA Men’s Ministry effective November 1, 2005. Len has been the Men’s Ministry Coordinator at Grace Alliance Church, Lexington, NC, for the past eight years. He serves on the South-Atlantic District Men’s Leadership Team and been on the National Leadership Team for the past four years. Len and his wife, Rhonda, have been married 29 years and have three adult children. Len is the Director of Product Development and Training for St. Lawrence Steel Corporation of Streetsboro, OH. Len may be contacted at cmamensministry@hotmail.com.

National Leadership Team Meeting:
The National Leadership Team will meet at the Holiday Inn Express, Orlando International Airport, January 27-29, 2006. The leadership team consists of men’s ministry coordinators for each district. Coordinators are invited to bring one or more members of their district leadership teams. National Men’s Ministry will cover hotel and meal costs. On Friday evening the team will hold its annual meeting to review progress during 2005 and advise the national coordinators on actions ahead. A “train the trainer” session will be conducted to equip district leaders to help churches establish men’s ministries or move ministries to the next level. Dr. Gary Benedict, President of the C&MA, will speak to the team after dinner on Saturday.

Obituary:
Pat Kelly, a long-time friend of the men of the Alliance, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 2. He was 61. Pat was relaxing after having spoken in a church in Pennsylvania when he suffered a heart attack. He was an all-star outfielder retiring from the Baltimore Orioles in 1981 after a 15 year career. For the next 24 years, Pat served the Lord as a gifted evangelist, speaking across the country and internationally. Pat spoke at many men’s retreats over the years and in many Alliance churches. He will be greatly missed.

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Life

Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to do with You. John MacArthur. W Publishing: Nashville, TN, 2002. (workbook also available). Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be perfect to do God’s work. Look no further than the twelve disciples whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary men – fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots – and turned their weakness into strength, producing greatness from utter uselessness. MacArthur draws principles from Christ’s careful, hands-on training of the original twelve disciples for today’s modern disciple - you.

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Leadership

Announcing THE FOURTH SEED: A Leadership Magazine for Men
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil [the ‘fourth seed’] is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:23)

The Fourth Seed is a “thought leadership” publication for the Christian men’s movement with daily devotions to encourage, inform, and equip leaders in the battle for men’s souls. This bi-monthly magazine will encourage leaders on a daily basis with ideas, stories, and truth that God can use to enhance their ministry.

We believe it will become a rallying point for the cause of evangelizing and discipling men. Do you have an encouraging testimony or tip regarding men’s discipleship? Email it to: thefourthseed@maninthemirror.org and we may include it in an upcoming edition of The Fourth Seed.

Financial partners of Man in the Mirror will receive The Fourth Seed automatically. Others may order a subscription to The Fourth Seed through our online bookstore. We have several different subscription methods available, including an annual subscription at $24 per year, and several bulk purchase subscriptions which include great savings. For more information please email us at the following: thefourthseed@maninthemirror.org.

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Leadership Training Opportunities Approaching Quickly

The 2-1/2 day Building a Sustainable Men’s Ministry course will be available in two different locations in January and February 2006:

Orlando (January 12-14, 2006)
This training will coincide with the Kickoff Training for Men’s Ministry Specialists. Click here for more information.

Houston (February 2-4, 2006)
This is the first time we are taking this specific training outside of Orlando!  Click here for more information.

Both dates have limited space, so register early!

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3 Simple Steps To Double Your Church Attendance This Chrsitmas

Inspire your congregation with a vision and a plan for outreach this Christmas season! Click here to watch a 3 minute video of Man in the Mirror's President, David Delk, discussing Books for $1.

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Macho Christianity?

A desire to be a better father and husband brings Curt Hammill, a naval officer and father of two boys, to his church’s “Men’s Fraternity” each Wednesday night in Burke. Click here to read more: Click here to see a related, article, “Church Ladies,” from the October 7, 2005 Wall Street Journal.

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Reboot (with 1 Samuel 17:8-11):

The Enemy’s Challenge and Our Response. “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” The enemy often attacks from an unexpected direction and with an unanticipated challenge. The enemy often singles out an individual to attack and by defeating an individual, routs the army. Goliath called the Israelites “servants of Saul.” The enemy will direct our attention to our own inadequacy. He will challenge us in human terms. 

The World’s Response (v11): On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. Goliath’s challenge caught the Israelites off guard. They were prepared to fight army to army, not champion against champion. Besides they had no one to stand up to Goliath. They were unprepared for the challenge and were frozen in fear. How do you respond when challenged from unexpected quarters?

Every man needs two men in their lives: one to comfort him when he is disturbed and the other to disturb him when he is comfortable.
Bob Keiderling, United Men of Faith

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