News
C&MA Men’s Ministry National Leadership Team Meeting
Ten members of the National Leadership Team (NLT) met August 17-18, 2007 in St. Louis, MO. The following is a summary of the actions taken:

• Welcomed new members to the NLT from the Hmong, Spanish Eastern and Puerto Rican districts.
• Established a budget based on spending patterns over the last three years and anticipated expenses for standing up the Alliance Construction Team (ACT).
• Defined three areas of focus: leadership training ACT (domestic service) and overseas short-term mission projects.
• Established a framework for a business plan.
• Received a report on the Alliance Construction Team. We need three more men to complete the ACT Board of Advisors.
• Approved editorial changes to the men’s ministry constitution as a result of moving the constitution under the Church Ministries Policy and Procedures Manual.
• Addressed handling of translated website articles for ethnic districts.
• Addressed methods for improving communications.
• Discussed establishing an annual theme.

Breaking News
On September 28, 2007 C&MA Men’s Ministry launched an updated website. Rate Us: users can rate material on the website to tell us the materials that are the most helpful in discipleship, discipling and leading men’s ministries. Expanded Ministry Links: we have expanded the list of ministry links and placed them in six categories to help you zero in on your area of interest. We have also provided a brief synopsis of each ministry to provide further assistance. RSS Feed: we provide users a means of being notified when new material is posted on the website. Go to www.cmamen.org.

Were you there 10 years ago for Stand in the Gap? If you were, you don’t want to miss this; and if you weren’t, you DOUBLY don’t want to miss this! Starting a new once-every-decade tradition, Stand in the Gap 2007 will take place on October 6, 2007, at the Washington Monument. This event will call generations of men together to honor God, hear from God, and to embolden each man to leave a legacy of spiritual leadership and faithfulness from one generation to the next. To register click here or go to www.standinthegap2007.org.

“I flew to the event with my son and father-in-law and friends from our church. Seven of us came to the event. It forever changed and saved my life and marriage. I had no close Christian friends who really knew me.” —1997 SITG Attendee

Pray that the Lord will raise a mighty army at SITG!

Business Men for Christ

Tom Chesire, president of Business Men in Christ relates, “Men's ministry for me personally comes from having sat in a pew, even having been in a position of church leadership, without really following Christ Biblically. I was raised in the church, but I never had the heart knowledge. I never truly served Jesus. I was what you might call a ‘cultural Christian,’ until I had a personal crisis in 2000 and experienced true brokenness before Christ. I think a lot of men in the church are cultural Christians.”

Find out more on how he and two other men got into the business of the gospel with founding Business Men for Christ and why it’s the hardest job he’s ever loved. (Ministry of the Month)

Leadership
Raising the Bar in Ministry to Men Through Men’s Events
C&MA Men’s Ministry (MM) caught up with Brian Doyle at a National Coalition of Men’s Ministry (NCMM) Leadership Conference. After hearing about Brian’s involvement in Iron Sharpens Iron (the men’s ministry arm of Vision New England) we asked him to share some of his experiences with men’s events. Read More. (Article of the Month)

Ken Church, Director, Cornerstone Men's Ministries, IPHC reports: A few years ago, we held our first MIM seminar, "Success That Matters." It was an exciting weekend, and I still remember the leadership of

Reboot (with Joshua) Characteristics of a Leader (Joshua 1:16)

¹⁶Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.”

The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh gave Joshua a positive response! They said “We will!”

The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh were willing to be a part of the conquest of the land promised to the other tribes. They were willing to set aside their own plans and goals for the good of all Israel, for the good of those who had yet to be given rest. They were willing to set aside security for battle. They rejected the security blanket and pacifier. They said “yes!” to the battle.

Men’s ministry is often a tug of war between doing what is easy and doing what is needed. We often set priorities on the basis of risk rather than value. We avoid those things where we do not feel equipped or capable. Men’s ministry involves building connections with men – frequently outside of the comfort zone of many. Men’s ministry involves encouraging men into discipleship – the excuses are legion (“We don’t have time,” or “My schedule is full”). We need to encourage men to serve, minister and support the body – leading them to hear God’s call.

¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have (2 Cor 8:11-12).

Those to whom God is giving rest must be willing.