The atmosphere was uplifting, inspirational, and hopeful. It’s difficult to climb the hillside on a Sunday morning, take communion with the sun rising over the Guadeloupe Valley, and sing the great hymns of faith without believing that the providence that brought us to that place will surely see us through.
The annual event is one of the largest and oldest men’s gatherings in our denomination, a fact that is at once both moving and reason for pause.
The weekend served as a real faith lift, but I left with a yearning to witness a renewal of Jesus-hunger in groups of faithful Presbyterian men in churches across the land. I’m talking about an active, cutting edge men’s ministry that embraces the 21st century and promotes a Gospel worth getting excited about; active groups of Presbyterian men who are passionate for the gospel and committed to following Jesus, right there at home in their local congregations.
In my workshop, “Living our faith like we mean it,” I shared the following — slightly edgy — motivational thought. I’d like to claim it, but the quote is unattributed, found floating around the Internet:
Let’s make the commitment to be the kind of men who, when our feet hit the floor on our side of the bed in the morning, the Devil says, “Oh crap — he’s up!”
I love that statement because it moves forward from the assumption that who we are and what we do as Christian men makes a significant difference in this world. Not just in our homes; not just at work or school; not just in our community; not just in our region — but who we are and what we do actually counts for something in the great scheme of things.
The challenge for Presbyterian men is to live as Jesus-followers with the kind of intentionality and enthusiasm that causes our Christianity to facilitate positive change in whatever small corner of the world we inhabit.
I am privileged to be a member of one of those exhilarating church congregations defined by life, vitality, belief, renewal, laughter, prayer, and joy. A key demographic is that of active male participation, and I honestly feel our faithful men’s ministry helps to tip the balance.
The commitment level of men is a measurement that can — I believe — effectively predict the spiritual health of the whole congregation. Simply put, a community of faith with a solid cadre of dynamic men is a church experiencing re-engagement of spiritual life across the board.
Yes, I’m talking about men actually excited about church! I’m talking about men who love Jesus and who are not afraid to say so.
Thinking about the church at large, it’s generally true to say that Presbyterian women are typically on board already. It’s past time for Presbyterian men to step up too.
As I travel around the country I’m picking up this consistent message from the guys I run into:
» “We’re ready to move forward.”
» “We need to step into a faith that’s more transformational.”
» “We’re tired of standing on the periphery of commitment.”
Well, you don’t need to travel to Mo-Ranch (although they’d be more than happy to have you). Instead I’d like to challenge men from every congregation to commit themselves to spiritual growth. Get together with a half-dozen friends, read the Bible together, share your lives in the context of covenant community, pray for one another every day, and then invite a few more men to join you.
Be faithful; God will do the rest.
