H.B. London Jr.
“At the pastors conference, Focus on the Family’s head of Pastoral Ministries, H.B. London Jr., assured the congregational leaders that if they would only ‘buy into the economy of a ministry to men,’ they would find that all of a sudden, there will be a new sense of purpose and exhilaration and meaning about what you do.”
“London pointed out that he hears pastors say all the time how incredibly busy they are in their ministries, yet they often feel unsure about whether they are actually making an impact or effecting genuine change in people’s lives.”
“But again, he assured his audience of clergy, if they would only make a priority of creating vibrant men’s ministries, the pastors would soon find themselves confessing, ‘I am so busy — busier than I’ve ever been before — but I’m making a difference.”‘
– Agape Press
Findings . . .
1) There needs to be a clear definition of biblical manhood that men can adopt and follow.
2) Pastors need to realize the all-important message that their number one responsibility is to evangelize, disciple and involve men in the church.
3) Major events and conferences are not enough. Men need follow through in order not to wonder “now what?”
Men’s Issues and Struggles Summary
•Seventy-five percent are not satisfied with themselves as fathers.
•Thirty-two percent are not satisfied with themselves as husbands.
•Forty-three percent feel a deep sense of failure about their past.
•Sixty-five percent have no one to whom they feel accountable.
•Seventy-five percent have feelings they don’t share with anyone.
•Christian men feel alone.
•Christian men feel insecure, ganged up on, beaten down and unsure of what to do.
•Many carry a load of guilt and failure about their lives.
•Men are afraid to talk because they believe people will think less of them.
•Many feel bullied by their backgrounds: wounded, angry, visionless.
•Most have no concept of what it means to distinctly be a man.
•They feel bullied by the political correctness of our culture. Social confusion exists between men and women as a result of the gender revolution.
•They feel paralyzed by feelings of inadequacy, along with family and work pressures.
•Unwholesome peer pressure crushes them.
•Impurity and struggles with sexual matters create feelings of worthlessnes.
Perceived Needs of Men
•Men need a safe place where they can discover someone understands them and that they are not alone.
•Men need a clear, compelling vision of biblical manhood that they can take hold of.
•Men need time with other men to effectively process their manhood.
•Men need practical “how to’s” with which they can taste success. They need ways to implement, in a bite-size manner, what they hear.
•Men need male cheerleaders — other men to admire their efforts and cheer their successes.
•Men need a sacred moment where they know they’ve become a man.
Material compiled from:
Man in the Mirror (Pat Morley)
Men’s Fraternity (Dr. Robert Lewis)
Questions Account Ability Friends Ask One Another
1. How is your relationship with God right now?
2. What have you read in the Bible in the past week?
3. What has God said to you in this reading?
4. Where do you find yourself resisting Him these days?
5. What specific things are you praying for in regard to others?
6. What specific things are you praying for in regard to yourself?
7. What are the specific tasks facing you right now that you consider incomplete?
8. What habits intimidate you?
9. What have you read in the secular press this week?
10. What general reading are you doing?
11. What have you done to play?
12. How are you doing with your spouse? Your kids?
13. If I were to ask your spouse about your state of mind, state of spirit, state of energy level, what would the response be?
14. Are you sensing any spiritual attacks from the enemy right now?
15. If Satan were to try to invalidate you as a person or as a servant of the Lord, how might he do it?
16. What is the state of your sexual perspective? Tempted? Dealing with fantasies? Entertainment?
17. Where are you financially right now? (Things under control? Under anxiety? In great debt?)
18. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships right now?
19. When was the last time you spent time with a good friend of your own gender?
20. What kind of time have you spent with anyone who is a non-Christian this past month?
21. What challenges do you think you’re going to face in the coming week? This month?
22. What would you say are your fears at this present time?
23. Are you sleeping well?
24. What three things are you most thankful for?
25. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage?
26. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God?
Rebuilding Your Broken World (Gordon MacDonald)
The above article, “The Economy of Men’s Ministry” was written by H.B. London Jr. The article was excerpted from the book The Pastor’s Role in Establishing an Effective Men’s Ministry.
The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
