Fantastic coverage by @CTmagazine on the current status of men’s ministry (including a well-placed one-pager on @jordanbpeterson). One question though. There were several mentions of beer. When did beer become synonymous with men’s ministry?
@stevenjhalbert
The church’s failure to enlist young people for the work of fighting evil in this world leaves a vacuum that Jordan Peterson fills. The Peterson phenomenon is an indictment of the church’s teachings and its theology. To motivate men might require re-examining our most central teachings, as N. T. Wright calls for in Surprised by Scripture. Men meeting for breakfast is good, but men convicted by Sunday’s sermons to build a Habitat for Humanity house is more excellent.
Nick Loenen
Richmond, BC, Canada
Years ago when I ran a youth ministry, I figured out that if mostly girls showed up, the guys never would. But if you got up a game of tackle football with the guys, the girls would show. With that theory still kicking around, I did my DMin thesis in homiletics on “Preaching to Attract and Engage Men.” The research shows that boys and men do not learn in the same manner as our female counterparts and, the sad reality is, too many clergy are unconsciously preaching to women. It is true that the goal of discipleship is not gender specific, however, the manner in which that’s achieved is. So, kudos to “the Meck” and other churches of their ilk who have figured that out.
The Rev. Dr. W. H. Volland
Eustis, FL
As a lead pastor, I experienced a call to help lead our men’s ministry. In every church I was in, I made sure to give time, serve, and show up to men’s breakfasts, men’s Bible studies, and men’s retreats. My men’s leaders so appreciated it, and we thrived. I have to push back a bit on the article not to downplay guys doing stuff together. We love to bike, golf, hike, and play basketball together. Many men become husbands and fathers, and then they feel they are supposed to just stay at home and be the provider and protector. That is our role, but we also need other men for the journey and adventure. When we experience that camaraderie, it fills us up to want to go home and be a better provider and protector and leader in our family. Fortunately, I have very strong male friendships. We pray for each other, cheer each other on, confront each other, and are there for each other. If you win the men, you’ll influence the home/church/world.
An equally thoughtful and balanced article as always. I am afraid until we as a country address the serious issue of mental health in this land, we will fail to find an answer to this problem. Each side can spout statistics and arguments until we lose ourselves in rhetoric and name-calling. In spite of existing laws, some of the country’s strictest bastions of gun control have more murders than most “civilized” nations. We must begin a dialogue in earnest.
Ted Ralston
Jacksonville, FL
Since Columbine, more children have died from sports-related injuries than from gunshots. That doesn’t mean we need a campaign to regulate footballs.
David Altschul
Nashville, TN
Thank you for taking a position which is not popular in conservative circles. I think we in the Christian community should do all we can to help prevent needless deaths in our schools and elsewhere. The recommended regulations would also have the added benefit of saving lives of people deep in the despair of depression who may be looking to take their own lives.
It depends on each person’s journey. Comfort is healing and inclusive to those who have been marginalized. Some need to be comforted and to feel comfortable. Others may need to be pushed beyond their comfort zones. Each of us has a unique journey with God and only the Holy Spirit can truly know what we need most from the church. Statements like this can be shaming to some.
Thank you, CT, for bringing attention to the life and literary work of Dorothy L. Sayers through Crystal Downing’s article. I became aware of Sayers quite a while ago through reading her book The Mind of the Maker. I have found its framework of Creative Idea, Creative Energy and Creative Power (which I translate to idea, implementation, and interaction with regard to creativity) as very useful when I lead group tours—whether Christian or not—at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Although she might have been a reluctant prophet, Sayers surely provided a gateway to an encounter with the Divine.
As a social worker who began her career in child welfare and is currently working as a therapist, I have seen firsthand the impact of childhood trauma. We need to be better informed as a society on the devastating impact of ACEs [adverse childhood experiences].
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
A Christian reconciliation group in Israel and Palestine warned that war would come. Now the war threatens their relevance.العربيةFrançais
The Grammy-winning artist was found dead at her home in Nashville at age 47.
