Bringing Men To Jesus

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"  But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  ForIsaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?"  So then faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:10 - 17 NKJV 

There was once a mighty movement in this country.  This movement stretched from shore to shore and often involved thousands of men reaching out to God.  There was also a time, so it seems, that this movement excited me that so many christian men would gather to celebrate our heavenly Father.  However, like most movements, this one fizzled out after awhile.  For awhile, the Promise Keepers mens conference movement seemed to energize a good number of christian men.  What was truly exciting about these conferences was the diversity of those who attended.  Fathers came with their sons.  Best friends came together.  Office and factory workers brought their coworkers and bosses.  Students brought friends and teachers.  Many heeded the very same call which Christ Jesus Himself had given to several fishermen He encountered in Galilee, "Come and see."  For one weekend, thousands of men would gather to be in the presence of their brothers in Christ and to be uplifted with the gospel of Christ Jesus.  I personally remember attending two of these gatherings.  What struck me most about the conferences I attended were the altar calls for men in spiritual need to come forward to give their lives to Christ.  At the time, it seemed like we were really on to something.  Many, including myself, had visions of a spiritual revival in our nation.  So what happened to this movement which seemed to have so much promise?  Well, in many respects the issues which seemed to have doomed the promise keepers movement are the same issues still facing mens ministry today.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galations 2:20 NKJV 

I have recently had the honor of learning and assisting my friend Dennis in that ministry which Christ Jesus has placed upon his heart.  To say that Dennis has a heart for reaching men with the truth of Jesus is a understatement.  For in the process of participating in his organization, I have come to grow in Christ Jesus myself.  It is also through my service to Dennis and his ministry that I have come to realize the shortcomings of the mens conference movement.  Traditionaly, we men have not been known to be very involved in reaching out to other guys with the gospel of Jesus.  Yes, I speak for myself as well.  Now, to gather with other guys and talk of sports and hunting, that we can do!  A conference atmosphere where a man is asked to sit through numerous teaching "sessions" simply is not the way to reach out to christian or non christian men.  However, if someone were to come up with a hunting trip oriented around the teaching of the truth of Christ, I believe it may just be successful.  We know that the disciples of Jesus were not made to sit through hours of teaching sessions.  No, these men did guy stuff, they traveled and shared life together with God in the flesh.  Some were fisherman, and they indeed fished with Jesus.  Of course, Jesus also took each and every opportunity to teach His disciples what He wanted them to experience.  After all, these men were the ones who would be the preachers of the early gospel of peace.  So, what is it that we can learn from the Promise Keepers movement in our continuing effort to reach men for Christ Jesus?  Well, I hate to say it, but we need above all to keep those who we are called to reach out to interested in the message we bring.  In this arena there is no room for the communion, offering and fire and brimstone sermons of the traditional church service.  The fact that most men attend church in deference to their wives should give us a clue as to where we must be headed.  By engaging men in their environment I believe that we can reach those who would not hear the truth of Jesus which we find in Galations 2:20.  May we take this message to the hunting blinds, the football games and the auto repair shops.  It's here where men typicaly gather.

~Scott~ 

~Learning and growing in the presence of the pastor~