Guys need to spend time with other guys. It opens up our hard, shielded souls to talk about manly issues.  We need to hear how other guys struggle with the same things.  We need to get advice about how to handle an issue at home with the wife or kids.

Have a bible study out in the woods where it is peaceful.  Get out of the house and get away from the bustle of life to talk about manly things.  I love hanging out with my friends.  A cup of coffee to discuss issues fits me just right.

Ask the guys in your group to give you some good suggestions for events to do. this will go along ways to developing a manly fellowship time.  Men need to talk and we tend to keep it all inside.  Hanging out with each other will help kinder this spirit of openness and allow us to talk about things that seem weak for men.

go ahead and try some of these tips and ideas.  I realize that there is no rhyme or reason to this post.  It is something that has been on my mind for quite sometime and I just let it flow.

Please leave some comments on what you think or what you do for Manly Ministry events.

It seems like God has put men’s ministry on my heart. I started a “Young Men’s Bible Study” last winter at my house. I tried to keep it focused on leadership at church, our jobs, and at home with our families. I am no pro at leadership at all. We all learned together. Each time we met, something was accomplished that wasn’t even intended for the night’s topic. Some of the men came with issues and went home with an answer or a comfort. It was awesome! We took the summer off due to busy schedules and time conflicts. God has totally been working on my heart and making me long for men’s ministry in the church.

I picked up a book called Why Men Hate Going to Church that I have heard good things about. I guess I am looking for ideas from all the men out there that are reading this blog. Women can have their say as well. B is always trying to help me out with ideas and she listens to me rant about my ideas. You know what they say…”Behind every good man is a better woman.”

What do you all think? What have you done in men’s ministry? What did you like to do/want to do? Feel free to leave a comment on this very subject. I want to make this blog entry a resource for other men who want to start a men’s ministry program at their church. I will joing into the replies. Men that are on fire for God are so important in our churches! It fires up our families and friends and coworkers for God! Let’s light that one match together to start a blaze of men on fire for God!

In many ways, M and I took a leap of faith when we purchased our new Pontiac Vibe last week. I still have a year of college left, so I won’t be able to contribute finances like I would with a full-time job. On top of that, the cost of commuting to school and expense of books and tuition, as well as M starting his master’s program will cause a little more stress on the paycheck than usual. We bought the car knowing money will most likely be tight for the next months ahead before I finish school. But as usual, God had a bigger plan to take care of us through this time.

Currently at my church, I am a Children’s Church teacher on a rotating schedule. The other night at church we had a Christian Education meeting to give an update of how our classes are going. I voiced some frustration I had been having with the kids, and how having two different teachers who taught two different ways every other week was not helping the kids find the structure they need.

After the meeting, my Pastor and his wife invited us out with them to discuss ministry in the church. It was at this time that the Pastor made it aware to me that he had been feeling like Children’s Church needed to go a totally different direction, and they were thinking of hiring a part-time children’s pastor. He then told me the person he had in mind for the job was me! I was shocked and excited at the same time. He asked me to think and pray about it and get back to him.

So here I am trying to figure out what to do. I know it will be a big commitment to take on the Children’s Ministry at the church as my own. But at the same time, if it is what God wants, who am I to say no? M and I have been discussing it ever since Pastor asked. I have never felt so excited about being a part of something in the church. We both feel like it is what God wants us to do. On top of that, it was His way of taking care of us financially with the whole car ordeal. The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

I guess what I am asking for is any advice and opinions anyone has out there on starting a children’s ministry. I have a lot of ideas of what I’d like to do, but I’ll take any help I can get. Right now I am envisioning having a room just for Children’s Church and decorating it with a fun theme so kids will have their own space in the church to call their own. I also like the thought of having puppets to help with kids’ worship and lessons. Any suggestions?

I really feel like God is orchestrating this whole thing, not only to help us out financially, but because for some reason he has chosen me to be the Children’s Ministry leadership at this time. Thanks for any input. It will be much appreciated.