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BUILDING MEN FOR CHRIST Master Builder Bibles for Interns 2011 LMM Gathering

A STRATEGY FOR MAKING YOUR CHURCH MORE WELCOMING TO MEN

Why is it that women outnumber men in most of our congregations by about two to one? Why is it that young men are the most unchurched group in America? Why is it that men seem to be loosing interest in church?

A Gallup News Service release in 2007 stated: “Researchers know a lot about the types of people who are most likely to attend worship services in the United States today…There is a strong gender effect, with women of all ages more likely than men to attend.”

The typical U.S. congregation draws an adult crowd that’s 61 percent female, 39 percent male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories. (U.S. Congregational Life Survey, 2003).

It’s clear that the answer to these concerns and their affect on the congregation does not lie in just starting another group in the church; it requires something much more radical.

Frederick W. Taylor, the founder of systems engineering, first said, “your system is perfectly designed to produce the results you are getting.” Those words are just as true for the church today as when Taylor wrote them for the industry over 100 years ago.

Why is it that there are fewer men than women engaged in most of our congregations? The congregation’s system is designed to produce that result. Reflect on what happens in your congregation’s programs, worship, and practices of hospitality, including:

Ų Style, lyrics and pitch of music and hymns.

Ų Style (s) of pastoral leadership and care

Ų Content and approach of sermons (tangible, challenging, and life-based)

Ų Unspoken “dress codes” or dress traditions for worship

Ų Do bulletins, newsletters, and Web sites have as much for men as they do for women?

Ų Are there small groups that are relevant for men and draw their attention?

Ų Are mutual care, encouragement, respect, and healthy relationships encouraged between men and women; young, old, and in between; people of diverse life experiences and cultures”?

The Building Men for Christ leadership training events conducted by Lutheran Men in Mission are assisting pastors and congregational lay leaders in looking at the system and practices of their congregation and making changes that will engage men.

The focus of the Building Men for Christ workshop is not about how to develop a men’s program, but how to make your congregation a place that captivates men’s attention and engages them in a disciple-making process. The workshop involves men in assessing their own congregational context and practices with respect to scripture, Lutheran theology and practice, and how we can best serve God in mission in today’s world.

The workshop has been developed in consultation with Man in the Mirror, and Vibrant Faith Ministries (formerly the Youth and Family Institute) and is led by Lutheran Men in Mission leaders.

This workshop is scheduled for Nov. 12 – 13, at the Synod office in Salisbury. There is a poster that can be downloaded and printed for posting in your church, as well as the registration form . If more information is needed please contact us in the office at 704-633-4861, ext. 125.

Flyer and Registration Form

Poster to draw interest for the event

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Master Builder Bibles for Interns

For the past 7 years, Lutheran Men in Mission has been encouraging men to study the Bible by offering the Master Builder Study Bible to men who want to begin or enhance a small group Bible experience. LMM has provided almost 10,000 of these Bibles free to congregations across the US to start such a ministry. To date a total of 45,000 Bibles have been distributed.

LMM wants to expand this effort by giving a Master Builder Bible to each seminary student who is beginning their internship. We also would like to

give them a copy of Pat Morley’s book, Pastoring Men, which we believe is an excellent resource as they begin their ministerial life.

To make this happen, we need your help. There are approximately 250 seminary students who will shortly begin an internship. We are looking for individuals and congregations willing to donate $25 (the cost of one Bible and book) to make this happen. We plan to have a member of the LMM Board personally present the Bible and book to interns at each of the seminaries in April or May.

If you want to help make this happen, please send a check in the amount of $25 per intern that you want to support to:

North Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission , 1988 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury, N. C.,,28144. and please be sure to put “Seminarian Bibles” in the memo line:

North Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission and the South Carolina Lutheran Men in Mission have decided to expand this program to include the graduating seniors in the distribution program for the next two years so as to include all graduates from this date forward. We have a total of 51 interns and graduating seniors who will be presented with these MBB and the book, Pastoring Men, this year at a gathering at LTSS in mid-April. All contributions that we receive over and above the cost of this year's distribution will be held in a restricted reserve fund to purchase supplies of the bibles and the books for distribution in future years.

Our own Bishop Bolick has expressed his support for this program and has stated that it is an excellent ministry to our future pastors.

Thank you for helping to share the Word.

LMM Board, Norm Smith President,

NCLMM, Dale T. Nettnin, President

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2011 LMM Gathering

Our LMM Gathering will be in Denver, CO, July 21 - 24, 2011. As before, the business session will start on the afternoon of the 21st, and conclude in the afternoon of the 22nd, and the gathering will commence after supper on the 22nd and go thru lunch on the 24th. The event will be held at the Marriott Denver Tech Center. Rooms will be $99.00 per night with up to a maximum of 4 people per room with a complimentary hot breakfast.

nclmm@nlmm.org

“Working and striving for all men to have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through an effective men’s ministry in every congregation.”