I WAS RECENTLY ASKED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION(S):
Why do you think it is harder for young
men to follow the Lord into missions, you see all the time that the
majority of missions teams World Race and Real Life as well as others
are women. What can we as a church do to encourage our young men to
step into this role?
men to follow the Lord into missions, you see all the time that the
majority of missions teams World Race and Real Life as well as others
are women. What can we as a church do to encourage our young men to
step into this role?
I’ve pondered these questions and here’s what I’ve come up with (keeping in mind that these are just MY thoughts):
The disclaimer on anything that I write here is that these are just my ideas based on my observations, experiences and conversations. I’m not finger pointing or anything of the sort……just writing out my theories.
I think the issue we’re talking about is bigger than just missions. In general I think there is a lack of positive male presence in a majority of men’s lives. This has caused a domino effect in homes, the work place, the church and everything else. So, in short the men need MEN to teach them what really being a man of God means. The problem is that this isn’t a new issue. We are looking at generations of fatherless homes and a lack of spiritual leadership. Now this is where I am not pointing fingers at the men. Rather I am pointing fingers at us all, because WE are responsible for change.
Okay, so let’s keep tracking here…because of a lack of male presence and spiritual leadership, the women have stepped into those roles. So it seems like that is good thing, because someone stepped up into those necessary roles. However we are now realizing that by the women stepping into what was designed by God as the men’s roles, we are dealing with the aftermath: a lack of men in the church, home, ministry, etc.
That’s my assessment of the “Why?” Now onto the “What can we as a church do to encourage our young men to
step into this role?” This is perhaps the trickier answer. It’s a bit of a catch 22. Boys need men to teach them how to be men. Which means we need some men to begin with. So, I think men who are walking in their identity need to PURSUE the generation below them. Mentoring and discipleship are a HUGE areas that men can teach boys to be men. It takes time and men need to be willing to give that in order to put a dent in what has become quite possibly one of the biggest hindrances in the growth of the Western church.
step into this role?” This is perhaps the trickier answer. It’s a bit of a catch 22. Boys need men to teach them how to be men. Which means we need some men to begin with. So, I think men who are walking in their identity need to PURSUE the generation below them. Mentoring and discipleship are a HUGE areas that men can teach boys to be men. It takes time and men need to be willing to give that in order to put a dent in what has become quite possibly one of the biggest hindrances in the growth of the Western church.
It’s not all on the men be any means though. Us women have a responsibility in this too. We cannot ask the men to reclaim their roles if we’re not willing to step out of them. We need to push and encourage the men in our lives to BE men. They do not need our coddling or hand-holding. They need us to RELEASE them into manhood and for us to INVITE them to be men in our lives. They need us to tell them who God says they are, even before we see it. They need us to let them lead, protect, and fight for us. When the men are walking in who they are in Christ it does not threaten our identity as women of God, rather it STRENGTHENS both our understandings of our identity.
Maybe that’s right on or way off. Regardless, I would love to hear YOUR theories, ideas, questions. Please comment freely!
