Jeremy - your guys went from being pretty much disconnected from ministry all the way to going on a mission trip to Montana - and then another one to Alaska - inside of 24 months.
What happened to ingnite that so fast?
To think that through - what do you think was the hold up causing those guys to be disconnected in the first place?
Monday, March 24, 2008
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For our fellas, the outdoor ministry was the common ground that brought us together. It was our common bond. We created an atmosphere where men could be men. John Eldridge said that the common thought on what a Christian man is is that he's just a "wimpy nice guy." We wanted guys to know that wasn't the way it was. We let it be known that Jesus was one tough dude that had to be a good ole' boy cause he hung out with fishermen all the time.
Several other things happened as our guys started to get to know each other. Our church had been through 40 Days of Purpose and we started 40 days of Community (by Pastor Rick Warren). We emphasized several things from those studies. One, that God made us who we are for a reason. He created us with likes, dislikes, with certain abilities, skills, and a heart for certain things. He also gave each of us certain gifts. We were created to serve and He could use how He made us to do just that. We tried to hammer that idea home. Then, we put some of it to use in a project. We found someone in need of a new roof. (Many of our guys can build stuff). God provided the materials (which is a story in itself) and we had over 20 guys put a roof on the house of someone who was in desperate need. This got the ball rolling. It seemed like this really pushed us to the next level. Real, authentic fellowship takes place in these situations, where you bleed and sweat and battle together on a project with a common goal. After that, it was on like donkey kong.
Next, we decided that a mission trip would be a great next step. We started looking for a trip that fit our guys. In another amazing story that we don't have room for - God led us to Montana (a place where every sportsman dreams about). While there we helped build a church. This year we are going to ALASKA! WOW!
I believe that men want to be connected. They want to be used and they want to do things for the Kingdom. They just don't know how and in some places they feel like they can't connect. I am sure that for us the Outdoor Ministry was the place where it was all able to "connect" and start to grow. Outdoor ministry is quite an adventure! If you are thinking about getting one started, buckle your seatbelt!
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