{"id":3838,"date":"2018-05-14T15:30:52","date_gmt":"2018-05-14T15:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=3838"},"modified":"2018-05-14T15:30:52","modified_gmt":"2018-05-14T15:30:52","slug":"mens-ministries-can-help-churches-value-generations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2018\/05\/14\/mens-ministries-can-help-churches-value-generations\/","title":{"rendered":"How Men’s Ministries Can Help Churches Value All Generations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written By: W. A. Mills, Jr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The imperative for intergenerational ministry is throughout the Bible. Found in passages such as the Jewish Shemah, recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NLT) 4<\/sup>\u201cListen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5<\/sup>And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6<\/sup>And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7<\/sup>Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.\u201d The psalmist underscores this imperative in Psalm 78:5-6 (NLT) 5<\/sup> \u201cHe issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, 6<\/sup>so the next generation might know them\u2014even the children not yet born\u2014and they, in turn, will teach their own children.\u201d<\/p>\n

The New Testament reinforces the many injunctions for intergenerational ministry found in the Old Testament. The Apostle John accentuates the necessity of valuing all generations when he addresses children, fathers, and young men in 1 John 2:12-14. The Apostle Paul extols the collective wisdom of the aged and the passionate zeal of the young in his pastoral letter to Titus, citing specific instructions to the older men (Titus 2:1-2) and to the younger men (Titus 2:6-8). Hence, it is clear from sacred scripture that God\u2019s heart and intention are that His people value all generations.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Ministries has the unique opportunity to come alongside pastors. So, they can equip the men in their congregations to become authentic men, who in the words of Robert Lewis, \u201creject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and expect the greater reward, God\u2019s reward.\u201d1<\/sup> It is the will of the Father, that there be a progression of sacred trust between the generations. Hence, boys mature into young men who navigate life and its challenges, becoming middle-aged men seasoned by life\u2019s experiences and lessons learned until they come to those golden years where they have become familial patriarchs of successive generations, serving the Lord together, thereby finishing strong as a real man with a lasting, godly legacy.<\/p>\n

How then does Men\u2019s Ministries help the local church to value all generations? Tim Wright in an article titled The Key To Building A High Impact Men\u2019s Ministry<\/em> said, \u201cIf we are going to build men of high impact\u2026and to build men into followers of Jesus\u2026then we ought to start with our boys.\u201d2<\/sup><\/p>\n

Twelve years ago, Rev. Bill Terry, director of Men\u2019s Ministries and David Moore, director of Boy\u2019s Ministries recognized the need for partnering in the discipleship of boys and men. That strong bond continues to this day. In order to value all generations, there should be a concerted collaboration between the old and the young, ensuring a posterity for years to come. Tim Wright goes on to say,<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can capture our boys with the power of Jesus early on\u2026we could change the trajectory of the church, men\u2019s ministry, and men, in one generation.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n

For this to happen, Men\u2019s Ministries must become a mentoring ministry. This begins with every Godly man mentoring men of other ages and equipping other men to do the same. It has been my custom, as a pastor of 32 years, to meet with men on a weekly basis over an early breakfast to mentor them in their pursuit of authentic relationship with God. This has expanded to include seasonal gatherings of a small group of men I called \u201cIron Men.\u201d We would meet once a week for a period of six to eight weeks, at six o\u2019clock in the morning for prayer, bible study, life application discussions, and a closing prayer together. These small groups would then merge into a monthly meeting of men, drawing 35-50 men together for a meal, devotional message, and prayer.<\/p>\n

Once a year the Buena Vista Pentecostal Holiness Church Men\u2019s Ministries has sponsored a Men\u2019s Resurrection Breakfast at the Natural Bridge Inn and Conference Center, drawing as many as 325 men from across the region. In these gatherings, there has been a concerted effort to equip men to disciple sons and boys, leading them through a rite of passage into authentic manhood. We have utilized our teens and young adult men in these venues, providing opportunities to play an instrument, sing on a praise team, share a testimony, or preach a message. Hence, affirming the call of God on their lives, incrementally providing responsibility, preparing them for a life of service in the church and the larger kingdom of God. It is crucial that the older generation of men recognize the call of God on the younger generation of boys and teens, even as Eli did with Samuel when he realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So, Eli told Samuel, \u201cGo and lie down, and if he calls you, say, \u2018Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening\u2019\u201d (1 Samuel 3:8-9, NIV).<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s Ministries can help the church value all generations by creating opportunities for men and boys to experience life together. Royal Rangers and other ministries to boys provide an excellent venue for discipleship. Whether through camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, and other friendly activities that foster role modeling and mentoring opportunities. The partnership between Men\u2019s Ministries and Boy\u2019s Ministries to create high impact momentum for mutual discipleship has culminated in recent years through the National Camporama. This is scheduled to take place again in the summer of 2019. In this setting, men and boys alike can experience the blending of generations. They come together to have a boatload of fun while simultaneously encountering the perfect role model, the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual reproduction through the generations is God\u2019s plan of passing on spiritual disciplines, knowledge, and skills to reliable Christ-followers who will do the same.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

In summary, Men\u2019s Ministries can help the church value all generations by valuing ministry that is:<\/p>\n

RELATIONAL<\/strong> \u2013 one life impacting another (Matthew 4:19)<\/p>\n

TRANSFORMATIONAL\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 comprehensive life change (Romans 12:2)<\/p>\n

MISSIONAL\u00a0<\/b>\u2013 the Great Commission is not optional (Matthew 28:19-20)<\/p>\n

GENERATIONAL<\/strong> \u2013 every man is a spiritual parent (2 Timothy 2:2)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n

1<\/sup>Men\u2019s Fraternity:\u00a0 The Quest for Authentic Manhood, Robert Lewis, www.authenticmanhood.com<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/sup>The Key To Building A High Impact Men\u2019s Ministry, May 8, 2014, Tim Wright http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/timwright\/2014\/05\/the-key-to-building-a-high-impact-mens-ministry-2\/<\/a><\/p>\n

3<\/sup>Ibid<\/p>\n

4<\/sup>Men of I.M.P.A.C.T. (Imperfect Men Pursuing Authentic Christlike Transformation) https:\/\/www.thecrossingchurch.com\/ministries\/adults\/men-of-impact\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","slim_seo":{"title":"How Men's Ministries Can Help Churches Value All Generations - IPHC Discipleship Ministries","description":"Written By: W. A. Mills, Jr. The imperative for intergenerational ministry is throughout the Bible. Found in passages such as the Jewish Shemah, recorded in Deu"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_slim_seo_primary_term_category":0,"_slim_seo_primary_term_post_tag":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[757,4,15],"tags":[704,175,16,74,868,867],"class_list":["post-3838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-allgenerations","category-discipleship-ministries","category-mens-ministries","tag-all-generations","tag-david-moore","tag-discipleship","tag-royal-rangers-2","tag-tim-wright","tag-w-a-mills","entry"],"title_es":"C\u00f3mo los ministerios de hombres pueden ayudar a las iglesias a valorar a todas las generaciones","content_es":"","author_name":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-ZU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3689,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2018\/06\/10\/passing-the-torch\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":0},"title":"Passing the Torch","author":"Sasha LeBlanc","date":"June 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Passing the Torch We Prayerfully Value All Generations By Bill Terry \u201cWe will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the\u00a0Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders\u201d (Psalm 78:4). When the word torch comes to mind, I am\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Generations"","block_context":{"text":"All Generations","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/allgenerations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/Mens-Min-Day-2018-FINAL_preview.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/Mens-Min-Day-2018-FINAL_preview.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/Mens-Min-Day-2018-FINAL_preview.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/Mens-Min-Day-2018-FINAL_preview.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9515,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2022\/11\/28\/leadership-lessons-from-joseph-the-carpenter\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":1},"title":"Leadership Lessons from Joseph the Carpenter","author":"ebell","date":"November 28, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"There are many examples of inspiring influence in the Bible from leaders whom God used powerfully to impact nations and generations. One of those leaders we often overlook because he was a man of few words is Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth. In his quiet, unassuming manner, Joseph offers us\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/11\/MM-2022-Q1-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/11\/MM-2022-Q1-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/11\/MM-2022-Q1-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/11\/MM-2022-Q1-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/11\/MM-2022-Q1-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3694,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2018\/03\/16\/one-generation-must-tell-next-generation\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":2},"title":"One Generation Must Tell the Next Generation","author":"Sasha LeBlanc","date":"March 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"One Generation Must Tell the Next Generation By Bishop Scott Hampton It is with great excitement and expectation that we enter 2018 focusing on the fifth Core Value of the IPHC which is, \u201cWe Prayerfully Value All Generations.\u201d We define this Core Value of our movement by stating that,\u00a0\u201cWe celebrate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Generations"","block_context":{"text":"All Generations","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/allgenerations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/One-Generation-Must-Tell-the-Next-Generation-e1521219292920.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/One-Generation-Must-Tell-the-Next-Generation-e1521219292920.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/One-Generation-Must-Tell-the-Next-Generation-e1521219292920.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/03\/One-Generation-Must-Tell-the-Next-Generation-e1521219292920.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5784,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2019\/10\/22\/lord-give-me-an-open-door\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":3},"title":"Lord, Give Me an Open Door","author":"jbland","date":"October 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Acts 2:42 outlines essential convictions that must be ingrained in the fabric of a man's soul if he is to effectively \"guard this man\u201d (1 Kings 20:39).\u00a0 In the first quarter of this year, we saw that we must \"guard this man,\" so he is \"sound in doctrine.\" A second\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/MM-Q4.1-Article-Graphic-Mills-e1571778321389.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/MM-Q4.1-Article-Graphic-Mills-e1571778321389.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/MM-Q4.1-Article-Graphic-Mills-e1571778321389.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/10\/MM-Q4.1-Article-Graphic-Mills-e1571778321389.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9751,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2023\/02\/23\/useful-to-god-an-appeal-to-men\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":4},"title":"Useful to God an Appeal to Men","author":"sdavidson","date":"February 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Men's Ministries theme for 2023, \"Useful To God,\" based on the Apostle Paul's exhortation in 2 Timothy 2:21, challenges men of God to be \"a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master, ready for every good work.\" These words are among Paul's last words to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/02\/Mens.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/02\/Mens.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/02\/Mens.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/02\/Mens.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/02\/Mens.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/02\/Mens.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3310,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2017\/09\/01\/faith-for-all-generations\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":5},"title":"Faith for All Generations","author":"Sasha LeBlanc","date":"September 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Faith for All Generations By Dr. Michelle Anthony If we want our faith to endure for all generations, we must become increasingly confident and focused about the kind of faith we are trying to pass on to our children and grandchildren. Let\u2019s look at what God has to say about\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/09\/Fam-Min-Resource-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/09\/Fam-Min-Resource-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/09\/Fam-Min-Resource-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/09\/Fam-Min-Resource-Article-Graphic.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/05\/Mens-Ministries-All-Generations.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}