Iron Sharpening
Another Men’s event coming up next Saturday? Not hardly, this is THE MAN EVENT. “Copious amounts of grilled cuisine, sports challenge, fun and fellowship” is how we promote it, and it delivers! Although I have been involved in a wide variety of church ministry through the years, overseeing a men’s ministry has eluded me. So, when called on to be the Business Minister at Covenant Grove three years ago, the men’s ministry assignment was an unexpected add-on, at least unexpected by me. My wife saw it clearly as a divine calling; however, I saw it as a conspiracy between the Lead Pastor, my wife and God. It took a while for me to catch on, but after much prayer and mild pressure, I owned up to it. Seems like the world has changed a bit in those three years, yet God and His Ways never change. Over the last three years God has grown in me a passion and a vision for ministering to men. Only through much prayer, observation and countless conversations with men has this materialized. Why a men’s ministry? Men need connection with other men – whether we want it or not. Men need activity with other men with some type of challenge and engagement. Men also need to eat. An interesting phenomenon occurs when these things happen in one venue – men start talking, they communicate – they connect. When these things come together barriers are crossed, shackles removed, and relationships forged. The theme verse for Men’s Ministry is Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” The implication is one piece of iron cannot sharpen itself and in fact will remain dull in isolation. Only through the process of heat and deliberate contact will one iron sharpen the other. Look, all of us – men, women and kids of all ages need to be engaged in weekly worship and fellowship. Second, we all need to be in smaller weekly community groups called Life Groups. Men’s Ministry, as well as Women’s, Kids and Youth Ministries are not intended to substitute for congregational worship or Life Groups. They are, in fact, a complementary part of the overarching mission of Covenant Grove in “transforming religious and irreligious people to Devoted Followers of Jesus Christ.” So, why do we have these events? To create further opportunities for connection, camaraderie, and accountability. In other words, iron sharpening. Is there a man in your life? Spouse, father, brother, uncle, nephew, friend? He needs this, so encourage him to join in! Upcoming Men’s events are the annual Men’s Conference in Mission Springs, May 13-15 and of course the Fall Skeet Shoot, November 12.