EVALUATING THE PROFILE
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- 1. Determine how many men are in the church
by figuring 40% of the adult attendance.
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- 2. How many men, whom you are aware of, are
active in men's ministry or men's small groups?
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- a. This gives a general idea of how many men are not experiencing
the support and encouragement of "shoulder-to-shoulder" relationships
with other men.
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- b. It also helps to discern how effective any current outreach to
men is.
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- 3. The number of pastors in your church indicates
the many responsibilities they carry and how increased lay leadership-from
men and women-can help advance the mission of the church.
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- 4. Knowing the general theological and practical
values of your church helps identify the men's ministry models which have
the same philosophy of ministry, and values. Try to understand these differences
so that you do not erect unnecessary barriers with church leadership.
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- 5. Insight into the ethnic and cultural compositions
will identify the history each man has. Try to understand some of the cultural
and racial pains, both historical and present, so that you can experience
healing as brothers in Christ. Do not attempt to impose other models on
another group of men with different cultures and interests. (e.g., a Southern
California white middle class men's ministry model will not fit a multi-ethnic
inner city church in Chicago)
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- 6. In terms of age, it is important to understand
how the age composition of the men affect things like meeting places and
times. Men over the age of 50 are more likely to sacrifice a Sunday morning
to be with other men. On the other hand, men under the age of 50 would
rather meet on a week night, thus not sacrificing a Sunday morning with
their children.
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