Men,
Pastor Andrew here. I have something I need to say to you.
I have been noticing a few things over the past year or so. As your pastor, there have been many instances where I’ve been incredibly encouraged and blessed by men in our church who are stepping up to serve the church, stepping into deeper commitment in membership, and stepping up in certain ways to serve their families. It’s been said that two signs of a church heading in a good direction are singing men and crying babies. For a church our size, we have a great representation of men of all ages, seeking to love and serve Jesus, their families, and the church.
But two things can be true at once.
While there have been pockets of this sacrifice and grace, I am growing more and more concerned by how many men I talk to or observe who are lonely, isolated, unengaged, and discouraged. Many men in our church would love to take their next step towards growth as a man in Jesus, but many of us don’t know how or don’t even have a vision of what that would look like.
Please hear my heart. I’m not brow-beating or shaming any of you. If I’m honest, even as your pastor I have these days, weeks, and months. I’m as prone to loneliness and despair as any of you are.
That’s why I believe, with all of my heart, that it’s time for us a church to gather and strengthen our men.
This isn’t just a suggestion or a pipe dream. In this crucial moment of our church’s story, the future of Anthem Church depends on the vitality, health, and vision of our men. Whether you’re a leader or a lay-member: we need you. Whether you’re a member, a long-time attender, or a new guest: we need you. Whether you’re in a season of fruit and flourishing or in a season of despair and depression: we need you. Whether you feel strong in faith or you have a lot of doubt and questions: we need you. Whether you are a teen or an older man: we need you.
We need you more than you know. We need your vision, we need your ideas, we need your strength, we need your courage, we need your finances, we need your healthy wife and flourishing family. And it does nobody any good to posture around one another as if we aren’t all struggling in some way. Let’s together acknowledge and name our weaknesses and build one another up in Jesus.
We need you. The question is: will you heed the call?
I’ll go first.
This summer, you will have a number of opportunities to grow and engage with the men of our church, which I am leading. I encourage you, I beseech you, I exhort you, to dive in with as much of this as you can. If you are in a dark and difficult season, you especially need to lean in. If you are in a good season, we need your strength, and we still have plenty of room to grow. I can’t do this alone, and we are much stronger together.
Below are all the details so you can plan accordingly.
Pastor Andrew here. I have something I need to say to you.
I have been noticing a few things over the past year or so. As your pastor, there have been many instances where I’ve been incredibly encouraged and blessed by men in our church who are stepping up to serve the church, stepping into deeper commitment in membership, and stepping up in certain ways to serve their families. It’s been said that two signs of a church heading in a good direction are singing men and crying babies. For a church our size, we have a great representation of men of all ages, seeking to love and serve Jesus, their families, and the church.
But two things can be true at once.
While there have been pockets of this sacrifice and grace, I am growing more and more concerned by how many men I talk to or observe who are lonely, isolated, unengaged, and discouraged. Many men in our church would love to take their next step towards growth as a man in Jesus, but many of us don’t know how or don’t even have a vision of what that would look like.
Please hear my heart. I’m not brow-beating or shaming any of you. If I’m honest, even as your pastor I have these days, weeks, and months. I’m as prone to loneliness and despair as any of you are.
That’s why I believe, with all of my heart, that it’s time for us a church to gather and strengthen our men.
This isn’t just a suggestion or a pipe dream. In this crucial moment of our church’s story, the future of Anthem Church depends on the vitality, health, and vision of our men. Whether you’re a leader or a lay-member: we need you. Whether you’re a member, a long-time attender, or a new guest: we need you. Whether you’re in a season of fruit and flourishing or in a season of despair and depression: we need you. Whether you feel strong in faith or you have a lot of doubt and questions: we need you. Whether you are a teen or an older man: we need you.
We need you more than you know. We need your vision, we need your ideas, we need your strength, we need your courage, we need your finances, we need your healthy wife and flourishing family. And it does nobody any good to posture around one another as if we aren’t all struggling in some way. Let’s together acknowledge and name our weaknesses and build one another up in Jesus.
We need you. The question is: will you heed the call?
I’ll go first.
This summer, you will have a number of opportunities to grow and engage with the men of our church, which I am leading. I encourage you, I beseech you, I exhort you, to dive in with as much of this as you can. If you are in a dark and difficult season, you especially need to lean in. If you are in a good season, we need your strength, and we still have plenty of room to grow. I can’t do this alone, and we are much stronger together.
Below are all the details so you can plan accordingly.
THE FIRE
DATES: JUNE 19, JULY 24, AUGUST 14
Men and fire.
An ancient and effective combination.
You will want to be there.
That’s all there is to say.
An ancient and effective combination.
You will want to be there.
That’s all there is to say.
FIGHTING SHADOWS
DATES: JUNE 19, JUNE 26, JULY 17, JULY 24, JULY 31, AUGUST 7, AUGUST 14, AUGUST 28
In two weeks, I will be starting a book club for the summer, meeting eight Wednesday mornings at 6:30AM here at the church. Together we will be slowly walking through a book titled "Fighting Shadows"; I believe it contains some timely insights and challenges for every man in our church right now. Some of the book I quite like, some of it I don’t like, but that’s the point: we will wrestle out the truth together. We need our men fully alive and fully depending on Jesus as we head into this next season in the life of the church. All men are needed, and the time is now.
If you are up for the challenge, then please do the following:
If you are up for the challenge, then please do the following:
- Please purchase the book (link below).
- Please read the Introduction (The Lie of the Shadows) and the first chapter (The Eclipse) before our first meeting on Wednesday, 6/19.
- If you would like to join the book club, please commit to attending as many of the meetings as possible. Summer is busy and you likely have scheduled time away and other commitments, which is understood, but please engage as consistently as possible, for yourself and for the other men.
MEN, I CARE ABOUT YOU GUYS.
I really do. You may not believe me, but I look at you and I am filled with so much hope for what our community could be if we joined together, fought our shadows, turned from our sin and destructive habits, walked in our true identity as sons and brothers, and used our days and our strength to build our homes, build our church, and join Jesus in building the kingdom.
Big changes start with small steps. Take this one with me over the summer.
As always, I’m here for you: andrew@anthemchurch.net
Take heart, we can do this together,
Andrew
Big changes start with small steps. Take this one with me over the summer.
As always, I’m here for you: andrew@anthemchurch.net
Take heart, we can do this together,
Andrew
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