Engaging men has its challenges year-round. Summertime is especially difficult for all the obvious reasons. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make progress with your men’s discipleship strategy. I encourage pastors and others to leverage summer for leadership development. If you’re going to be able to capture and hold anyone’s attention during the summer months, it’s the guys who are already sold on the idea of investing in other men.
Check out this video about developing your team.
Here are some tips to building your leadership team over the summer…
- Don’t try to launch a new Bible study for men over the summer. You’ll likely be frustrated by the results. (There are obvious exceptions to every rule and you can make this work but you need to have your eyes open wide so you don’t get frustrated.)
- Get your leadership team together to pray, brainstorm, pray, dream, plan and pray for a strong fall campaign for your men. This should be fun and informal but still productive. (Take notice of this nuance… not a fall event but a fall campaign. I’ll unpack this concept in a future post.)
- Review a particular resource or strategy that you plan to offer to your men in the fall. This is a huge win! For example, if you plan to deploy 33 Volume 4 – A Man and His Work this fall, then have your leadership team experience it this summer. Take it for a test drive. Kick the tires. Let it impact the men on your team BEFORE you launch it with the men of your church. You can’t lead someone on a journey you haven’t been on yourself. Need some ideas? Let us know!
- Read a men’s leadership book and discuss it together during several summer meetings as you plan for the fall. Here are some suggestions…
- Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow – This is a MUST read for you and your team. You’ll look at church differently and get some great ideas about how some simple may help more men engage.
- No Man Left Behind by Patrick Morley, David Delk and Brett Clemmer – You’ll be reminded over and over again that it’s important to develop a strategic plan to disciple EVERY MAN in your church.
- Sleeping Giant by Kenny Luck – Simple, powerful, practical. The sub-title sells the book. “No Movement of God without the Men of God”. Your team will learn some key steps to activate your men.
- Designed to Lead by Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck – This is the newest book on my list and it doesn’t specifically target men, but it should. Men’s discipleship and leadership development are nearly synonymous and this could be a textbook for developing men for leadership.
- Reach out to me and set up a call or meeting. I’d love to meet with you or your team to talk about what’s working and what isn’t for men at your church and how to develop a strategic plan that will help you equip your men to Walk with Christ and Lead Well! Contact Mike at mike.young@www.noblewarriors.org to schedule a Battle Briefing Workshop for your team.