Jesus taught in the synagogues but called men along the way.
He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So, they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. John 21:6
Tailgate Fishing for Men isn’t hard! Cast your nets on the other side by leaving your building to “fish” for men at a community park or hardware store parking lot. Instead of bringing men to your church, get grilling, and take the gospel to where men are already gathered.
More information about what goes on at our tailgate events can be found here.
Thoughts to “tackle” as you pray and plan:
- Fish at the right time of day: When is the best time to reach the most men?
- Fish in the right spot: Where are men already meeting and gathering?
- Use the right bait: What do men in your community like to do?
- Be prepared for the catch: Make sure your men are trained, equipped, and encouraged to share the gospel message with the men who gather around.
Good fishing spots:
- Breakfast at the little league soccer fields
- Lunch in the hardware store parking lot
- Dinner at the high school football stadium
- Free food outside a local coffee shop, in a city park, at the golf club parking lot
Tailgate tips and best practices:
- Get permission. Identify the person in charge of the event or space where you would like to set up your tailgate and ask for permission. Better yet, look for ways to partner!
- Prepare. Plan a short training meeting for the men in your church who will be volunteering at the tailgate. Include an overall vision of the event—to meet, encourage, and share the gospel with men in the community. (3-circles is a great tool for learning to confidently and simply share the gospel.)
- Pray. Ask God to prepare the day and to prepare the hearts of the men who will be serving as well as those who will be coming for a meal.
- Follow Up. The goal of this event is for it to be a catalyst that leads to more men’s discipleship engagement in your church and community. Be ready to invite the men you meet back to your church, small groups, or the next planned men’s event.
- Mobilize for More. Ensure the tailgate is reproducible and simple enough for the men volunteering to do it themselves in other areas of the community as the Lord leads.
information about what goes on at our tailgate events with our volunteers can be found here.
“Tailgates provide a unique opportunity for people to serve others in an exciting way while creating an intentional atmosphere for connection and conversation. The time, energy, and effort it takes to host a tailgate is totally worth it due to the connections — connections with those who are a part of the tailgate team and connections with the people that are being served. Over the years, our team grew to love serving together and even became named our official “Tailgate Crew.” We even provided them with special shirts with that same branding on them while we hosted the tailgates, which helped identify them as leaders. Since they served together and grew together, they encouraged each other while spurring one another to look out for new people that came to the tailgate to engage in conversations that we prayed would lead to spiritual conversations. Through our tailgate ministry, we have had a few families visit our church and even join our church, but the main focus was always serving the community for the sake of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others.”
