Why should my UMMen's group use the National
Fatherhood Initiative resources?
As a chartered or recertified United Methodist Men unit you are
eligible for a 20% discount on NFI resources. As United
Methodist Men consider ways to reach the next generation of men
for Jesus Christ, the issue of fatherhood must be addressed.
That is where our affiliation with NFI comes in.
www.fatherhood.org
What is the mission of the National Fatherhood
Initiative?
NFI's mission is to improve the well being of children by
increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved,
responsible, and committed fathers. They accomplish their mission
through their "3E" strategy:
- Educating and inspiring all Americans, especially fathers,
through public awareness campaigns, research, and other
resources.
- Equipping and developing leaders of national, state, and
community fatherhood initiatives through curricula, training,
and technical assistance.
- Engaging every sector of society through strategic alliances
and partnerships.
Where can my Local Men's unit find a
recertification or charter form?
Complete the information needed on the form below.
Have treasurer prepare a check for $65 for a contribution to the
mission of United Methodist Men.
Mail this form with your check to:
General Commission on United Methodist Men
P.O. Box 440515
Nashville, TN 37244-0515
(615) 340-7148
(615) 340-1770 Fax
We can chapter jointly 2 or more units as one, if they are
meeting together.
Please be sure to check one:
- This is an application for a NEW CHARTER
- This is an application for ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION
- This is a recertification for a LAPSED CHARTER
Annual
Chapter Recertification Form.
For less than one week's worth of coffee, tea, or pop, you and
the men of your local church in the North Texas Conference can set
the hearts of men afire. Imagine what our communities, homes,
jobs, churches, and the world would like when MEN seek to touch
the lives of others as we serve in missions, and service.
Stand up and be counted, The time to charter is now!
How can I make a
personal investment that will show my commitment to the ministry
and mission of United Methodist Men?
Become a member and or give a gift of EMS.
"Every Man Shares in Evangelism, Mission and Spiritual
life."
EMS is a personal investment made by individuals who are
committed to the ministry and mission of United Methodist Men.
The income benefits many different programs and ministries.
$30.00 EMS Membership
The
men of my local church share meals, study the bible together, and
work on mission projects. In what way can we share this news
with other men's units around the North Texas Conference and
through out the United Methodist Church?
There are many ways to share the Good
News. We have listed three just to name a few:
-
Charter your Men's Group today! Once
you have signed to the GCUMM, you will receive the support and
resources that will assist you to keep the fire burning the hearts
of your local men's group. The General Commission on United
Methodist Men is here to serve you and your group, not the other
way around. However, you must charter and keep your local
unit's membership current. It's well worth the effort.
-
Become a member of EMS, give a gift of
EMS to a friend or new member of your church and your Pastor.
EMS profiles active life transforming Men's ministry in the Mens
News. There you will find God's grace and mercy shown
through the lives of MEN across the nation. You will learn
that you are not alone, there are men out there just like you. Men
who seek God's Will, Purpose and Peace in their lives.
-
Send e-mail, call or write your North
Texas Conference UMMen Leadership team, District UMMen Leadership
team or Local Men's Unit Leader and Pastor. We would love to
create a newsletter that highlights upcoming events as well as
Graceful moments in the lives and times of the Men of the North
Texas Conference.
God is doing mighty things across our conference, it's time to
hear the stories of a band of brothers who have decided to declare
the centrality of Christ in their lives, and help one another on
the way!
How
can our United Methodist Men's Ministry units turn into what Men
Need?
Tuning Into What Men Need
Alexander Mitserlisch once wrote, "Society has torn the soul of
the male, and into this tear the demons have fled-the demons of
insecurity, selfishness and despair. Consequently, men do not know
who they are as men. Rather they define themselves by what they
do, who they know or by what they own." The following facts
illustrate the spiritual state of American men today. These
statistics are from a nationwide survey of a random sampling of
2,000 men:
- Approximately 94 million males are 18 or older.
- On a typical weekend, about 26 million men attend church
services; 68 million do not.
- During a typical week, roughly 27 million men read the
Bible, while 67 million do not.
- One of three men embraces Jesus Christ as Savior; 60 million
rely on other means for "salvation."
- Eighty-five percent of all unchurched men were previously
churched.
- Since 1991, church attendance, Bible reading, Sunday School
attendance, volunteering at church and contributions to church
have all decreased among men. The proportion of born-again men
has remained unchanged.
- From 1992 to 1996, the average church attendance among men
has declined.
These statistics enforce the need for churches and ministries
to connect men with God's life-changing power. Sixty-eight million
men do not attend church. Unchurched men today have the following
needs:
Unchurched men need understanding. They want a church
that helps them truly understand the Bible. They want a church
that seeks to understand them.
Unchurched men need relationship. Most men feel
lonely, isolated and disconnected. They would appreciate a
church that brings them in contact with like-minded peers in a
non-threatening setting.
Unchurched men need instruction for kids. Millions of
men want their kids to have positive Christian learning
experiences.
Unchurched men need solutions. Men are staggered by
the pressures they carry. Most men require that the church
provide practical, tangible solutions to the difficult problems
they face daily. They want to know spiritual principles that
make life "work." The church must answer the questions that men
are asking.
Unchurched men need to know God. Many unchurched men
have given up on organized religion but not on God. They want to
know God but don't know how.
What about men who have already accepted Jesus Christ as their
personal Lord and Savior? A survey of Promise Keepers attendees
conducted by the National Center for Fathering, an independent
research foundation, revealed that Christian men have a number of
deep needs in their lives.
Christian men are not satisfied with themselves.
Forty-four percent would like to change the way they feel about
themselves. Forty-three percent feel a deep sense of failure
when they think about their pasts.
Christian men are not satisfied with their marriages and
family lives. Only 25 percent indicate satisfaction with
themselves as fathers, while only 62 percent are satisfied with
their relationships with their wives.
Christian men experience stress on the job. Eighty-one
percent describe their jobs as highly stressful, while 63
percent are concerned about the future health of their careers.
Christian men struggle with sexual matters.
Fifty-three percent admit fantasizing about sex with other
women. Fifty-four percent state that they feel shame about past
sexual experiences.
Christian men need relationships with other men with whom
they can be open and honest. Seventy-five percent in the
survey have feelings they do not share with anyone. Only 35
percent have others to hold them accountable for their sexual
thoughts and behavior.
Men want to be successful, to feel significant and to have
meaning in life. Men want to be good husbands, good fathers and
the spiritual leaders of their families. But many of them do not
know how to accomplish these goals. The programs the church has
used to reach lost men and meet the needs of redeemed men are not
sufficient.
George Barna states, "The explosive growth of Promise Keepers
in the past several years is finding freedom and renewal in the
name of Christ. But outside the church, the battle for the hearts
of male America is just beginning to take shape. The stage is set
for a dramatic awakening of our nation's men."
A men's ministry can provide the spiritual direction men need
to join God's work in every area of their lives. A men's ministry
that draws men to Christ and mobilizes them for ministry must be
based on a thorough knowledge of their specific needs and
characteristics.
This article is adapted from "Drawing Men to
God." To order this product, visit
LifeWay Christian Stores.
Is this web site
storage space supplied by GBGM? Yes
The space for this web site has been
provided courtesy of
the
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
. The content of these home pages is the responsibility of
North Texas Conference United Methodist Men. Please send
feedback to
todd.bristow@eds.com
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