‘Who’s the guy in your life that you could ring at 2am when life goes pear shaped?’
It’s the thought-provoking question that Brian Egerton and the men’s ministry team at Grace Church ask men to consider.
“My experience is that ladies make connections so much better… my wife can meet a woman she’s never spoken with before and they’ll be sharing all sorts, but blokes find it hard to go near the real stuff.”
And going near the ‘real stuff’ is exactly what the ministry team is prompting men in their church—and beyond—to do together at regular events like men’s breakfasts and car shows.
“We try and get the guys connecting over a proper breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausages, toast… with the goal of helping us to encourage each other to be the man in our world that God made us to be—whether in your work, or in your home, whether you have kids or not—there is something you can be doing to grow in the Lord.”
The ministry team is made up of 6-7 guys from Grace Church, and they recently held a breakfast event on November 8 where 47 men came along to hear John Hannah, an elder from Hope Community Church, speak on ‘Practical Leadership – where the rubber meets the road’.
This is the third breakfast this year, and the team have continued to partner with nearby Hope Community Church: “Grace Church was originally a church plant from Hope,” says Brian, “so there are lots of connections. Over the years through men’s events like Promise Keepers we’d touch base with a few of the guys. Early last year we got together to plan a couple of events for both churches.”
The aim is to be intentional about encouraging leadership and discipleship, says Brian:
“Discipleship doesn’t need to be a big complicated thing, many lack confidence in knowing where to start. These events encourage men to get alongside somebody else and disciple them.”
The best part is that it’s a two-way thing, says Brian: “You learn together, it’s not always the older teaching the younger, but about being in the Word and growing each other in Christ.”
Another event that the team has hosted is a car show; open to anyone interested in vehicles: “These guys come along to our church car park and we all look at the cars etc. The local car clubs are advertising the church-based event on their pages. This event leaves a lot of space for faith conversations.”
