4. Church
Case Studies
Read about several churches who
used Man in the Mirror resources, events, or training to improve their ministry
to men.
Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church
Birmingham, AL
Several years ago Hal Wilson
started a small group using our materials. Soon his ministry grew
to seven groups with 128 men. His church needs about 150 leaders to function
properly. One hundred of those leaders come from his groups. He notes
that 75 of those men-half of the church's leadership-started as cultural
Christians who would not have otherwise become church leaders. In other
words, half of his church's leadership positions could be unfilled if
it were not for this ministry to men.
Southeast Christian Church
Louisville, KY
Several years ago one man read
The Man in the Mirror and accepted the challenge to start an accountability
group. That group grew to eight men, then split into four groups. Two
of the men approached the pastor to start a men's ministry. Today about
75 other groups exist with an estimated 900 men. Southeast Christian Church hired a Men's Minister to lead these groups and develop other men's
activities. In one year they gave away over 7,000 copies of The Man in The Mirror on Father's Day. One man who grew through his group gave his testimony
in front of over 12,000 people. Today he is teaching a very large Sunday
school class.
The whole story….
Pat, about two
weeks ago, you were in Birmingham, Alabama. One of my dear friends in
the world, Bill Dowell, approached you and told you his story of how
your book, The Man in the Mirror, changed his life, but also influenced
mine. I have been blessed by your books. I have a
deeper walk with Christ, a stronger marriage, and I am a better father and
friend to many because of your words! THANK YOU!!!
About seven years ago,
Bill Dowell sent me a hard copy of your book. I immediately began reading
it with the perspective of a student or player listening to a coach or
mentor. Wow! The messages you wrote touched me page after page, I was
inspired, humbled, and encouraged that I wasn't the only man in
the boat I found myself in at that time of my life. Bill and I talked
many times while I read the book. I immediately was challenged to start
an accountability group. I asked a friend to begin meeting with me on
Fridays at 6:30 am. We met for about 6 months. Our bonding was so attractive
to other men in our Sunday School class that several others requested
to join the group. The group was now at about seven men. We matured
as a group over the next year. We studied various books of the Bible
and other topical/theme books.
At the one year mark of
the group, I received an important phone call from a friend, whom I
could tell from his voice, had a heavy heart and was carrying the weight
of the world on his back. After a three hour lunch meeting, I invited
this man into our group. It is amazing how God works through other people!
Our group of eight men decided to take a big risk and we broke the large
group into four groups of two. This was a major period of growth. Two
men in the group (Robert and Greg) clicked tighter than brothers. Their
lives were so joyfully blessed by the group and their new found friendship
that they approached our pastor, Bob Russell to begin a men's ministry.
Most of the men in our
group were active PK attenders and we were seeing the benefits of our
transparency and having concerned Christian men (friends) involved in
each others lives. Today about 75 other groups exist. Southeast Christian
Church has hired Kurt Sauder, Men's Minister to lead these groups and
develop other men's activities. Last year SE gave away 7,000 copies
of The Man in the Mirror book on Father's Day. The man I mentioned earlier,
whom I invited into our group, he gave his testimony in front of over
12,000 people. Today he is teaching a very large Sunday school class.
Pat, I hope this note
gives you encouragement to your ministry. Your words, challenges and
constant willingness to address tough issues have influenced many in
Louisville, Kentucky. I personally have been blessed by your rich wisdom,
examples of success, challenge and growth. I can truly relate to your
books. Finally, I am reading your Devotions for Couples; thank you for
altering my perspectives and insight. Your books have helped me to see
outside of the Box of Life!
Pat, may God continue
to bless you and your family. Thank you for carrying the ball for so
many men.
Mike Fahrbach
Heritage Baptist Church
Montgomery, AL
Rev. Lee Wright, Minister of
Education for 20 years, said, "12 years ago we did not have many
men who were strong. We started taking Sunday nights off, and our program
was weak. Then a man in church who had read The Man in the Mirror, Danny McClain
said, 'I think our men would like this.' We started a Wednesday
noon group. The men liked it so much we then started small groups on Sunday
night. Then the ladies started meeting in small groups. Today we have
a strong men's ministry. The church is doing great. There are 750 in Sunday morning
service. Hayden Center, our senior pastor for 16 years, was not originally
for this, but when he saw how the small groups were impacting the church
he got behind it. He was even invited to go overseas and teach small group
ministry to a sister prayer church. Then, last year he took early retirement
to devote himself full time to be a missionary teaching churches overseas
how to do small groups."
The whole story…
Lee said, "12 years
ago we did not have many men who were strong, we started taking Sunday
nights off, and our program was weak. Then a man in church who had read
The Man in the Mirror, Danny McClain said, 'I think our men would like
this.' We started a Wednesday noon group. The men liked it so much
we then started small groups on Sunday night. Then the ladies started
meeting in small groups. Today we have a strong men's ministry. The
church is doing great. There are 750 in Sunday morning service.
"This was interesting.
Hayden Center, our senior pastor for 16 years, was not originally for
this, but when he saw how the small groups were impacting the church
he got behind it. He was even invited to go overseas and teach small
group ministry to a sister prayer church. Then, last year he took early
retirement to devote himself full time to be a mostly overseas missionary
teaching churches how to do small groups."
Another pastor in town
resigned to do "something" and was talking to Neil Hughes,
former pastor, started a ministry, go into a housing complex, find a
Christian able to lead a small group, and promote it (like a block party). There are 747 decisions since February.
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Starkville, MS
Bob McDonald had 75% of the
men in his church attend a Man in the Mirror event. He said, "We
do not consider Man in the Mirror a para-church organization. We think
of Man in the Mirror as part of our local church because you worked within
us."
John Wagar
Bemidji, MN
"This spring due to a
chain of events I decided to quit as leader of men's ministry in our church.
I thought I'd take some men to a Promise Keepers Conference in Grand Forks
and then I'm through.
"At the conference a
man I led to the Lord years ago came and sat next to me. He introduced
me to a man whom he had led to the Lord. They shared how their families
had come to know Christ and thanked me for being faithful in sharing the
Gospel. Shortly another man came up and gave me a bear hug. I turned around
and it was another man I had led to the Lord and he had six guys with
him. Later that day all six went forward to receive Christ.
"I sat there crying and
praising the Lord for His confirmation and His goodness to me. The icing
on the cake came when I went to use the restroom. I was standing in line
and two guys said, 'Hi John.' I didn't recognize them, but I asked how
they were doing. They said, 'Great. John, the Man in the Mirror Seminar
you had in Bemidji two years ago really transformed our lives. Thank you
so much for organizing that retreat, nothing outside of salvation has
impacted us more.'
" I prayed, 'OK God, I got it. I won't quit. And I will stick with
it till you call me home.'"
The whole story…
It's John Wagar, you probably don't remember me. I put on a retreat
in Bemidji, MN two years ago with Rod Cooper as our speaker.
We had all kinds of challenges,
but with your help we got through all of them. It was a great conference. We had three guys accept Christ for the first time and thirty some guys
rededicated their lives to Christ.
This spring due to a chain
of events I decided I was quitting as leader of men's ministry in our
church. I thought I will take some men to a Promise Keepers Conference
in Grand Forks and then I'm through.
At the conference a man
I had led to the Lord years ago came and sat next to me and introduced
me to a man who was with him whom he had led to the Lord. They shared
with me how their families had come to know Christ and thanked me for
being faithful in sharing the Gospel. A short while later another man
came up from behind me and gave me a bear hug. I turned around and it was
another man I had led to the Lord and he had six guys with him. Later
that day all six went forward to receive Christ.
I sat there crying and
praising the Lord for His confirmation and His goodness to me. The icing
on the cake came when I went to use the restroom. I was standing in
line (ladies aren't the only ones who have to wait) and two guys came
in and said, 'Hi John.' I didn't recognize them, but I asked how they
were enjoying the Conference. They said, "it's great but the retreat
you had in Bemidji two years ago really transformed our lives. Thank
you so much for organizing that retreat. Nothing outside of salvation
has impacted us more."
I prayed, "OK, God,
I got it, I won't quit and I will stick with it till you call me home."
Thanks Pam. You had a big part in that retreat. Keep up the good work.
Great will be your reward in heaven!
Important Quotes
"I can't think of
anyone doing more to spread the gospel and help Christians get serious
about their faith." Charles Irby.
"The greatest need
we have in America is to reach our men." Hugh O. Maclellan
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