The church I would plant (part 3)

The church I would plant (part 3) May 19, 2015

ChainIn my previous three posts I explained why I’m not too excited about church planting (we’re all planting the same church); why we should consider alternatives to the current presentational model; and I presented Men’s League, a church planting model in which every man is personally discipled by two other men. Men’s League is an extremely simple, lightweight church-planting model that focuses like a laser on the development of men within small teams.

In this post, I’ll answer some obvious questions about Men’s League as a church-planting model. Then I’ll discuss a few advantages to the approach.

Q1: Do the men of the League ever attend regular weekly worship services?

A1: Only if they want to. Men’s League does not control people. Commissioners, coaches and contenders are free to attend find a traditional church and attend Sunday morning services if they choose. However, there’s no expectation that they “go to church’ since their weekly coaching meetings and monthly Great Feast gatherings will serve as their church. The whole idea is to free up the two to three hours they spend attending worship services so they can use that time in direct disciple-making activity.

Q2: What about the women and children. How are they discipled?

A2: The League would not prepare or offer programming for women or children. We believe that a community of healthy men is the best ministry to women and children. As a famous pastor once said, “We don’t need women’s ministry – we need husbands. We don’t need children’s ministry – we need fathers.”

Because men’s league would not offer programs for youth, individual men would have no choice but step up and lead. Men will not lead their families spiritually if the church does it for them.

You may be aghast at the thought of a church without children’s or youth ministry programs – but this was the norm in Christianity for 1900 years. Sunday school for the children of church members didn’t become popular until the early 1900s. Church youth groups weren’t widespread in local congregations until the 1960s.

So how will women be taught and discipled? Any way they choose. Men have controlled the spiritual lives of women for far too long – let them decide how and when they want to meet. Women are absolutely free to organize themselves however they chose. They could adopt a similar structure as the men, or they could gather in one big group. It’s totally up to them.

Q3: What’s the economic model? Does anyone get paid?

A3: First of all, planting a Men’s League would be incredibly cheap. It could provide very effective discipleship for 87 men and their families for a fraction of the cost of a traditional church. There’s no building to maintain, and possibly no salaries to pay – although I think at least one of the commissioners should be paid – especially if he manages the League full-time.

The main expenses would be facility rental and food for the monthly Great Feast. The league should also provide reimbursement for commissioners’ and coaches’ out of pocket expenses (buying breakfast for the guys they disciple one-on-one, for example). Finally, the league would raise money for community benevolence and service projects (more on this later).

Here’s how I’d approach the subject of giving: teach the tithe. Tell your men that 10% belongs to God. Then blow their minds by telling them that the League only needs 3%. Instruct your men to give the other 7% to whatever causes God tells them to support. Such an approach would convince men you’re not just after their money – you want their hearts.

Q4: Would the League ever offer a weekly public worship service, according to the model we are familiar with?

A4: Probably not. However, if the men of the league decided that God was calling them to offer a traditional weekend worship service, then more power to them.

Remember, the monthly Great Feast would ideally take place at an existing church facility in a rented room. I would call the church and ask, “What is your lowest attended service? We’d like to bring a couple hundred people to worship, and then rent a room afterward.”

The beauty of this model is that the entire league could worship together without commissioners having to generate the music or sermon. This would free these leaders to focus exclusively on discipling and caring for their men.

Q5: Would the league offer children’s programs such as AWANA, youth group or VBS?

A5: No. Anyone who wants to enroll their children in these programs can easily find them at existing churches. Send your kids to another church and make a donation (after all, you’ve still got 7% of your income to donate to other worthy causes). Men’s League’s philosophy: don’t duplicate – cooperate.

Q6: How would the league grow beyond the original 87 men and their families?

A6: It wouldn’t. I believe it’s very important to keep the league intact for as long as possible – decades, if men are willing. Jesus kept his men together until his death. The whole purpose of Men’s League is to build a relational network – a community of believers who know, trust and serve together.

So how do you start a new league? By training more commissioners and coaches. But please – keep the existing league together. The whole divide-and-multiply model doesn’t work. Men have a hard enough time establishing relationships – why would you rip these up once you’ve worked so hard to build them?

Q7: Do you have to go to seminary to plant a men’s league?

A7: Nope – although theological training is certainly desirable. The commissioners are not preachers – they’re coaches. Their primary job is not to stand up and preach the Bible, but to help men apply the Bible to their lives. One-on-one teaching and time in the Word are certainly part of this, but they are not the focus.

I’m convinced there are thousands of Christian men who are called to pastor – but who are not preachers. Men’s League would be the perfect vehicle to allow these men to live out their calling – without having to become professional speakers.

Q8: Is this just multi-level marketing? When do we start selling Amway?

A8: No, we’re not selling anything. We’re organizing men into functional teams. We limit the size of those teams (and the league) to ensure effectiveness.

Q9: What about sacraments? Communion? Weddings? Funerals? Baptisms?

A9: These would occur at the monthly Feasts.

Q10: How do we bring in new people?

A10: Invite them to the Feast. If they’re interested in learning more, talk to them about joining the League.

Q11: How does Men’s League serve the community?

A11: Jesus organized his men before he sent them out (two by two) to serve. That’s the approach we take, too. Once you’ve got 87 men in functional teams, it’s time to discern God’s mission. And think of what such an organization could accomplish – especially since there’s no weekly worship service or programs to maintain.

Q12: Name a few advantages of Men’s League vs. regular church

A12: Here you go:

  • It’s so much cheaper. You can plant a League for almost nothing. A fully built-out Men’s League could do a very good job supporting the spiritual lives of about 200 people for less than $20,000 a year, if no one gets paid. If you decide to pay one or more of the commissioners (which I strongly recommend) it’s still less expensive than a traditional church because it has not facilities and limited staff.
  • No man left behind. With every man being led by two coaches and being paired with one buddy, no one falls through the cracks in Men’s League. If someone doesn’t show up, he gets three phone calls. Every commissioner and coach takes responsibility for the men under his care.
  • Men are given a place. Think of how men organize themselves: in sports, military, corporations, government, etc. There are a limited number of places. Each man takes his place. Each one has a function within the team. Men feel gratified and secure when they’re given a place.
  • Men are structured for ministry. Existing churches constantly struggle to gather teams for ministry projects. With Men’s League, the teams are already in place.
  • A smaller target. If persecution comes, Men’s League would function well as an underground church. It possesses and organizational structure, but it has no public face – no buildings, no regular meetings. Additionally, if churches begin losing their tax-exempt status, Men’s Leagues could continue to thrive since they require so little money to function well.

I hope this answers some of your questions about Men’s League. Of course, it’s only a theory at this point, so I’m sure things will change once the first few Leagues are planted as churches.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to be a commissioner? Want to start a league in your community? Contact me via one of the links below and let’s get started.

 


David MurrowDavid Murrow is the author of the bestselling book, Why Men Hate Going to Church. David’s books have sold more than 175,000 copies in 12 languages. He speaks to groups around the world about Christianity’s persistent gender gap. He lives in Alaska with his wife of more than 30 years, professional silk artist Gina Murrow. Learn more about David at his Web site, www.churchformen.com, or join the conversation on his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/churchformen. Don’t forget to share this page by clicking on the links below, or scroll down and leave a comment (right below those annoying ads that pay for this blog). 

 

 


Browse Our Archives