MEN OF JUDAH
Has your Heart been changed?
Mal 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." (NKJ)
We want to see Men Of Judah (MOJ) chapters establish in local churches throughout the United States. MOJ is a ministry to men, old and young in the local church.
The objective is to bridge the gap that exists between the adult men and the male youth. This is not a replacement for the men’s fellowship or youth programs but a ministry that will close the gap between the older and younger men in the church.
The gap between older and younger men in society, also exist in the church. The typical approach for older men is to build a bridge and ask the young men to meet them half way!
Many of our young people are saying no to that approach. As a result the older men must build bridges and walk these younger individuals to the other side.. Men Of Judah will help you do that. The Big Brother organization has had much success using this same principle and I thank God for that needed organization. However, we want to establish ministries that will foster real Christian mentoring in the local church
The primary target group is young men ages 9 through 18 that live in single parent homes. This group of young men usually has very little contact with Christian men outside of the church. The secondary target group is families with unsaved husbands. MOJ will also make it easier for fathers to spend time with their sons.
The following steps will make it easy to organize a Men Of Judah Ministry:
Phase One: Let’s Have Fun
- Identify older men willing to work with youth
- Sponsor four (4) field trips per year - These trips should be away from the church to a fun location.
- All the young men should be invited to attend, but the primary target group should go for free. Many of your single parents can not afford to send their children.
- Carpooling is very beneficial and practical. Many good things take place in the cars traveling to and from events.
- Potluck meals are always nice before traveling and it really cuts down on the expenses. Many times the women will fix a meal for the men before each trip. The rule should always be KISS (Keep It Simple Saints). Before some trips we have found that just hotdogs, chips and pop hit the spot.
- Free tickets are always a big plus. You may already have someone in your church who has access to free tickets for sporting events. You may be surprised about what is available for free or at discount prices. Let God open doors for you.
- Invite the fathers to go on the field trips. This approach is a lot less threatening than inviting them to church. Usually after a few field trips they are comfortable enough to come to church. They have seen that Christian men know to have fun outside of the church and they may have also established a friendship with one of your members. This approach will also give them activities to do with their sons. This part always turns out to be a win, win situation.
Phase Two: Establishing Closer Relationships
- Encourage the men with families in your church to invite a member of the target group to go out with his family
- Encourage the single men in your church to commit to taking a member of the target group out once a month (similar to Big Brothers, but this is totally Christian)
- Encourage couples without children to invite a member of the target group out.
- Continue with the four field trips per year.
- Start a Men Of Judah bible study in your church. Home cells have proven to be very effective because by now both groups young and old should feel more comfortable with each other.
- Establish a mentoring program. Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.. It takes the whole Church to raise a Christian child.
MOJ Structure
President or Leader: This person should be appointed by the pastor. He will be responsible for rallying the men and overseeing operation of members of MOJ. It is very important that he have a major input in selecting the other men to work in the ministry.
Vice President or Assistant Leader: Performs assignments as directed by the President. Treasurer: Will handle ticket money for events and other funds needed for events.
Public Relations: Arranges for tickets to events for MOJ. Free tickets are always the first option; discount tickets or group rate tickets second.
Transportation Mentor: One mentor and four young men will make up a travel group. The mentor’s son(s) will always be assigned to his father’s group. The travel mentor will provide transportation to and from the different events.
Personal Mentor: Is assigned to work one on one with young men from single parent homes. This person must be screened before he is allowed to mentor.
Funding: Mentor pays for his ticket and son(s) ticket. MOJ pays for tickets for target group. MOJ pays for refreshments for target group.
Clerical: Will send out correspondence, create flyers and do general typing. The church will help in this area.
Fatherlessness
Mal 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." (NKJ)
Prov 26:2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight. (NKJ)
Arthur Burke stated that abortion was the fruit of a cruse but fatherlessness was the root. The church has been guilty of allowing this spirit to control much of our lives it slipped in and we did not realize how much the fathers were drifting apart from the children.
- Fatherlessness creates the feelings of:
- Rejection
- Abandonment
- Conflicts in self worth
- Hopelessness
- Hope differed
The fathers of the church need to repent:
- To God.
- To our wives
- To our children
- To the church
- To ourselves