Episode 27 - Where have all the men gone in the Church?

Healthy Church Growth Show

What is this episode all about?

WHERE HAVE ALL THE MEN GONE IN THE CHURCH?

• Is it simply down to demographics (1 man to every 2 women), OR are there more complex reasons?
• There are an apparent 2million women are single in the church.
• What long term challenges is that causing in the Church at large and what can the local church do about it?

Nathan Blackaby CEO of Christian Vision for Men (CVM) & Rob Santer, the London coordinator, present compelling arguments and ideas as they discuss CVM’s mission and strategies in Episode 27 of the Healthy Church Growth Show: Where have all the men gone in the Church?

TRANSCRIPT SUMMARY

1.45 CVM’s reason and purpose i.e. their mission

2.15 Why local churches need a partner like CVM to address the lack of men in their assemblies

2.45 Which category of men are missing from the Church?

3.30 The main reasons there is an imbalance between men and women’s attendance in the Church. CVM claim it’s not simply down to demographics i.e. to every 1 man there are 2 women.

5.15 Men and their sensitive side – could this also impact their attendance in the Church at large

8.00 The challenge of adapting language and environment for men when they return to their local church. The importance of making men’s worship experience relevant in their social context and experience.

12.30 The significance of the imbalance between a lack of men compared to women in the church and the wider issues this causes. There are 2million Christian women who lack Christian partners. Only16% of our grandchildren will have a Christian father and/or mother; referred to as spiritual fatherlessness. Significance of drop-outs at specific age ranges amongst men.

15.15 Apparent dropping out of online services. A missed opportunity to define what church was in the midst of the pandemic. The replication of a model that might not have worked. Reference: Episode 26. The importance of interaction to alleviate boredom.

17.45 Use of small Groups for enhanced connection. The importance of using technology creatively to leverage church engagement online.

What about the demographics in terms of generations i.e. Generation Y & Z and ethnic mix?
21.15 The activities organised which as specifically appeal to men – spiritual and social.

24.00 Engagement of Generation Y (Millennials) 22-35 years and engagement of Generation Z teens to 21 years old. Ethnic mix within CVM and cultural challenges.

27.30 The importance of leaders in the Church being Culturally aware

31.15 A woman’s view of what they expect from men. The problem of spiritual singleness i.e. partners/husbands don’t share their faith.

33.15 The importance of the leader empowering others to build strong men’s ministries

LINKS

Christian Vision for Men website - cvm.org.uk

Statistics quoted can be found this episode from the book - 7 reasons your church needs more men - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=7+Reasons+your+church+needs+more+men&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Episode 26 – Leading through a crisis – church new norm ideas on how to leverage technology effectively for the church - https://anchor.fm/healthy-church-growth-sho/episodes/Episode-26---Leading-through-a-crisis---church-new-norm-el88te

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