Maximized Men

Imagine 15-30 of your men growing in fellowship and faith in the Lord as they meet after Saturday breakfast or evening coffee and muffins and hear the teaching we have enjoyed over the last 3 year's conferences and discuss how it applies to the daily lives and then pray for each other. It could be used as an 8-week series - like Alpha - or as 3 one-day conferences scattered over the year.

Like the Alpha course there will be many spin-offs as the Holy Spirit works and leaders pray:

• Commitments to Jesus Christ
  
• Recommitments to the Lord
  
• Deepening in connective fellowship
  
• Drawing fringe men into the life of the church
  
• Greater development of Men's Ministry
  
• Leadership development in small groups
  
• Men finding new opportunities to grow with other men
  
• Changed families and marriages

The speakers are :

• Dr. David Sherbino - pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Woodbridge ON and Professor at Tyndale in Pastoral Ministries
  
• Dr. Kevin Livingstone - senior pastor at Knox Church, Spadina, Toronto ON.
  
• Mr. Jim Turnbull - lawyer and member of the Board of Leadership Ministries with Campus Crusade for Christ
  
• Rev. Lane Fusilier - senior pastor Philpott Memorial Church and leader of a Hamilton men's ministry called "Men's Community".

Video 1 -- Authentic Men in a Real World
Dr. David Sherbino

1. The Crisis of Male Spirituality
2. Facing the Reality of Temptation
3. A Man of Integrity in Today's World

Video 2 -- Finding True North: Spiritual Growth
Dr. Kevin Livingston and Mr. Jim Turnbull

1. Living by Default or Design
2. How to Find True North (Mr. Jim Turnbull)
3. Moving Beyond "Lone Ranger" Christianity

Video 3 -- A Man in the Family
Rev. Lane Fusilier

1. Men and the Women in Their Lives
2. Passing the Baton to the Next Generation
3. How to Build a Men's Group

Watch them on your own for personal growth, or use them in a group setting. Each video is 25 minutes long. We recommend at least an hour to include discussion for groups. Here are some meeting options:

Option 1 -- 8 x 1 Hour Meetings (over 8 weeks)

• Prayer and video (25 minutes)
  
• Discussion (35 minutes)
  
• Close in prayer

Option 2 -- 8 x 2 Hour Meetings (over 8 weeks)

• Welcome gathering and refreshments (15 minutes)
  
• Prayer and video (25 minutes)
  
• Discussion sharing in groups of 6-8 (25-40 minutes)
  
• Prayer for each other in groups (10-15 minutes)
  
• Wrap-up and invitation to next meeting

Option 3 -- 3 x 1 Day Events (for 3 weeks)

• 9:15 Worship
  
• 9:35 Session 1 of Tape 1, 2 or 3
  
• 10:10 Discussion groups
  
• 11:00 Break
  
• 11:15 Session 2 of Tape 1, 2 or 3
  
• 11:50 Discussion groups
  
• 12:30 Lunch
  
• 2:00 Session 3 of Tape 1, 2 or 3
  
• 2:35 Brief discussion groups and perhaps prayer
  
• 3:00 Worship and dismissal

1. 10 weeks before. Clear it with your minister and Session.

2. 8 weeks before. Get 5 men who can help prepare, pray and lead (1 for video and room set-up, 1 for advertising, 1 for refreshments, 1 for prayer, etc.).

3. 6 weeks before. Make flyers to give to the men in your church.

4. 5 weeks before. Announce 3 week series or Day Event in church, and give out flyers.

5. 4 weeks before:

a. Select 20-30 men who may be interested in attending, and have your committee of 5 call and invite 6 men each. Give special invitations to all the elders.
b. Plan food for the Day Event.
c. Have each leader pray for the 6 men they called.
d. Appoint discussion group leaders (ratio of 1:8) and give them the questions beforehand.

6. 1 week before. Give a final church reminder and ask for a show of hands.

7. On the day of the series:

1. Set up the room and TV/VCR. Prepare refreshments.
2. Plan places for group sharing. Get name tags.
3. Meet for prayer with leaders before the starting time.

Hebrews 10 says "Spur one another on to love and good deed...encourage one another." One powerful catalyst for releasing men into ministry is small group sharing. Most men have heard enough preaching. Now they need to speak their own "word from the Lord." After a year or so of teaching, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Small groups provide the chance for men to "say" who Jesus is to them, where they are, and so motivate one another to maximized potential in Christ.

We encourage you to have small group discussions after each video. Each video stands by itself or could also be used in a 3 videotape series lasting 8 weeks.

Video 1 gives men the opportunity to talk about struggles in the real world -- their experiences of work and temptation, and how faith and prayer helped in the battle.
Video 2 examines spiritual growth and fellowship in God's Word.
Video 3 - The first 2 sessions focus on family relationships and the importance of passing our faith to the next generation. The third talk about building a men's group could be used just for leaders, or left out completely.

A significant influence in the spiritual development of men comes in the form of fellowship with other men in a non-threatening, supportive and understanding environment. Monthly Saturday morning informal breakfasts with a presenting speaker, or sometimes a video accompanied by a leader, often allows for open and frank discussion of how the topic for that morning has affected each one of us. I enjoy both the personal reflections and the challenges offered by the speakers (whether live or taped) and can usually take away something of value from these sessions. The topics presented take Scripture, illustrated using examples and anecdotes, and challenge the audience, both individually and collectively, to look at one's own life and to see how we, as men of Christ, can seek to live the life as He would want us.
In today's secular society, it is often difficult to find other males with the desire to live a more Christ-like life. These videos, presenting speakers from diverse Christian backgrounds, provoke and allow an open discussion of how men can support one another in pursuing personal growth. I have come away from some of these breakfast meetings with much soul-searching and realizing that God needs to be in the centre of my life, not on the periphery. The speakers in these videos offer practical ways to accomplish this.
During the discussion period that follows the video presentations, an exchange of views and personal reflections makes me realize that there are problems, and a grappling with issues, common to all men who seek Jesus' presence in their lives. I take away much from these video sessions. They challenge me and let me think and pray about how I might apply the principles learned to my own life, and to understand, and hopefully support and encourage others who may be facing the similar challenges.

These videos can be ordered securely online using
    or     through our partner  
Click on one of the links below:

• Video 1 -- Authentic Men in a Real World -- $10.00
• Video 2 -- Finding True North: Spiritual Growth -- $10.00
• Video 3 -- A Man in the Family -- $10.00
• 3-Video set shipped -- $30.00
• Save $10 -- 3-Video sets picked up at Renewal Fellowship Conferences or at the office of the Renewal Fellowship at 3819 Bloor St. W., Toronto ON, are $20.00.