Baptist Men’s Day, set for Jan. 22, is more than a celebration of Baptist men. It is a recognition of what they do all year long.
Tommy Puckett, director of the office of men’s ministries for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), is dedicated to helping men in Alabama Baptist churches develop a Christ-like character.
“Men’s ministries covers the entire Christian commission of Matthew 28:19–20,” Puckett said. “Our commission as Christians and in men’s ministries recognizes that Scripture teaches that men are to be spiritual leaders in their home, workplace and church. And if you’re not adequately prepared for that, all these areas become dysfunctional.”
The men’s ministries office encourages participation in missions and evangelism, development of personal ministries, discipling of men and boys, cooperating with other Christian men’s groups and building life-changing men’s ministries in individual churches.
Church leaders can fulfill these objectives by seeking out and using the skills of the men represented in their church. For example, a church that has members skilled in agriculture might send a missions team to a Third World country to teach better methods of crop rotation or irrigation.
Another church may have skilled carpenters.
Angel Grove Baptist Church, Jacksonville, in Calhoun Baptist Association has a carpenters group that plans a missions trip every year. In June 2005, the group went to Belfry, Ky., to work on a construction project for First Baptist Church, Belfry, Ky., a small church in a rural community.
Sports evangelism is another way to share Christ through a Christian attitude and personal evangelism. Along with the men’s softball league and other sports groups, the Alabama chapter of Christian Bowhunters of America uses a passion for hunting and the great outdoors to fuel a passion for Christ and His creation.
Health care professionals and veterinarians use their specialized skills to help others nationally and internationally, spreading the good news of Christ and supporting one another through fellowship.
Education is another venue for ministry. Some men are involved in Royal Ambassadors and Challengers, helping to mold another generation of young men committed to Christ. Others use their talents in tutoring and mentoring.
“I see churches moving to a mobilization of men in different areas of interest and passion and not everybody doing the same thing,” Puckett said. “Process is more difficult than program, but the gains are greater because of growth in the individual and the involvement that follows.
Of course, with Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, disaster relief efforts have emerged as the most well known of men’s ministry efforts. While disaster relief efforts include the work of men and women, the state efforts are organized out of the SBOM men’s ministries office.
“Men’s ministry is moving from a programmatic standpoint to a process of helping men understand their call to ministry,” Puckett said. “This involves intense focus on reaching men for Jesus Christ, then discipleship, then mentoring them in ministry opportunities, then putting them out on mission.”
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