A Study in 2000 from Switzerland provides insight on the importance on male attendance on the religious development of children in the country. ‘In summary, if a father does not go to church, no matter how regular the mother is in her religious practice, only one child in fifty becomes a regular church attendee. But if the father attends regularly, then regardless of the practice of the mother, at least one child in three will become a regular church attendee.
Stop and think about that for a moment.
The disparity between “1 in 50” and “1 in 3″ is huge! These facts should cause you to stop and consider how you are designing our church plants. From the color of the curtains to the use of PowerPoint backgrounds, we need to target the men.
If we are honest, much of what the church does appeals to women. Not that I have a problem with women coming to church. In fact, I am thankful for those women who have faithfully served our churches over the decades. All of my Sunday School teachers were Godly women. The issue really becomes an issue of impact. How can we best impact the family? Many experts in the field of family development agree that the American Family is suffering in our nation.
Here is the issue. Women, by in large are far more spiritually inclined. (A mountain of Gallup survey data attests to the idea that women are more religious than men, hold their beliefs more firmly, practice their faith more consistently, and work more vigorously for the congregation,) She may go to church, and the kids may go with her, but there is no guarantee dad will go along. But if the Father catches on fire, he will drag the whole family with him. I heard Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle share on a video The Good Soldier, if want to win the war, you have to win the men. I agree wholeheartedly.
Steve Gallimore, pastor of Tennessee Valley Community Church, recognized this need several years ago and launched a NASCAR series. The church was located in an old car dealership and the stage and worship room was completely set up for this theme. The stage had a set of gummy tires from a racing car and when the service started the speaker roared with the sound of squealing tires and smoke machine added a sense of realism to the burnout. While many may find that kind of service sacrilegious, God used this series to bring hundreds of men into a saving knowledge of Christ and kept them active in the church.
