Fight the good fight!

I'm really exited about a new ministry called Agon Ministries in the States, that reaches out to men in the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world. Having done kickboxing over the years and a fan of MMA, I think this ministry is absolutely awesome! They have speaking events at gyms and fight clubs and teach the bible by marrying fighting principles with biblical principles, and they get respected Christians fighters like Ken Shamrock and Matt Lindland to share their testimonies and Christian life. Its also a great example of missional ministry, of getting into tribes and subcultures and bringing the gospel to those cultural contexts.

Agon Ministries also aims to encourage the Christian men to 'get into the fight'. Scott Knight the founder, says that most of the Christian men at church are 'shadow boxers', who come to church and get 'trained' but are too 'wimpy' to actually put it into practice and go into the real world and actively be on mission for Jesus and fight against sin, the culture and the spiritual warfare.

Having visited the South and West regions of Sydney and speaking to leaders from various churches there is an epidemic shortage of guy leaders in the church. But also a lack of guys in church in general, in David Murrow's book Why Men Hate Going to Church, he reports that women make up 60% of the congregation on any given Sunday (US stats). Fellow sisters cry out of the apathy of most of the guys in the churches and as a guy, I know we are so easily tempted to get caught up with the idols of Sex, Money and Power. To be real authentic men, we need to follow in Jesus footsteps, boldly living counter-cultural holy lives. As men of God we are to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:11-12).

To win the war we need the men, soldiers to lead our families and the church. Therefore lets continue to think and invest in men's outreach and discipleship as a strategic imperative for the ongoing health of the church.