View our weekly devotional archives.
December 1, 2008 - Our Year-End Update
It has been a very exciting and dynamic year for our ministry team. We have been privileged to provide messages, biblical teachings, encouragement, resources, and tangible comfort to scores of people. Through our conferences, retreats, workshops, church consulting, men’s ministry programs, and classes many have been introduced to the saving knowledge of our loving Savior. Over 250 struggling pastors have received new resources and tools that will help them develop vibrant men’s ministry programs.
This coming year we celebrate our 28th year of ministry and the re-launch of a new vision that will help empower churches and men around the world. One of the primary messages we hope to promote is found throughout scripture and uniquely expressed in John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
It is this love that encourages us in spending the time and energies that assist pastors in reaching men. It is His love that enables us to “finish strong” by refining and perfecting a ministry that uniquely connects with men who might not otherwise experience God. It is the love and support of other believers that helps empower this ministry to explore new approaches to presenting God’s word with culturally relevant messages and resources to a lost generation.
Thank you for your prayers and love. We trust these weekly emails help you and those you pass them on to with the importance of knowing God and making Him known.
We would greatly appreciate you taking a few minutes to read our Annual Report and Ministry Update. May God richly bless you for your faithfulness in praying for and supporting our calling.
PARTNER with us to IMPACT Communities by reaching MEN
This past year has been the most dynamic year for our ministry as we developed some new biblically-based resource materials to help with church growth and outreach through creating vibrant men’s ministries. We hope this Annual Report will give you a glimpse into the revival that is happening among many men we have met. |
“If we’re going to rescue the family from the grips of poverty and despair, we’ve got to reach the men.”
Pastor Port Wilburn
Rock Harbor Christian Fellowship
San Pablo, CA |
Pastor Port reminds us that there are many struggling churches, especially in the inner-city, that need our prayers, resources, and support to reach the lost within their communities. We know that if we reach the men, 93% of the time we will get the family. When a church can introduce Jesus through messages and programs that are relevant to men – lives will be changed – families strengthened – communities impacted.
What can statistics tell us? Do you realize that more than 90% of American men believe in God, five out of six call themselves Christians, but only 2 out of 6 attend church? There is a serious gender gap in America’s pews with less than 40% males participating in Sunday services.
And the spiritual health of men will dictate the vitality of the family and the church. Consider that for every 10 men in the average church:
- 4 will get divorced
- 5 will have a major problem with pornography
- 9 will have kids who leave the church
- And all 10 will struggle to balance family and work
When men aren’t committed to their faith and family, the consequences are staggering. A whopping 40 percent of the baby buster generation was raised by divorced or separated parents. Now the sins of the fathers are being visited on the next generation: Tonight, 33 percent of America’s 72 million children will go to bed in a home without a biological father. And 66 percent of them are not expected to live with both biological parents through age eighteen. We are now bearing the full brunt of our failure to disciple men.
That’s why Outdoor Connection Ministries is in the business of helping churches see that men’s ministry is MISSION-CRITICAL to its growth and impact on the community. We want to help churches attract men and motivate them to grow spiritually, get involved in the life of their church, strengthen their families, and move from a life of success to significance. And we are preparing to help more churches than ever before with our 27 years of experience through consulting services, training, and resources. But to do this we need your help!
When men come to faith and engage in church, opportunities for effective discipleship multiply. Unfortunately, most churches do not know how to reach or impact men. Our organization has proven strategies, resources, tools, models, and messages that resonate with men. Today over two dozen churches that we have helped this past year are experiencing new growth and have men who are now engaged with their families and their faith. This past year we engaged with over 250 church leaders who are utilizing our resources. Almost 40 churches have participated in the scholarship fund our donors supported during last year’s fundraising campaign. And we’ve been humbled by Promise Keepers, Pat Morley’s Man in the Mirror, National Coalition of Men’s Ministries, and Iron Sharpens Iron asking if they can use some of our new resources. We feel honored to help lead a national movement and revival among men, and have focused these men’s ministry efforts under the Men’s Ministry Catalyst division. To review:
Recent endeavors
- Over 40 churches engaged or in process with us
- Since last year, over 2000 men inspired to balance faith and family
- Two regional ISI Men’s Conferences hosted that drew over 900 men
- Internet-based library expanded to include many new tools
OCM Career Highlights
- More than 115 church outreach programs
- Scores of messages for men
- Over 140 father/child conferences
- 13 family camps
- Over 15,000 disabled kids impacted by fishing outreach programs
- Nine pastor’s retreats, chaplain programs to business, and sports leaders
- Five books, magazines, dozens of print and online resources reaching over 100,000 men
- Presence at 96 sports shows
- Resource Library shared with thousands
If thousands of men would take the passions we see in the grandstands of football games and transplant that enthusiasm into building dynamic churches and transparent discipleship programs what would happen to our culture? What would it look like if men’s ministries around the nation involved themselves in Special Kids Day Programs for the Disabled? What would our families look like if dads actually reprioritized their lives to include more quality family-time?
We recognize and appreciate the struggles our nation faces with the failure of a global economy. We also are aware that some of you reading this letter may not be able to financially participate in this year’s campaign. But there are many who have followed this ministry who will recognize the value and effectiveness of assisting us at this time. If ever there was a season when your investment in this ministry can be maximized – it’s now.
Once again, because of the generosity and excitement of some individuals about our vision, we are able to match whatever funds you can provide. Will you consider sponsoring a church for $83 a month (or a one-time gift of $1,000) that combined with our matching funds enables us to help pastors across the country see the importance of focusing on their ministry to men? Will you help us coach them to make an even greater impact on their community and world through thriving men’s ministries? Inner-city churches like the one Pastor Port leads need our help now! Let’s help encourage and disciple Afro American men to become leaders at home and in their communities.
A gift of any size will also help us establish the systems we need to reach and support the many churches we desire to equip. I thank God for Outdoor Connection Ministries – for the way He has continued to change lives across America, Canada, and New Zealand. I’m also deeply grateful for friends who continue to sustain us month after month. Generosity is what keeps this ministry vibrant and effective… and we need you!
So please take a minute to send your best year-end gift today. Thank you for your interest in the vital, life-changing work of this ministry.
With a grateful heart,
Jim Grassi, Founder and President
P.S. – To thank you for your tax-deductible gift of $50 or more, I’d like to send you a copy of Max Lucado’s book “Grace for the Moment” valued at $19.99.
|
|
|
If you can send a gift of $1000 or more, we will send you Max’s book, along with John C. Maxwell’s book “The Maxwell Daily Reader” and Max Greiner Jr.’s “The Empty Cross” resin sculpture for a total value of $99.99. Consider these items as possible gifts to share! |
|
|
|
