Men’s Ministry

About Us

Men’s Ministry helps churches minister to the total man by nurturing him intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually to become men with a Christ-centered purpose.

At no time in history is Men’s Ministry in the local church more needed. The deterioration of the family, an unclear understanding of what a man is in society, the vital need for spiritual leadership in the family and the church compels churches to minister to men. Effective life-changing men’s groups not only help the men involved but the local church as a whole.

Turner pole research has studied churches which are not growing and found the following:

94% of churches not growing say one of their “big” needs is for men to become involved in the work and ministry of their churches.
77% of churches with a Men’s Ministry group are growing churches.

“Promise Keepers at Work”, a publication of Focus on the Family, indicates that if a child is the first person in a household to become a Christian, there is a 3.5% probability that everyone else in the household will follow. If a mother is the first, there is a 17% probability that everyone in the household will follow. BUT if the father is the first person in the household to become a Christian, there is a 93% probability that everyone else will follow.

The Men’s Ministry Department seeks to help churches prioritize ministry TO men and seeks to enhance opportunities for ministry done BY men. While helping develop Men’s groups in churches the Men’s Ministry Department also undergirds mission education of men and boys with “hands-on” learning. Plus, the Men’s Ministry Department coordinates the Disaster Relief response of Mississippi Baptists, Central Hills Baptist Retreat, Church Renewal events, Mission Service Corps volunteers, Fellowships, World Changers construction, and On-Mission Celebrations.

CENTRAL HILLS BAPTIST RETREAT

Located near the geographic center of the State of Mississippi, Central Hills, at Kosciusko, provides the best in Christian camping in the summer and excellent facilities for retreats and meetings for church groups and others during the off-season. Over 500 beautiful acres are easily accessible off of Interstate 55 at the West, MS. Exit or Highway 19 from Kosciusko.

The summer camping program consists of six weeks of summer missions camp for Royal Ambassadors/Challengers, two Lad/Dad weekend camps, Children’s Co-ed mission camps and sports camps. During the 2004 summer program there were 91 professions of faith, 142 re-dedications, and 24 life vocational commitments. Over 735 summer campers participated in the summer camping program in 2004. Also, 104 groups used the facility in the off-season.

Activities at camp include swimming in an Olympic size pool, canoeing and fishing on a 16 acre lake, horseback riding, rifle/archery, ropes course, indoor basketball courts, crafts, campfires, as well as daily Bible study and other spiritual growth opportunities.

The goals of summer camp at Central Hills Baptist Retreat

To invite the lost camper to believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
To encourage the believing camper and staffer to grow in his faith in Christ through the activities of camp.
To demonstrate the personal call of Jesus Christ in the life and work of each staffer.
To lead each camper and staffer to search for God’s will in his life.
To motivate each camper and staffer to appreciate himself as God made him using the talents and skills God has given to him.
To help each camper and staffer to understand that he needs to become personally involved in missions through his church, his Baptist Student Union, and in his career.

Off-Season

During the off-season church groups and others are invited to use the facilities of Central Hills Baptist Retreat for retreats, meetings, get-aways and recreation. RV sites are available near the lake and are used frequently by Campers On Mission. For reservation information contact Central Hills at (662) 289-9730 or dramage@mbcb.org.

MISSION FELLOWSHIPS

Mississippi Baptist Agricultural Missions Fellowship

The objectives of the Fellowship are to foster and promote Christian services by members of the agricultural profession in support of the work of the International and North American Mission Boards. Also, to encourage farmers, professional agricultural workers, veterinarians, and others to learn more about the missionary activities with particular emphasis on agricultural missions, to encourage an increase of support of missionary activities and to provide an opportunity for personal direct participation in special agricultural missions projects.

Campers on Mission

The Mississippi Chapter of Campers on Mission is part of a national fellowship of Christian campers who desire to put their faith in action where they camp. Membership is open to Christian campers of all denominations and requires no membership fees or dues, only a willingness to join with other campers in fellowship and service. Campers on Mission is sponsored by the Men’s Ministry Department of the Miss. Baptist Convention.

Mississippi Baptist Construction Fellowship

Christians are called to help others in Jesus’ name. The Construction Fellowship brings together those men and women with skills in various aspects of construction, connects them with places of ministry, supports mission efforts through prayer and education, and trains for effectiveness in construction ministry.

Mississippi Baptist Educational Missions Fellowship

The Mississippi Baptist Educational Missions Fellowship seeks to encourage professionals in education to learn about, support, foster fellowship and Christian service among Mississippi Baptists.

Mississippi Baptist HAM Radio Fellowship

The Mississippi Baptist Ham Radio Fellowship encourages the licensed amateur radio community to support the ministry of Disaster Relief and International Missions with a particular emphasis on radio communications.

Mission Service Corps

Mission Service Corps (MSC) is a team of self-funded missionaries who serve for four months or more. They provide their own support in an assigned ministry that supports the evangelism and church planting efforts of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and its mission partners. The placement comes through the Mission Service Corps office of the North American Mission Board.

The genius of MSC is that it is structured so that every Southern Baptist can be directly involved. For some, involvement means a willingness to go and serve; for others, it is becoming ministry partners to financially support someone else to go. For still others, it means faithfully praying for those who go and those who support as ministry partners; and for many, it is a combination of these.

ROYAL AMBASSADORS

Mission Education for boys has been a foundation of Southern Baptist Missions for generations. RAs remain the best means Baptists have to teach boys about missions around the world and their call to be a part of taking the Good News of Jesus everywhere. Excellent training is available for RA leaders through the Men’s Ministry Department.

ON MISSION CELEBRATION

Our churches continue to have a deep love for missions and missionaries as shown by the support of our On Mission Celebrations. Each year more of our churches and associations participate in personal experiences shared with state, North American, and International Mission personnel. The following is a compilation of results from On Mission Celebrations for 2005:

On Mission Celebrations results
Number of associations participating	7
Number of churches attending	119
People attending	25,327
Missionaries present	95
Decisions	6

DISASTER RELIEF

Once again the fall of 2004 proved to be a busy disaster season. As hurricanes crossed Florida and Alabama, disaster teams were asked to respond to critical needs. Early response began in Arcadia, FL, where teams fed 105,000 meals and did extensive chainsaw and roof covering jobs. Several weeks later teams went to Orange Beach, AL, and fed 30,000 meals. In addition a team with our unit responded to Meridian and fed 1,500 meals. Our last hurricane response of the year was to Ft. Pierce where teams fed 16,000 meals.

The year 2005 has continued to be busy. The Southeast Asia Tsunami led to opportunities for disaster ministry. We have had 22 people already working in the area with six more teams to go. The generosity of our Mississippi Baptists has allowed ministries for feeding, schools, medical help, and rebuilding of homes. Locally we have responded to tornadoes, Hurricane Dennis, and three fires. We are currently responding to the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, the most devastating natural disaster in America’s history.

VOLUNTEERS IN MISSIONS

Once again through the work of wMu, Men’s Ministry, Missions Mobilization, and Collegiate Ministry, volunteers used their gifts and talents to touch our world for missions. To date we have had 12,383 volunteers active in 1,006 projects. These volunteers touched 45 states and 52 foreign countries.

PASTORS’ AND WIVES’ SUIT PROJECT

In 2004, through the generosity of our churches, suits were sent to 170 pastors in Colorado. Also gift certificates were sent to 165 wives. In 2005, Mississippi Baptist will say “Merry Christmas” this way to pastors and wives in the Northwest Baptist Convention which includes Washington and Oregon.

“Building A Christian Legacy”

Scripture Passage: 2 Timothy 2:2 These things you have heard in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will teach others also.

The Men’s Ministry Department serves the churches and associations of Mississippi as they lead their men and boys to an understanding and involvement in missions and ministry. Men’s Ministry, Royal Ambassadors, Challengers, Volunteers, World Changers, Disaster Relief, and Mission Fellowships are used as our tools to involve men and women of all ages in a mission lifestyle.