TIPS FOR LAUNCHING MEN'S FRATERNITY WITH A LARGE GROUP OF MEN
- GET THE BIG PICTURE.
View the two-part Men's Fraternity workshop DVD. This workshop DVD is included with the purchase of the DVD set, but it is also available for purchase as a separate product for those who are using the CD pack. This workshop will help you understand the philosophy and format of Men's Fraternity. It would also be a good idea to present this workshop to the team of men who will be helping you launch your Men's Fraternity.
- CHOOSE THE BEST FORMAT.
Men's Fraternity has been very effective using a DVD presentation of the teaching hosted by a man in your group each week as well as in settings with a live presenter who has mastered the material.
- BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.
Whether you choose to offer a live presentation of the material or use the DVD presentation, you should watch and be familiar with the entire study before attempting to lead the first session. You will be much more successful in leading your group out of the starting block if you already know how it feels to cross the finish line.
- TIMING IS CRITICAL.
Be wise when you choose to begin the series. The most successful groups have followed a two-semester pattern, starting the first half of the series in early fall and ending before Christmas, and then starting the second half after the first of the year. By far the most consistently attended meeting time is on a weekday from 6:00 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. Timing is so important you may also want to read Timing is Everything.
- REMEMBER, IT'S A GUY THING.
Create a testosterone-friendly atmosphere for your meeting. We have found that even men who do not have a church background are attracted to the content of Men's Fraternity. When churches create an environment that feels more like a men's gathering than a Bible study or a worship service, Men's Fraternity becomes a great outreach tool.
- SMALL GROUPS ARE BIG.
Regardless whether you are using a live presenter or the DVD presentation, allow adequate time in your schedule for small group discussion. Over the years we have found it extremely important for men to process with other men the truths they learn in Men's Fraternity. It is during the small group discussions that men get the encouragement and reinforcement they need to make lasting life changes.
- SPREAD THE WORD.
Properly promote Men's Fraternity to the men in your church and community. Many churches are having great success getting men from the community to attend their Men's Fraternity. The DVD workshop and the Leader's Guides will give you many ideas on how to promote Men's Fraternity.
- KEEP MEN INVOLVED.
Make sure every man attending Men's Fraternity has his own Men's Fraternity workbook to help him apply truths from each weekly presentation and small group times. The workbooks also allow the men to easily review and reflect on the material from each presentation later during their week. Having the men purchase their own workbooks will help them value their experience in Men's Fraternity even more.
- PROMOTE THE PROJECT.
Become familiar with the special project contained in each of the studies. Encourage the men throughout the year to be working on the project. Most men who have completed Men's Fraternity state that these simple projects were the single most helpful part of their Men's Fraternity experience. A master and examples are included in the Leader's Guide.
- MARK THE MOMENT.
We advise you to mark the last week of the study with a special celebration or ceremony in lieu of your small group time. For example, end the session with a charge to the men and have those who completed the study's project come to the podium to pick up a token commemorating their graduation.
At Fellowship Bible Church, we give the men who have turned in their Manhood Plan a medallion for their key ring (available for purchase HERE) that contains the definition of manhood to signify their completion of the Quest for Authentic Manhood.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO STOP AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONS!!
Contact Rick Caldwell at Fellowship Associates for coaching and consulting.
Call 501.975.5050
Register your Men's Fraternity!
Because there are many Men's Fraternity groups that we do not know about, we'd like you to register your Men's Fraternity so we can let the men in your area know where you are so they can join the journey. You can do that by filling out the form HERE.