Tim ALWAYS wants to create environments that are FUN and exciting that are going to be funny and ALSO being able to worship and listen intently to the speaker when he gets up and then they’re not going dang that was lame. He wants to create enviornemnts where he laughs histerically and then is also convicted, challenge, encouraged, inspired, all of those things! So that when he leaves he enjoyed it so much that he wants to figure out how to get plugged in. 

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Tim thinks that LAUGHING and PLAYING is actually a huge missing link in men’s ministry. Those things NEED to happen! Men’s ministries should truly be like youth ministry. Play a game on stage, or do a skit. AND this isn’t just for fun it’s actually part of a strategy where it’s breaking down walls for them to better receive what God has for them. 

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It’s all part of Group Life at Mariners. You won’t see “men’s ministry” or “singles ministry” it ALL falls under Group Life. The number one goal and thing they want to do is they want to put men in groups. They feel like that’s where they see most transformation happen. The bigger events like Saturday breakfast and retreats are what Tim would call end of the funnel. The goal isn’t to just do a really great event well, it’s all about getting them into groups. 

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They’re able to do this because they have INCREDIBLE leaders. You can’t have a thriving men’s group without a core leadership team and a bigger leadership team to execute the mission. If you don’t have great leaders and massive buy in and committed, activated dudes you’re not going to get very far. Beyond that, if you don’t have an executive pastor or leadership team that believes in men’s ministry it’s going to be a really tough road. The WHY for everything they do is to get men connected and into life groups. They have over 100 men’s life groups and Tim is so incredibly proud of that.

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At almost every church there is probably a men’s GROUP, not a ministry, but a GROUP that’s meeting at some point. You can probably go find a men’s group at your church. If it doesn't exist then absolutely go grab those guys in your life that have a desrie to be in community, do life together, and formalize it more than just hanging out and going golfing. There has to be intentionality around it. The friendships around you right now can create a men’s group but it takes a LEADER saying that he needs this so he’ll create it and being INTENTIONAL. There has to be preparation too. Everyone wants to be apart of it, not many want to lead it. 

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It’s pivotal. Naturally, men are usually more authentic and vulnerable when they’re DOING something alongside someone. By doing that activity eventually men open up about what’s happening. This might be a first step for someone who isn’t really ready for a group but is up for an adventure. 

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Find out more about Tim and what he’s doing at Maverick River Collective, https://maverickriver.com/about-us/. 

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