Eureka Christian Church

Reflecting Christ's Light from Our Doorsteps to the Ends of the Earth

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OK Men, This Is For You! by Rev. Jennie Churchman

East patio and sanctuary entrance

Thirty-nine women just returned from a lovely, soul-filling weekend at the Chiara Center near Springfield.  The annual Women’s Retreat has become a centerpiece of our yearly ministry at Eureka Christian Church.  But the question keeps coming up:  What about a men’s ministry?  Are we ever going to do anything for the men?  I hear you!  And I have a plan.

Actually, it’s not a new plan.  I had a vision for this ministry last April when I was in Tucson for Spiritual Director training.  I wrote about it in one of my “field notes” from that event, but I’m not sure how many of you read it.  Because I got no response.  As in zero comments.  Crickets chirping in the Internet ether.  Maybe it was a lousy idea.  That is entirely possible.  (And men, if you hate it, you get full veto power.)  But it doesn’t feel like a lousy idea.  In fact, it feels kind of exciting.

So I offer it to you again.  QUEST Men’s Ministry:

Questioning
Understanding
Exploring
Strengthening
Together

This is what I wrote last April, “QUEST is mission, study, and adventure. I don’t know exactly what this looks like yet, but I can envision a weekend retreat with all three components combined.  Or maybe day trips where we engage in mission followed by a time of study and reflection.  Adventure too.  Is anybody up for hiking at Starved Rock? A study on spiritual wilderness could easily follow.  Or a day of challenge and team work on a ropes course?  That goes nicely with Paul’s Body of Christ imagery.”

So here’s the plan.  For 2016, we are going to do quarterly QUEST Day Trips.  I’m already working on setting those up with a little help from my friends.  In the next couple of weeks, you will hear more about these plans through The Visitor, announcements in church, and a mailing that will go out to the men of our congregation.  Beyond 2016, we’ll see where the Spirit leads.  Perhaps we continue with quarterly outings.  Perhaps we move to a yearly retreat or mission trip.  Perhaps we have regular Bible study at the church.  Perhaps all of the above.

I don’t know where this will lead, but I do know that there is interest.  And maybe even a little excitement.  Men, I hope you’ll consider being part of QUEST.  Stay tuned!