I want to belong! That is the secret cry of men across America.

The Family Worship Service, or as some call it, a show, has the potential to unlock doors to not only children but men as well and springboard men into a position of belonging within the church. The Family Worship Show concentrates on a character trait each month. There seems to be a strategic method to focusing on character traits. As a child, we each go through learning and growing stages. There are appropriate age levels that match with appropriate learning material. For instance, there is a time in which I learned 2 + 2 = 4. The truth is, once I have learned this, I am in position to build upon this foundation and I really never have to relearn 2 + 2 = 4. However, character traits are slightly different. They in turn must be relearned and put into action on a consistent basis. The family worship show can bring to life the power of character traits to a four year old as well as a 35 year old dad. Both may have to deal with being honest the very next day. Unlike math, which never changes, the use of character traits is innumerable.

At our church, the Family Worship Show has been up and running for four years, but this year we decided to take a look at how to empower the dads. According to the Barna Research Group, 45% of Americans will attend church on a typical weekend. These numbers sound great, but let’s look a little deeper. According to an article at “Church for Men”, 61% of the adults who attend church are women; leaving the men at 39%. The article goes on to illustrate that on any given Sunday, the women will out number men in attendance by 13 million. 25% of married women will attend church alone. Finally, and probably the most enlightening, is that as many as 90% of the boys being raised in church will abandon church by the age of 20 and many will not return.

What can we do to begin to turn these statistics around? That is the question we were faced with this season.

This season we began creating avenues or venues where men could engage in activities that matched their interests. There are staggering amounts of men who are members of clubs or groups. One of the reasons for these groups is that men gravitate to other men with the same likes as their own. Remember the old television show “Cheers”? Most of us could still sing the theme song. That song is our focal point: “You want to be where everybody knows your name.” What is it that the clubs have? Is it the building, NASCAR, big screen televisions, fantasy football, or dart boards? The answer is yes and no. Yes, they have all these things, but what they also provide is a place of ownership and trust. Men have interests and talents that for the most part are unseen, unused, or maybe even unheard of in the church scene.

Our focus is to strengthen the family unit by strengthening the dads. Many dads are ready for accountability, or mentoring, even in-depth Bible studies; however, there is a majority of men that are missing in our churches because they cannot find their place. Many men come through the doors of a church to either fulfill a weekly duty or to keep peace with their wife. These men need to trust the church and the other men of the church. How can a church develop this trust? We do not have all the answers; however, we are becoming intentional about building the trust of our dads.

We have begun having "Deuteronomy Dad" events or as we call it the "D-dads gang". The "D-dads gang" was developed from within the family worship show. We hold these events in the exact same arena as the monthly family worship show. This provides these dads with the mental picture of the same room where their family has fun at church. We brought in the entire cable sports package and began having Monday night football barbeques, bowl games, racing events, the Olympics, etc. Within these events, we provide the men with a comfort zone of trust. Trust comes when we as the church begin to invest into the interest of the dads. Remember, people want to go where everybody knows their name. Men will begin to build friends and network with each other concerning jobs, hobbies, interests and parenting.

The long range goal for the "D-dads gang" is to help dads to begin to use their given talents within the church. Ephesians 4:12 says “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

If a church can identify a man’s professional and hobby interests, along with their spiritual gifts, they can be “plugged into” service opportunities -- men are natural problem solvers.

Once the trust has been established between the men and the church, this un-tapped ministry work force for Christ can be engaged. We are looking forward to a time when, once a month the men will come to church on a Saturday morning for a quick cup of coffee, donuts, a devotion and team assignments. The idea is that the church will identify the needs within the body, then assign professionals with hobbyists, mature with young to specific tasks (plumbing problem in widow Jones’ house). They will use their skills, talents, and resources to solve problems – minister – in an atmosphere of mentoring and fellowship!!

However, in order to get to this level of ownership and engagement, these dads must trust the church and trust can come when the church becomes intentional about investing into the interests and lives of the dads. A generational impact results as well for when the dad learns to trust the church so will his children.

Interested in developing this in your church? Check out our Family Worship Service package below...on advance order now for just $36.00!