Tip #1

Senior Pastor Mel Wiggers at Hauser Community Church in North Bend, OR sent us this Idea:

"Our church places the books up on the preaching platform during Father's Day. Near the end of the service, the pastor invites all the fathers to come forward for a gift. (Peer pressure drives all the men up!) The pastor then delivers a brief message to them, challenging them to be good fathers and husbands and commissioning them to lead their families. At that time, the men's ministry leaders and elders of the church personally hand a book to each man, and the pastor challenges them to read it. They are then prayed over and the benediction is given."

Tip #2

This Tip comes from Pastor Ernesto Arellano at the Jesus is Lord Fellowship Church in New Jersey:

The Jesus is Lord Fellowship uses the books to reach their community. They send their men in pairs throughout the neighborhoods giving away books and inviting men to church.

This plan would be a great opportunity for the men in your church to build relationships and share the gospel. Imagine what could happen if the men of your church distributed books for one hour the Saturday before Father's Day. They could pass out the books, invite men to church the next day, and just let men know they care.

Men reaching men - a biblical method for growing the church and raising up leaders.

Tip #3

Pastor Clark Tanner at the Beaverton Christian Church in Oregon is using the books this way:

At a church retreat for their men, the Pastoral staff will each teach a section from the book and challenge the men to continue through the different chapters in follow-up small groups.

You can use these books to jump start men's discipleship in your own church by forming men's small groups or building a class around the book. Consider putting a sign-up slip in the books and asking men to indicate their interest and/or announcing times and places that men will meet.

Or, have a men's event or seminar shortly after the giveaway. Sign men up for small groups at the event using the giveaway books as the study material. Man in the Mirror's new Success that Matters Pastor-Led Seminar is perfect for Pastors who want to lead their own men's event or retreat.

Tip #4

Here is a way to personalize your own giveaway to further your church's men's ministry:

Identify men in leadership to sponsor part of the giveaway (they could underwrite the cost if you desire). These men can become the "distributors" of the books on Father's day.

Ask each of your "sponsors" to write a brief note on a separate sheet of paper or on the inside cover of the book. It could read something like this: "If in reading this book you make a personal commitment to Christ or would just like to talk with someone, I would be glad to listen and pray with you. You may call me at 555-5555 God bless you on your journey, John Doe."

On Father's Day Sunday, have your "sponsors" pass out the books to all the men. While your sponsors are still standing in the church aisles, point out the hand written notes in the books and the sponsors handing them out. This approach will give your sponsoring leadership a greater ownership for this ministry as well as providing the opportunity to develop relationships with other men in the church.

Tip #5

At Hillside United Methodist Church in Woodstock, GA:

"We have provided the books to the Jr / Sr youth to give to their dads / father figure for Fathers Day. We also provided note paper to the youth to write a message to their dad. At the very bottom in the footer, the note paper contained information on the upcoming Father / Child breakfast / bowling event."

Tip #6

Bethel Evangelical Free Church in Fargo, North Dakota has a plan to encourage and minister to all the book recipients after the giveaway:

They are asking the men to email the church at an email address included in their book. Each week for the next two and a half months, a church pastor will email these men his thoughts and observations concerning a specific book chapter. This will challenge them to keep reading the book and enable the staff to interact with other men during the week.

In addition, it will help the pastors provide a personal challenge to the men on their e-mail list during the hectic pace of summer. Senior pastor, Doug Anderson, developed the concept behind this approach and believes that by reaching out to men weekly, they can sustain the momentum that will be generated by giving out books on Father's Day. Their prayer is that these men will thoughtfully walk with God all summer as he gives them an opportunity to build a legacy of faith for those around them.

Tip #7

Man in the Mirror books are great to give away to all types of men throughout the entire year:

One year, an individual gave books to over 80 retired firefighters in the Chicago area. Another gentleman maintains a supply of free books in the waiting room of his medical practice. Many individuals keep books in the trunk of their car for people they meet and do business with.

Each book examines the way God wants us to live and gives a clear presentation of the Gospel. You may want encourage your men to giveaway a book each week to the men they come in contact with (e.g. a waiter, a mechanic, the UPS man, or a neighbor). It is one way you could stimulate personal ministry and evangelism.

Tip #8

Pray. Pray. Pray.

• Set a time of prayer for the church staff and men's leaders before and after the giveaway.
• Some may want to physically pray over the books.
• Encourage leaders to pray for specific individuals by name.
• Challenge the women in the church to pray for the men receiving the books.
• Pray that God will use these books to restore marriages and families.
• Pray that God will use these books to create momentum within your church's ministry to men.
• Pray that God will use these books to draw men to Himself.

From Man in the Mirror:

Tie this book promotion into the rest of your calendar for your men's ministry. If you are sponsoring a men's retreat or conference in the fall, insert information about the event into the cover of the book. If you are looking for a men's event to host as a follow-up, call Man in the Mirror at 1-880-929-2536 (outside of the US please call 407-472-2100).