Rise Up, O Men of God

Elder Ken Zeigler

There is a man among us who has truly risen up, quietly but faithfully following God's lead to minister to the men of Central. Bob Carman has lifted the charge to Central men to press towards the goal of becoming men of Promise first to their God, then to their families, church, and community. Several of us are now partnering with Bob to focus on feeding and challenging men at CPC. "Men of Promise" is designed to help men discover their calling from God. It strives to equip, disciple, encourage, and send out each man to fulfill his unique call. An old hymn comes to mind as I think about God's call to us men. "Rise Up, O Men of God" has such a timely message as you read or sing through the verses. Here are a few points that I can draw from this timeless hymn.

• Significance: There is nothing more important in our lives than service to our King. Nothing will fulfill our need for purpose and significance like living out God's call on our life.

• Unity in Brotherhood: Often men relate to each other through competition. Some guys get into the game while others stand watching, anxious about involvement, ashamed of their sin or thinking they have little to offer. Ministries like Promise Keepers and authors like Gorden Dalbey and John Eldredge have set the stage for men to come out of isolation to seek help and renew their relationships with their God.

• Leadership: The church for you doth wait! Without our participation our relationships suffer. Our hearts grow cold and unmotivated. Each man must seek his call and take up his chosen post to lead those entrusted to him.

• Risk: The adventure begins here men. Join the game, confront your fears, discover your true self, and find your position in the game. The enemy would love for us to be complacent and ineffective. Men of Promise are moving ahead and you are invited.

I encourage each man reading this page to get a copy of "Wild at Heart," by John Eldredge. He captures the heart of each man in this book about genuine masculinity that is set free from the trappings of a religious culture that many of us find ourselves unable to break out of. Inside news and views you will see the upcoming events for the Men of Promise ministry and the conference lead by John Eldredge in February. If you have any questions, visit the Men of Promise booth in the Concourse after any of the services on Sunday. You can also speak to Bob Carman personally. It's time to get into the game!