Start a New Group

You know you need community, but maybe your parish doesn’t have a men’s group. Or maybe it does, but the meeting time just doesn’t work with your schedule. Don’t let those reasons stop you from walking in community with other men who are serious about growing in Christ. If you’re considering starting your own men’s group, that’s awesome! We’ve got some practical tips to make sure that your group gets off to a great start

1. CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR PARISH ALREADY HAS A MEN’S GROUP.
   We’ve got a list of Men’s Groups right here, but it’s entirely possible that there are some that aren’t on our list. You should check your parish’s website, bulletin, or send a quick email or call to the church office. 
2. COMMIT TO A REGULAR MEETING TIME AND LOCATION.
   Men’s groups that last usually meet weekly or bi-weekly. Whatever you decide, make sure that it’s consistent. When choosing a location, be sure to pick a place where men can pray and have total privacy. 
3. APPOINT SOMEONE RESPONSIBLE IN THE GROUP TO KEEP TRACK OF MEMBERS AND THEIR CONTACT INFO.
   A simple group text or email reminding everyone of the meeting can do wonders for attendance. 
4. DON’T BE AFRAID TO START (AND STAY) SMALL.
   A group of three to twelve men is ideal. This allows guys to feel enough familiarity to really get to know one another. If your group starts growing beyond twelve men, we recommend breaking into even smaller groups. For example, if fifteen guys gather, break out into a group of eight and seven when it comes time for discussion.
5. ESTABLISH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE. 
   Proverbs 11 tells us that trustworthy men can keep a secret. State plainly and make sure that everyone understands that private matters will never be shared outside of the meeting. Without this trust, men will never open up. Without opening up, how can we heal and grow? 
6. GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
   There’s no need to forge a new path and develop your own study materials. There are a ton of amazing and free study programs for men’s groups to follow. We recommend checking out Crossing the Goal and That Man Is You.
7. MAKE AN “I WILL” STATEMENT AT EVERY MEETING.
   At the conclusion of every meeting, every guy should make an “I will” statement. It might be “I will go to confession before our next meeting”, or “I will read my Bible to my wife and kids”,  or “I will skip [insert unhealthy habit here].” By being clear about our intentions, other men can hold us accountable. 
8. INVITE PEOPLE YOU DON’T THINK WILL SHOW UP.
   You just don’t know how Jesus might be using you.
9. LOOSEN UP A BIT.
   The Christian walk can be demanding at times, but it should also be filled with joy! Make sure your men’s group is a safe place for honesty as well as healthy humor. The Bible tells us that laughter is like a medicine and we know that God loves humor. I mean, he created the platypus right?
10. KEEP CHRIST FRONT AND CENTER.
    Every meeting should begin and end with prayer. There should also be time for discussing scripture and how it applies to our lives.
11. TRY TO KEEP IT UNDER 90 MINUTES.
    We’ve found that between an hour and an hour and a half is ideal for a meeting duration. Anything shorter can feel rushed and anything longer can start to drag. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Just make sure that the designated meeting time is focused on what it should be. After it’s over, if guys want to stick around and hang out, that’s fine!
12. TELL US ABOUT YOUR GROUP!
    Once you’ve got your group established, we’d love to hear about it and list it on this website so that other men can find it. 

Now get out there and make disciples!