How New Commandment Ministers

How New Commandment Ministers to Men

New Commandment Men's Ministries is first and foremost a ministry to men and then a ministry through men.

New Commandment seeks to ground Christian men in the love of Christ by training men in three unique qualities of Christ's love: personal identification, commitment, and sacrifice. It then demonstrates how these qualities perfectly provide for the needs of widows and single moms.

Then New Commandment gives men the simple model of men's team ministry to widows and single moms, a model that enables men to put what they have learned about the love of Christ into practice.

Over months and years, as men experience the beauty of personally identifying with, committing to, and sacrificing for their care receiver, they develop godly relationships with the other men on their team and, as a team, they develop a godly relationship with their care receiver.

Because of the team's commitment to their care receiver, men also develop a wonderful testimony to their care receiver's family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.

The result? A ministry that naturally draws men in from the periphery of the church - men who perhaps couldn't even pray out loud in public - and builds them into powerful witnesses for Christ.

In Their Own Words

Fills an Important Need

"Thank you for all your service in establishing and growing this ministry! Fills an important need, utilizes skills of the men and gives some important male comradery." -Dave, Crossroads Church, Thornton, Colorado

It Really did Connect the Guys

“I’m located in Portland, Oregon and our congregation has been active in New Commandment for over 10 years. We’ve been so blessed with the NC model over the years as it really did connect the guys together in an amazing way and then the care-receiver connections were awesome as well. Truly a God story on all levels. Thanks for all you do, this has truly been an amazing blessing to our congregation and community and hopefully our city in the future.” -Stuart, Portland, Oregon

Gets the Guys Together

"I would just like to say thank you to you and the pastoral team for getting the men's team ministry up and running. It is really fulfilling to do this work and to get the guys together to meet and know each other." Dave in Aukland, New Zealand

Still Going Strong

"Our Men's ministry at Cedar Run Community Church here in Virginia is still going strong. Best ministry I have ever been involved in!" -Bill

God Always Provided the Men

"Even though we are small and often spread thin, God has provided the men each Saturday. We have never had to call a care receiver and say that we don’t have a team for her that month." -Jim

Favorite is Prayer Time

"Just the fact that we are coming every month makes a huge difference to our care receivers. Many of our care receivers have said that their favorite part is the short time of prayer together."

Having Great Fun

"We are having great fun with NCMM here in INDY! Indeed, God has blessed each one of us as much or more than the care receivers. Thank you for pointing us in the right direction." -Larry, Grace Evangelical Church, Indianapolis, Indiana

How New Commandment Men's Ministries Ministers to Widows

What is it that widows need from the church? The answer to that question is found in another question. What have widows lost?

What widows have lost is relationship. What they have lost is love.

New Commandment shows men that what widows need from the church is not just project ministry. What widows need from the church is relational ministry. What they need from the church is to be loved with the love of Christ.

It is true that over the course of years men involved in a men's team ministry do many projects for their care receivers. But because the men return every month for years, over time a godly relationship develops between the men on the team and their care receiver.

In relational ministry, the men come to know and understand their care receiver (personal identification). They prove over time that they are committed to her (commitment). And they sacrifice their time, energy, and money to meet any pressing needs (sacrifice) she may have.

If the widow's pressing needs exceed the team's ability to meet them, then New Commandment trains the men in how to be advocates for her and how to find other resources to meet those needs.

In the end, what men learn from New Commandment is how to guarantee the well being of a widow - and anyone else who has long term pressing needs.

In Their Own Words

So Proud of My Team

"I am so proud to have my team in our lives. I brag to friends and those who pass by at any opportunity I have. And this is a lovely reflection of how they are the hands and feet of Jesus. Their willingness to serve in this capacity give us great opportunity for sharing Jesus with others. And I can't imagine how incapacitated we'd be without all their skill to fix things around our place(s)."

Groundwork for Healing

"God used my team to lay the groundwork for healing now taking place for things that happened to me long ago. These men cared for me in practical and spiritual ways. They took care of the many things I needed fixed, they took time out of their busy lives to talk with me, gave me sound advice, and prayed with me. Even though I'm older than any of the men on my team, I felt I could rely on them as I would big brothers. When I moved to a new apartment complex staffed with a maintenance crew, I hated to say goodbye to my team and share them with someone else, but I knew that others needed them much more than I.

It's been about six months, and I still really miss them, but I know they haven't stopped caring about me and looking out for me because they always greet me on Sundays and ask how I'm doing." - a widow in New England

The Best Thing is Stability

"The best thing that my team has provided for me is stability. In a world where things seem to change at break neck speed, I can rely on them to show up and just be themselves. Fellowship is such a big component - whether they complete tasks or not, doesn't matter too much. Although, they are very diligent workers and always amaze me at the things they accomplish, it means more to me that they are present than what gets completed."

Could Not have Made It

"I could not have made it through last year without my team.”

How New Commandment Men's Ministries Ministers to Single Moms

In some ways, single moms have similar needs to those of widows. Like widows, single moms have experienced a loss of relationship and can also struggle with home repairs and finances.

But in addition to the shared needs they have with widows, single moms have needs that are unique to them.

Many single moms bear deep emotional scars from being abused and abandoned by men. New Commandment provides these women with a team of godly men who show up each month over years to serve and honor them, resulting in what is often profound emotional healing.

Of course, by definition, single moms also have children who lack a father figure. In fact, twenty-five percent of all children in America live in a single mother household. Like their mothers, these children, too, may have experienced abuse and abandonment at the hands of men. New Commandment provides these children with excellent godly male role models who show up every month for years to serve them.

Thus, these men who have received New Commandment Men's Ministries training and get involved in men's team ministry become emotional healers for single moms and godly mentors for their children.

In Their Own Words

Healing from Abuse

"My experience as a care receiver has been fantastic. On one hand, stuff around the house gets fixed and that's great. Having a place to go with mechanical questions grants a feeling of security. But the best part is that my heart is healing from the abuse and neglect of my soon-to-be ex-husband. My children are blessed to interact with men who are other-centered. We are learning what godly manhood looks like. As one of my team members says, 'This ministry isn't about fixing stuff, it's about sharing the love of Jesus.' From the bottom of my healing heart, I agree." -Denise, Ogden, Utah

A Sense of Security

"As I look back over the last 2 ½ years since my team has been coming to my house I was thinking about all of the projects they have done for me and was trying to prioritize which one is best. The more I thought about it the more I realized that the best has nothing to do with their physical labor but their spiritual labor. The sense of security and Christ’s love that I have experienced through them is by far the best thing. I have told my team and will say again, they have no idea how much of a blessing they are to me and my boys. They exhibit every time they are here God’s promise to me that He will take care of me and He will provide.

They have set an incredible example for my boys as well – I can’t place a value on that! "

So Very Thankful

"I am so very thankful for this provision. James 1:27 speaks of looking after widows and orphans in their distress. As a family we knew this verse from the orphan side - now I walk on both sides. "Distress" feels like a big word, and I do feel like I have and am experiencing "distress" even now - so to have the Body of Christ - these Men of Action ministering to us - is a very tangible way to see God with us!"

How New Commandment Men's Ministries Ministers to Pastors

Having served as a pastor myself for twenty years, I know that one more responsibility is the last thing pastors want.

That is where New Commandment Men's Ministries comes in.

New Commandment makes it easy for any layman to start and maintain a men's team ministry to the widows and single moms in your church.

New Commandment provides step by step guidance on how to introduce and implement a men's team ministry.

If you are a pastor, all you have to do is suggest to some men in your church that they review the material in New Commandment Men's Ministries. That is it.

It is true. The last thing pastors need is one more responsibility. What pastors really need is less responsibility, not more.

Again, this is where New Commandment and men's team ministry come in.

Assigning teams of men to widows, single moms, and others with long term needs in your church will greatly supplement your congregational care responsibilities and give you more time for other responsibilities, such as sermon preparation.

In Their Own Words

Huge Impact on the Men

"What we did not realize was the huge impact men's team ministry would have on the men themselves. Since commencing, the whole men's ministry at Harbourside has been revitalized. Men form relationships as they work & pray together. They learn skills from each other – help each other with work etc. Their self esteem is high because they are doing the right thing. They are much more open to other ministry. The men encourage one another to attend other Men’s Initiatives and true discipling is taking place. Men are comfortable and encouraged to bring their friends to Men’s events and church – men are getting saved."

May be the Most Important Church Activity

"We’d really encourage any church to commence this ministry. It truly is a powerful thing when we simply obey. In John 13: 34/35 Jesus Himself commands us to love one another, and states that our love for one another will be the measure by which the world will know that we are what we say that we are. This Ministry may well be the most important activity of the church."

Real Relationships

"As a pastor, I know the struggle to get men involved in ministry. What an incredible blessing New Commandment Men's Ministries has been. It is so fun to see men engaged in real relationships with one another and using their natural abilities to bless those in need. Our teams are a picture of how we believe the kingdom advances—through loving acts of service done in Jesus’ name. I wholeheartedly recommend it!" Alan Kraft, Lead Pastor, Christ Community Church Greeley, Colorado

A Family of Men

"Care Receivers now have a 'family' of men, visiting them – caring for them – advocating for them. Many refer to their team as 'My Boys'. The church pastoral staff appreciate the fact that care receivers' practical needs are being met, - many have a new lease on life after their husbands are no longer there."

No Change Needed

"I can’t think of any change I would make to the program, it is working wonderfully for us."