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Workshops educate men about forms of ministry

Jul. 21, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Matthew Oates*

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (UMNS)--With more than 30 workshops covering a wide
variety of spiritual and social aspects of men's ministry, the 9th
National United Methodist Men's Gathering had something for everyone.

Topics included appointed positions in the United Methodist Men's
organization, digital ministries, Scriptural and theological studies,
music, health issues and women.

A workshop popular with the more than 2,200 men attending the July 15-17
gathering at Purdue University was "The Parable Perception: Revealing
God's Purposes in Popular Entertainment."

The men watched segments of "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Beverly
Hillbillies," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Lucy Show, " "Bonanza" and
"Superman." The segments shown were part of numerous Bible studies
associated with those shows.

Stephen Skelton, founder of The Entertainment Ministry and the workshop
presenter, told the participants, "God uses story to reveal his truth to
us. We're like the disciples from Matthew 13:10. We hear it in different
ways."

For six years, Skelton has reviewed numerous television shows and
developed Bible studies associated with them. Men's groups and other
church groups use the studies.

"Some stories speak stronger to certain groups of people," than others,
he said. For example, "The Beverly Hillbillies" was more popular in
Great Britain than in the United States as the show tackled issues of
social and economic prejudices and morality and materialism.

"The Bible is the most influential book in the world," Skelton said, as
he compared storylines and other tidbits about the Clampett clan and how
they escaped a land and culture, crossed a wilderness and landed in the
land of plenty.

Granny's last name was Moses; Jed's nephew was Jethro; and one episode
was titled, "Jed Plays Solomon." (Jedidiah was the heavenly name God
gave to Solomon.) "Jed plays Solomon indeed," Skelton said.

Skelton believes that by using simple cultural stories, television can
be used as an evangelical tool. "We're meant to engage storytelling as
art. God's truth will come through pastors or pagans - secular stories
with moralistic messages. It's for us to discern the truth."

Even Paul used ancient Greek plays and culture - such as "Critiqua" and
"A Hymn to Zeus" - to preach to the Gentiles, he said.

To look for the spiritual in the secular, Skelton provided three tips:
"	Examine the overall program for spiritual themes;
"	Focus on the storylines, characters and names; and
"	Use the information as a testimonial.

Skelton also advises that people study how the "evil" or "bad" character
is defined, the portrayal of "good" versus "Christian good" and the
intent of the writer.

Another workshop, "Men and Addictions" dealt with the variety of
addictions men face and how the church can respond.

"We as the church work poorly in regards to the spiritual aspect of
recovery," said Del Ketcham, the hunger relief advocate for the
churchwide Commission on United Methodist Men.	He has a strong interest
in addiction recovery and facilitated the workshop and highlighted how
various 12-step programs are available for churches to sponsor, as well
as participate and assist in the recovery of those addicted to different
vices.

Addictions, Ketcham said, are very prevalent in the church. "Everyone
has an addiction."

While addictions vary in severity, they are placed on different levels
by the church and by society. Gambling, overeating, alcohol or drug use
is handled differently than addictions of sex and pornography. "The
church is really wrestling with addictions in the church setting," he
said.

The church, Ketcham said, needs to pray about the various addictions men
face and how it can be more deliberate in assisting in recovery efforts.
"I view recovery as an evangelistic tool."

In a workshop about missions, the men were told that it should not be
taken lightly because it impacts lives.  "Mission work is a good example
of where faith and work come together in perfect harmony," said Gil
Hanke, president of the men's commission and a layman from Nacogdoches,
Texas.

Hanke, who works in mission both domestically and internationally, told
the men "the blessing of being in mission is the ministry of personal
presence."

He explained that the "presence" is more than the "presents" taken on
mission trips. "You may think you will be the deliver of blessings and
the people you are serving will be the recipients, but you will be
blessed beyond measure."

*Oates serves as the North Indiana correspondent for Indiana Area
Communications.

News media contact: Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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