Men's Adventure Network

M.A.N. - adventuring in faith, life and the world

One vicar, recalling his time as a Freemason, observed that the main motivation for most men joining was to be valued and affirmed by a group of men that they belonged to. The man-to-man open, honest friendship and sense of belonging to each other, a band of brothers, is how Jesus discipled the twelve.

Then he sent them off with a commission to:

• adventure in faith (to know the gospel),

• adventure in life (to live the gospel), and to

• adventure in the world (to spread the gospel).

The gospel life is life in all its fullness wherever we are; at work, at home, with our friends, doing the things that we enjoy. It is rising to the challenges of life God’s way. Being real, and having fun… together!

The ethos

Men’s Adventure Network (M.A.N.), adventuring in faith, life and the world is exactly what it says on the tin. The Christian life is a series of challenges as we adventure with Jesus alongside each other. It takes courage to be real people, it takes more courage to be real gospel people. The aim of the M.A.N. network is to release those involved to be men of hope, men of courage and men of truth. To be men who live life in all its fullness.

The plan

A different way of doing things can really help in our discipleship as men and our outreach to our mates. This is the hope of the M.A.N. network. It is not intended to replace cell, but to complement it, whilst hopefully adding only a small additional time and commitment to the people who are involved.

The plan is to help men to deepen their whole life discipleship through:

• Accountable prayer triplets.

• Having a monthly meeting in the pub, discussing and role modelling issues particularly important to men (integrity at work, being a good dad, etc), which they could bring their friends along to if they wanted (and the rest of the pub could listen in on).

• Punctuating the year with a series of one-off events to allow them to invite friends or family to, such as breakfasts, dads’ and kids’ days, culminating in an annual adventure (a walking weekend or similar).

Other activities might come naturally from the network, for example a group that go climbing together with their friends or a football team.

How to get involved

Get in touch with Bruce Perrin 0161 427 6273 or Bill Riley 0161 427 6306 - we’d love to talk to you about it - or come to the first pub meeting at the Navigation on 10 March at 8:15 pm and make some new mates.

Diary of events

M.A.N. on Mondays 2008

Second Monday of month in the Navigation at 8:15 pm (except May).

Date		Theme
10 March		God values blokes
14 April		Does Jesus come to work with me?
19 May		Jesus - meek and mild?
9 June		Integrity at work
14 July		Handling failure
11 August		Out and about – Summer beer walk

Future dates: 8 September, 13 October, 10 November, 8 December

Contact Bill Riley 0161 427 6306, slim @ smackdown777.freeserve.co.uk

M.A.N.’s breakfasts

Saturday mornings, 8:30 am at Marple Golf Club, £6.50 per ticket.

Date		Theme
7 June		Men in the 21st Century – am I a man anymore?
29 November		Families – the place where we belong?

Contact Bruce Perrin 07914 211376, Bruce.Perrin7 @ ntlworld.com

M.A.N.’s dads’ and kids’ events

Date		Time		Age group		Activity		Venue
Friday 11 April		7.30 pm		Over 6 yrs		Scalextric tournament		Goyt Mill
Saturday 5 July		Morning		Primary		Family activities		All Saints’

Contact Bruce Perrin 07914 211376, Bruce.Perrin7 @ ntlworld.com

M.A.N.’s weekend adventure

A walking weekend in Snowdonia in September or October, possibly climbing a mountain or swimming in a lake. Details to follow.

Prayer triplets

It is well known that there are different types and levels of relationship between different groupings. Cell groups are usually mixed sex, and are often attended by both halves of the same couple. For most elements of life, this is an invaluable way of knowing, growing and supporting each other. There are however other dynamics that can compliment these types of relationships, and communities. The male-male friendship offers a different freedom to know and grow in aspects of life that are not appropriate to share in a cell group, and could be detrimental if shared in a marriage. In short some blokes need mates, and Godly ones at that.

The aims of the proposed groups:

• To develop groups of men who grow a bonding friendship and aspire to encourage and support each other to moving on in faith, becoming more Christ-like in all aspects of their lives.

• These groups of people should be accountable to each other, supporting each other in prayer.

• All discussion would remain confidential, even from wives' unless agreed otherwise.

• Such a group would gather together ideally every two weeks, but not less than 4-weekly, at a time mutually convenient, and support and pray for each other. In between gatherings they may keep in touch by mobile or email, to keep up with each other.

• These groups should normally complement and not replace cell groups.

How might a triplet meeting work?

We suggest that you plan to meet for an hour and spend the time as follows:

For each person allow ten minutes to answer the questions below seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and talk the answers through together. Don't just give the quickest answer, but look deep and be honest, because you’re among friends. The others will be encouraging and where appropriate speaking into those situations. Then spend five minutes praying into those things for that person.

Then move onto the next and so on. This then leaves 15 minutes to pray about other things, for our mates or M.A.N. events, or to share a bible verse, for example.

• Question 1: What has been your greatest success in your faith, life or the world since you last met?

• Question 2: What is your biggest challenge at the moment in faith, life or the world?

It's good to celebrate our successes in all areas of life. We should do that together. It's also good to share and support each other in the challenges of life, whether it be being Godly at work, wrestling with our faith, or challenged in the things of the world.

Contact Bruce Perrin 07914 211376, Bruce.Perrin7 @ ntlworld.com