Relationships in Ministry: Men's Group

Written by Jonathan Phillips for NMI Adult Mission Education

When I agreed to lead the men’s Bible study in Țigmandru, Romania, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into. I had sat in weekly church services with the few men who attend the church, but I didn’t know much about them beyond their first names and that they were eager for me to lead a men’s Bible study group for them. I realized early on that for a Bible study to be applicable for these men, I would need to build relationships with them before I could focus on them learning and mastering biblical content.

It didn’t take long before I started to learn about them. Each of the 4 young men who attend the Bible study is married and has young children at home. None of them has finished high school, and they all struggle to make ends meet – being hired for just a few days or weeks on occasional or seasonal jobs. Why does this matter if I’m leading a Bible study? It means I understand when they come late from work, because I know having income to feed their families is important. It also means that I don’t forget my seminary education, but rather use it to structure each lesson in a way that it can involve both the literate and illiterate among them, applying the Bible to their lives.

I don’t know where to begin to describe the side effects of such a relational approach to ministry. First, trust is built. They trust me and I trust them. I don’t see them simply as objects to be taught, but as people who need to understand God’s Word in a way that makes sense to them. Second, with this foundation, mastering content comes easily. These young men have already successfully completed the Continuing Lay Training exam for the Pentateuch. They not only understand the content, but understand how to apply it to their lives. Finally, while being a blessing to others, I’ve been blessed myself. What I thought was going to be my ministry to them turned out to be a way for us to mutually minister to one another.