I hope all is well. Peace and Grace to you and your church.

Attached is a rather long, interesting and disturbing article (“The Atlantic” magazine, July-Aug 2010) http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-end-of-men/8135/ that I believe reflect our forgotten pathways of manhood in our American culturetoday that result in individual and social confusion, division, and men settling for less… their broken families… lost/lonely men that are/will be cast aside…etc…

The author in the attached article reports what is being seen secularly today in our American culture of women having to step into the vacant roles of men mainly because our men are MIA. I do not believe the author has gone deep enough by asking the right questions though, as she reports what she ‘sees’. But what she ‘sees‘ is generally real to her and reflects what the world ‘sees‘ too… But what is it God sees is the better question? What is God’s vision for us men?

“Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish” Prv 29:18

Maybe to delve deeper the author may have asked: Why are men today becoming more and more passive? Why are men today not leading courageously? Why are men not taking responsibility? Why are men today expecting man’s rewards and not God’s rewards?

Anyway, here’s our question: What are we going do about it here in Lafayette?

This Sept. 7 and 8th Men’s Fraternity Lafayette (MFL), as a service to God’s Community, is calling all men (churched and un-churched) to come together in The Quest for Authentic Masculinity. Building a culture of authentic men and encouraging each other up. Together building men up will be our Church’s (capital “C”) gift to our women, children, andcommunity.…and beyond!

To build up a culture and community of real ‘fighting’ men in our Church and beyond will take a small enough number of committed men regularly coming together in a small enough space for a large period of time to become friends…. nothing less has been found to work.

MFL first year will begin with 24 weekly meetings to flesh out the wounds that hold us back, responsibly handling our wounds, defining what a real man is, and talking about life’s journey towards significance….The second year will involve weekly sessions that deal with a man at home and at work…. and much more… But the significant part is committed and obedient men willingly coming together in their struggles to become the living proof of a loving God to a hurting world… I hope your church’s men will come together and use us….

Shalom,

Nelson Warner