Lutheran Hour Ministries placed an emphasis on paying good deeds forward instead of repaying those who first performed them during its inaugural Men’s NetWork Work Day last spring.
The Christian organization is hoping to do that once more as it plans to offer the event for a second consecutive year.
The 2014 Men’s NetWork Work Day will take place Saturday, April 26 and will be used as a one-day, nationwide event to allow men from all walks of life to come together and work collaboratively in their communities, neighborhoods and churches.
Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) is a Christian outreach organization supporting churches worldwide. It produces Christian radio and television programming for broadcast as well as Internet and print communications. Its efforts support individual believers and reach the unchurched in the United States and more than 30 countries.
The Lutheran Hour, the ministry’s flagship radio program that first aired in 1930, can be heard weekly on more than 1,300 stations nationwide.
The concept behind the Men’s NetWork Work Day is simple: to bring together men in different states and towns, political party affiliations, religious preferences and denominational ties to work as one for the benefit of others.
It’s an opportunity for men’s fellowships, Bible study groups, university fraternities, civic organizations or just friends to come together and perform acts of kindness and good deeds for those individuals or groups in need.
“This year we’re hoping to get the idea across of guys doing work that would specifically help their neighborhoods and communities, tackling jobs beyond the confines or property of their local church,” said Paul Schreiber, senior editor of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
More than 900 men in approximately 50 different groups across the United States took part in the event last spring. Their example of Christ’s body at work resulted in shelves being built, bushes trimmed, yards cleaned and furniture moved. Participants raked, hauled, removed, washed, fixed, planted, painted, tweaked and tackled jobs of all kinds, bettering the lives and circumstances of hundreds of individuals who were able to witness God’s people at work in their lives.
Such tasks may need to be performed again this year, but there also are opportunities to assist with local food pantries, youth centers, animal shelters or nursing homes, providing manpower to accomplish various tasks. For additional project ideas, visit www.lhmmen.com/suggestions.
Service to God through service to others
Comments about last year’s inaugural event focused on the positive feelings associated with being able to work together on various projects that would benefit others, whatever the task. Many of the groups participating had times of devotion and fellowship along with their work, and many finished their day “knowing that the Lord had put our faith into action” through a “common bond in serving the Lord.”
Since it started six years ago, the Men’s Network has more than 16,000 registered users from 4,000-plus Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations and includes members from more than 3,100 churches belonging to other denominations.
Even though the event is an outreach ministry of the Lutheran Church, it is not exclusively for members of that particular denomination. It is open to men of all denominations who have a willingness to be examples of Christ in reaching out to assist others in need.
Registration for the event started in early February and remains open. To register as an individual or group, visit www.lhmmen.com/workday. All men registered to participate will be sent a Men’s NetWork cap to wear the day of the event.
A Facebook page dedicated to Men’s NetWork Work Day activities also has been established at www.facebook.com/lhmmen. Participants can use the page to post photos, stories and more information during and after the event.