Christian Vision For Men's Alex Willmott's Male Survival Guide for 2012
'A lot of the challenges men faced in 2011 have not gone away... Unemployment, depression and an epidemic of loneliness..The challenge for CVM is how we encourage men to trust Jesus when times are tough.' says the Head of Resources and Communications, Alex Willmott about the new year. Find out the tools CVM will be using - from podcasts to equipping church leaders - in order to make it a very happy new year for men in 2012.
(PICTURE: ALEX WILLMOTT C/O CVM)
Alex please tell us about your role?
Head of Resources and Communications. My role mainly involves engaging with men all over the UK with relevant, innovative ideas based around the message of Jesus. It ranges from resourcing men with books, DVD's and podcasts, to equipping church leaders with bespoke resources to support and reach the guys in their communities.
Last year we had a lot of unemployment and a lot of frustration for men and women all over the UK, and of course the London riots... What challenges do men particularly face in 2012 do you think?
The challenges that men were facing in 2011 have not gone away. Unemployment, depression and an epidemic of loneliness amongst men will continue to be major problems this year. Generally speaking, men handle these pressures differently to women.
The challenge for CVM is how we encourage men to trust Jesus when times are tough. Trying to get men to take their Christian faith up through the gears is also a huge challenge when more men are leaving the British Church now than ever before.
It was heartbreaking watching the riots, because at the back of my mind was how different our country would look if those responsible put that much passion and energy into serving their community as oppose to attacking it.
The biggest challenge is how can we get men to focus on Jesus in every area of their lives. This may sometimes mean blokes trying to engage with the parents of the youngsters causing havoc next door. After all, if Christian men across the country really began to 'love their neighbour' I think it would influence broken families everywhere.
How do you guys at CVM hope to help men - young and old - with the frustrations and difficulties facing guys out there this year?
I think what we do is two-fold:
1) walking beside them as servants. And
2) walking them to Jesus. Our ethos is that the local church is absolutely key to supporting and serving men. We are here to help the church in this immensely difficult task. We also provide a massive range of materials for guys to help them keep their focus. Man-friendly Bible studies, internationally renown podcasts, comedy newsletters distributed weekly, top quality blogs...you name it, we're involved. We want to inspire men to the knowledge that Jesus meant everything he said, and that he will never leave them.
I notice on your website 'The Code' the 12 months of bible studies aimed at men.. Can you tell us a little about this? Does it feature particular themes or ideas which men can specifically relate to?
Yes, the Bible studies unpack the 12 statements in the Code faith order for men.
Each study looks at what the Bible says about specific issues that specifically effect men. The studies look at how men treat women, co-workers, bosses, church leaders etc. The studies have gone down really well and have gained praise from denominational leaders. They're hard-hitting, straight to the point, and allow men to set the distance of how far they want to take their faith adventure.
What are CVM's plans and hopes for 2012?
We want to see more men in this country put their faith in the Jesus who is found in the Bible. We want to see church leaders take men's ministry as seriously as they take their mums and tots groups, youth groups and every other group. We want to see blokes realise they are carrying the potential to change lives when they take the Gospel home with them. We want to see men lobbying against violence against women, child trafficking and abuse. We want to see men set a culture of grace, hope and courage in their churches, their homes and their places of work. We want to see men forgive first, love first and serve first. We want to see men put their confidence back into the message of Jesus. We want to see what it would be like if men up and down the country started talking about Jesus to their mates in an honest, inclusive and confident manner. We want to see more men in church, living life to the full.
Any particular projects CVM is launching or forging ahead with please?
Yes a few massive ones! The Gathering, our national men's conference, is taking place at Lynt Farm, near Swindon, from June 29th to July 1st. We'd like a massive turn out.
Also we're holding a strategic prayer and praise day on Feb 25th, at
Market Harborough Evangelical Church for any man involved in a Christian men's group. And of course we have hundreds of men's groups putting on top quality, evangelistic events all over the UK every week. Check the website, it's all going off!
What are your particular hopes/dreams for 2012?
Personally, I'd like to grow in character (not physically because I'm running a marathon in May!) The New Testament teaches a lot on our characters. I see what a man of God looks like, and I often feel pretty distant from that. I'd love to develop peace in my daily life. I know that comes from reading the Word, praying and giving thanks, but I often let these great habits slip. Enoch and Noah were said to have been men who "walked with God". That's my hope, that I learn how to do that daily.
How can men use CVM's resourses; Drivetime for instance, to help source encouragement, practical help this year?
Well, we'd like to think that everything we do has encouragement at the heart of it. (Even if it is a challenge) Men can tap into every resource we have on our website and not just enjoy it for themselves, but also pass them onto their mates. And that's the best encouragement.
We've seen men come to faith by listening to the podcast. We know there are men studying the Code out on the frontline. There's a group out in Michigan doing the Bible studies ad well! But what they all say is that the most encouraging thing about CVM resources, is how accessible they are to the average guy. (I guess that's because CVM is full of average guys just having a go.)