Wanted: Men serious about the true faith

The article records a fresh review of data collected in a 2007 survey released last year by the Pew Research Center involving interviews with more than 35,000 U.S. adults. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reported the percent of women (and then men) who:

• Are affiliated with a religion: 86 (79).
• Have absolutely certain belief in God or universal spirit: 77 (65).
• Pray at least daily: 66 (49).
• Say religion is very important in their lives: 63 (49).
• Have absolutely certain belief in a personal God: 58 (45).
• Attend worship services at least weekly: 44 (34).

George H. Gallup, Jr. found among the reasons women tend to be more religious:

• Mothers have tended to spend more time raising children, which often means overseeing their involvement in church activities.
• Though two-income households are more common today, in the past women often had more flexible daily schedules, permitting more church involvement during the week.
• Women tend to be more open about sharing personal problems and are more relational than men. Other Gallup research shows a higher proportion of women than men say they have a "best friend" in their congregation.

So he concluded, "A mountain of Gallup survey data attests to the idea that women are more religious than men, hold their beliefs more firmly, practice their faith more consistently, and work more vigorously for the congregation."

Many churches can attest to this trend. In fact, it has spurred deep concern for the future of their ministries. Articles and books have chronicled this congregational transformation including David Murrow's book Why Men Hate Going To Church with its companion website, Church For Men, promoting male resurgence, not male domination. These statistics are cited on the website:

• The typical U.S. congregation draws an adult crowd that's 61% female, 39% male. This gender gap shows up in all age categories.
• On any given Sunday there are 13 million more adult women than men in America's churches.
• This Sunday, almost 25 percent of married, churchgoing women will worship without their husbands.
• Midweek activities often draw 70 to 80 percent female participants.
• The majority of church employees are women (except for ordained clergy, who are overwhelmingly male).
• Over 70 percent of the boys who are being raised in church will abandon it during their teens and twenties. Many of these boys will never return.
• More than 90 percent of American men believe in God, and five out of six call themselves Christians. But only two out of six attend church on a given Sunday. The average man accepts the reality of Jesus Christ, but fails to see any value in going to church.
• Churches overseas report gender gaps of up to 9 women for every adult man in attendance.
• Christian universities are becoming convents. The typical Christian college in the U.S. enrolls almost 2 women for every 1 man.
• Fewer than 10% of U.S. churches are able to establish or maintain a vibrant men's ministry.

By contrast, the Living Church of God has long understood the need to bring out the full potential of men as servant leaders in their families and congregations. One way it encourages men to grow is through a men's organization called "Spokesman Club." Originally modeled on Toastmasters International public speaking meetings, Spokesman Club chapters in many congregations have been foundational in training men in the Church for leadership in their homes and local congregations. God needs men--and so do our local assemblies.

Let me encourage you—especially you men—to read our commentaries Why Do You Go To Church? and Fatherless Families?. Church is not just an activity for women—God wants dedicated, self-sacrificing males to fill their God-given roles in carrying out His Work on earth. If you are male, God wants you to learn and practice servant leadership in your home and congregation. But to do this, you must courageously pursue His calling.