90% or higher of church leadership are male and the American population is practically split 50/50 men to women. But when we take a closer look in the church, we find some startling results:
- There are between 11 to 13 million more American Christian women than men.
- 46 percent of American women say they are born again, compared to 36 percent of men.
- Christian women are 100 percent more likely than men to be in a discipleship process
- Christian women are 56 percent more likely than men to be in non-pastoral church leadership.
- Christian women are 54 percent more likely than men to be in a small group.
- Christian women are 46 percent more likely than men to disciple others.
- Christian women are 34 percent more likely than men to volunteer for a church
- Christian women are 39 percent more likely than men to have a devotional life
If you don’t enjoy math and numbers get you about as excited as open heart surgery, the point is this -
The Dudes are M.I.A!
This is a real problem for the body of Christ, when the gender that is called to lead would rather watch football on Sunday than come to a church service. Equally concerning is that many churches are as dry as desert, and about as interesting as sentence diagrams. So does that give men an out? Is it OK to be consumed with your job and an endless list of hobbies instead of building the Kingdom of God? I understand the struggle, I do. But I also believe in the church! I genuinely believe that the local church is the hope of the world, and I believe men are called to lead it! Not the wimpy dudes, the dudes that can’t hack it in the real world. But the best men, the men who have the talent and character to make the church both great and strong. As E.M. Bounds said so well:
The church isn’t in need of better methods, the church is in need of better men.
Let God implant in you a passion for the broken and helpless. Dream and Create for the cause of the gospel. Use your skills to better the church. Men, if you have been passive and quiet, when it was time to speak up and take action, repent and be counted. If you’ve been wasting all your talent, gifts, dreams, and passion on things which will decay and that won’t matter when you’re dead, pursue a higher mission.
Jesus was not a wuss, Christianity is not for the weak! It is a cross carrying, hell-charging, life-worthy mission! Don’t stand on the sideline any longer! This is a battle that we will win, join the fight for our King!
Nathan Arceneaux graduated from Christ for the nations Institute with a Associates in Practical Theology. Nathan grew up in New Orleans, La and married, his best friend Christina, who saved him from getting kicked out of Bible School. He started thoughtforchange.com out of passion for writing and his love for God. He currently lives in Orlando, fl where he serves as the director of The Vibe, a movement of Young Adults in his local church, Church in the son.
