Resource Highlight: Men’s Ministry

Hi, I’m John Freeman, the founder of Harvest USA. I wrote the book Hide or Seek: When Men Get Real with God about Sex. Several years ago, I realized that there are many barriers that keep men from beginning to get real with themselves, with God, and with another person regarding their struggles with moral purity, pornography, same-sex attraction, or gender struggles.

I wanted to write something that had one goal in mind: helping move men from complacency, that is, inactivity and unbelief, to action and renewed belief that God could still do something very personal and powerful about their problem and the state of their hearts.

How? By helping them to come to see three things. Number one, that God in Christ is for me in spite of the sin and pit in which I find myself. Secondly, that he wants to jump down into my pit of shame, guilt, despair, and hopelessness and shoulder my burdens. And thirdly, as I see his grace and love, I can gather the courage to come out of my secret self to God and a few others.

But I’ll admit, beginning that process for most men can be daunting and scary. Hide or Seek is a resource for men who are paralyzed in fear, stuck in isolation and secrecy, and who can’t seem to do anything about it. It’s for men who have given up hope or may be ready to give up hope.

Although anyone reading Hide or Seek will greatly benefit, it’s best used in the context of a one-on-one discipleship format or with two or three other men, or better yet, in a small group context.

One of our former board members here at Harvest USA led a Hide or Seek group for men in his church in Nashville for several years. He shared this with me about his experience leading this study and walking alongside men in his church. He said:

“After using the book to disciple one man of my church, I formed a study group the next year. This time, eight men joined me. Leading out with my weakness, I shared my own story during our first time together. The men responded with great transparency and honesty about their own struggles to walk in godly obedience. As we worked through each chapter, at our final session, as I was attempting to bring a solid conclusion to the group, one of the guys said, ‘Hey, we’re not going to stop now, are we? Can’t we keep meeting?’ And so we did. While I turned the leadership over to another younger man in the group, it continues to be a safe place to which men can bring their brokenness and experience doing life together that encourages deep connections and walking in obedience. It all started with this book study.”

I love those encouraging words he wrote. Hide or Seek is a resource for any man struggling in silence who needs to be reminded, at the feet of Jesus and a few other men, that the gospel is so much bigger than we are, and that Jesus is always about calling broken, fallen people to himself to begin and start over again, today and every day.

Divided into 10 chapters, it easily transfers as a 10-week group series, with practical study and discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter. Not only can pastors or other church leaders lead a group like this, but any man who knows his own heart need and is willing to step out in faith can successfully facilitate a Hide or Seek group for men in his church.

Hide or Seek can be ordered directly from Harvest USA at our website, harvestusa.org. Hit the Resources tab, then the Print Resources tab, and scroll down to the book.

Also, if you’re blessed by it, please consider dropping me a note to let me know at my personal email at [email protected]. Thank you. May God bless you.