Monthly Gatherings

We meet the second Thursday of the month at 11:30 am at Magnolia Room Cafeteria in Tucker.

Gathering Dates:
March 13 ∙ April 10 ∙ May 8

Rooted

The Importance of Community for Men of Fellowship

by Jay White, Men’s Prayer Group Leader

The huge redwood trees in California are amazing. They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are 300 feet high and more than 2,500 years old. You would think trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. But that is not the case. Redwoods have a very shallow root system. The roots of these trees are, however, intertwined. They are tied in with each other; interlocked. Thus, when the storms come and the winds blow, the redwoods still stand.

With an interlocking root system, they support and sustain each other. They need one another to survive. So do we! The more closely we stand in community, the more surely we will be able to hold up. Throughout our lives and especially during tough times, God desires to strengthen and empower us through the community of believers. He expects us to support each other during the storms of life. That is why we need to be an active part of a community of faith. We need others and they need us.

We all need fellowship; however, building relationships can be challenging for anyone, regardless of gender. We men may face difficulties due to societal expectations, stereotypes or personal uncertainties. Encouraging open communication and challenging traditional norms can help foster healthier connections among men.

Exactly how does a “men’s fellowship” help us?  The easy answer is that we are made stronger in our faith by connection to our fellow-brothers in the faith. We are also refined when we come together in the presence and fellowship of other diverse men, particularly our peers. To sharpen a piece of iron, it is not rubbed against gold or silver—but against another piece of iron.  Just as iron polishes iron, so we improve each other.

Being a man can be a lonely experience. Many of us have been taught from birth to go it alone, and we can end up being lonely. Even though we may have people around us all day at the office or in the other places we inhabit, we can still be without the life-giving community we desperately need. Of course, as a man, your family can provide a piece of it; that’s where we start. But ultimately, we need our brothers in Christ to walk alongside us.

The more closely we stand in community, the more we will be able to hold up against the trials of this life. Throughout our lives and especially during the tough times, God desires to strengthen and empower us through the community of believers. He expects us to support each other during the storms of life. That is why we need to be an active part of a community of faith. We need others and they need us.