The National Council of Presbyterian Men has selected the theme for this Sunday from Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.” To fulfill this obligation, each Presbyterian man must be willing to serve God with all of his heart, soul, strength, and mind 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

We can serve God as individuals or in groups.

As an individual you can:

• Attend church each Sunday. Statistics from a survey conducted in 1997 point out that when men are the first to attend church, the family follows 97 percent of the time. This is an important way that Presbyterian Men can increase overall church attendance.
• Get involved in church activities by serving as a church school teacher, usher, or member of a committee. Assist with building maintenance, or offer to serve as a session member or a deacon. If you don’t have a men’s group, organize one. (See www.presbyterianmen.org for assistance.) Things don’t just happen: someone must make them happen. God has given everyone a talent. Don’t waste yours!
• Serve the Lord not only with your talents, but also with your financial gifts to the church. Consider also supporting Presbyterian Men and their activities. The national organization of Presbyterian Men has published a brochure, “A Plan For Giving—Presbyterian Men Serving Christ 24/7/365.” Information on how to participate in this important program may be found on the Web at www.presbyterianmen.org.

A men’s group can:

• Start a men’s Bible study group. There are currently thirteen Bible studies written especially for men, available on the Web site for downloading and use at no cost by men’s study groups. Eleven more Bible studies will be posted soon.
• Select an outstanding man in your church and nominate him, with session approval, to the National Council of Presbyterian Men, Inc., as “Church Man of the Year.” Forms and procedures may be found on the Web site above. Honor this individual and his family on Men of the Church Sunday on June 19, by presenting him to the congregation and awarding him the “Distinguished Presbyterian Church Man of the Year” pin.
• Affiliate your men’s group with the National Council of Presbyterian Men. When you affiliate, the men of your church will experience the connectional and related nature of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The resource “Lift High the Cross” contains organizing plans for several different types of men’s groups and ideas for starting and maintaining interesting programs for men in your congregation. Your church will receive an original permanent charter, which is renewable annually, and your group’s affiliation will be listed on the Presbyterian Men Web site.
• Attend presbytery, synod, and national Presbyterian Men’s gatherings. Many presbyteries and synods have annual gatherings. The national meeting is held annually, usually in mid-April. Those attending the annual meeting receive information for use in their local organization. Fellowship with other Presbyterian men in these gatherings enriches our lives and better enables us to serve Christ 24/7/365.

Presbyterian Men are a vital part of the church, and this program on Father’s Day 2005, honoring approximately one million men in 11,000 churches, recognizes only a small part of their overall contribution in moving the Presbyterian Church forward in the twenty-first century.

Floyd M. Gilbert became president of the National Council of Presbyterian Men in April 2005. He has served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in numerous capacities, most recently as a volunteer at the 216th General Assembly (2004). For more information about Presbyterian Men, call (888) 728-7228, ext. 5447.