Engaging Men to Grow the Church
How do you grow a church?
Is it better programs? A sharper sermon series? More polished music or better coffee in the lobby?
Those may draw people for a season, but they miss the heart of the issue. The truth is simple—and urgent: the Church is losing men.
In the average congregation, 61% of attenders are women and only 39% are men. Women are far more likely to serve, lead, and disciple others. Meanwhile, many boys are growing up without fathers, mentors, or models of biblical manhood.
When men step back, families weaken. And when families weaken, the church falters.
If we want to grow strong, healthy, thriving churches, we must activate men—and that means doing three things intentionally and well.
1. Engage Men: Call Them to Action and Responsibility
Men aren’t drawn to passivity; they’re built for purpose. They come alive when they’re challenged, trusted, and given a mission worth their lives.
Too often, church life feels like something to watch instead of something to do. Men are offered a pancake breakfast or a classroom seat instead of a calling. But men are wired for action. Give them something to build, protect, or lead—and they’ll rise to it.
Jesus understood this. He didn’t sit the disciples down for a lecture series; He took them on the road. He met fishermen at their boats and tax collectors at their tables. He gave them responsibilities that mattered—feeding crowds, healing the sick, proclaiming the Kingdom. His metaphors were earthy and real: seeds, storms, plows, and battles. He called men into motion.
To engage men today, we must do the same. Start with hands-on experiences that build trust and familiarity:
Get outside. Organize a hike, fishing trip, or service project.
Build something. A campfire, a wheelchair ramp, a ministry team.
Serve shoulder to shoulder. Call out specific ways men can help the church and the community.
When men are given ownership and a challenge, they come alive. And when they come alive, the church begins to thrive.
2. Give Them a Mission: Build Shared Experiences That Connect Generations
Engagement lights the spark. Mission keeps the fire burning.
Men don’t grow through lectures; they grow through shared purpose. When fathers, sons, and mentors work together toward a goal—serving their community, leading a project, mentoring boys—something powerful happens. Wisdom is passed down. Faith becomes visible. Brotherhood forms.
In Trail Life USA, we see this every week: men leading boys on the trail, teaching practical skills, serving their churches and communities. The mission binds generations together. Men rediscover purpose. Boys discover identity.
And over time, that mission naturally multiplies. A man who starts by leading a campout might go on to lead a Bible study, mentor a younger dad, or step into spiritual leadership at church. The mission becomes a bridge between activity and discipleship.
Give men a mission that matters—something larger than themselves—and they’ll lead with passion, persistence, and purpose.
3. Grow and Unite Them Through Adventure: Use the Outdoors as God’s Classroom for Discipleship
Men were made for challenge and community. The outdoors provides both.
In Trail Life, adventure isn’t just recreation—it’s revelation. It’s how we grow and unite men and boys around purpose, perseverance, and faith. Whether it’s hiking a trail, paddling a river, rappelling cliffs, or sitting quietly by a fire, adventure forges brotherhood.
That’s not accidental—it’s how God has always worked.
The wilderness strips away distractions and reveals what matters most. Around a fire or on a trail, men and boys find space to listen—to God, to each other, and to the still, small voice that calls them higher.
Adventure calls men to courage, teamwork, and trust. It unites them in brotherhood and builds the kind of discipleship that endures.
In Trail Life USA, we’ve watched this happen again and again. Fathers and sons bond through shared challenges. Men find brotherhood around the fire. Boys discover courage by leading their peers. Families grow stronger—and churches are filled with men who are finally engaged, alive, and ready to serve.
Adventure becomes the classroom for discipleship. And discipleship is what grows the Church.
The Trail That Leads to Growth
Church growth isn’t about marketing trends or quick fixes. It’s about engaging men, giving them mission, and growing them through adventure.
When men are awakened, families are strengthened. When families are strengthened, churches grow—deeply, naturally, and with lasting impact.
The answer isn’t another program; it’s a pathway. A trail where men mentor boys, where families grow together, and where faith takes root in real life.
If you’re asking, “How do we grow the church?”—the answer may be closer than you think.
It starts with men.
Who strengthen families.
Which builds the church.
And often, it all starts out on the trail.
Discover how Trail Life USA can help your church grow.
Find a Troop near you or Learn how to bring Trail Life to your community at TrailLifeUSA.com