Recently I’ve read (and shared) a number of articles on difficulties the church experiences in evangelism and engaging people in the life of the church… BUT today… I came across an article on the fresh expressions website that takes a hopeful look at engaging men in church.

Enjoy!

The Australian Bureau of Statistics general social survey showed that only 20% of Aussie men are likely to affiliate with a religion. The Lifeways organisation estimates that more than 70% of the boys that are raised in church will abandon it in their teens and twenties.

In the last 10 years, the Men’s Shed phenomenon has taken off in Australia in response to sky-rocketing rates of depression and suicide amongst young Australian men. Suicide is now the tenth highest cause amongst young Australian blokes; the rates are three times higher than for women.

In ‘sheds’ around the country, blokes have come looking for friendship, commitment, purpose and help….

continued here.  (The original article on the Fresh Expressions Website)