Recently the men’s group that I am part of ran an event called MOB (doesn’t stand for anything, just a MOB of men!), and I think it has great potential to help us link up with other men’s groups, churches and become something of a catalyst to encourage men to get together.
MOB is based around an idea of calling men to gather round a fire. To provide a space for men to get off the crosshairs of life for an evening, to see and feel the primal work of a fire, to eat, talk and just be in the company of other men where your story and the story of others around you matters.
The MOB night was located in a woodland, about 10 minutes walk from where the cars are left. As men walked to the fire they encountered signs in trees, stencilled onto large sawn chunks of wood.
“What’s your greatest fear?’
“What makes you come alive?”
“In a storm what is your anchor?”
“What is it to be a man?”
“What is your biggest regret?”
When the men arrived they found a huge fire, a clearing in the woods prepped by the team, a whole sheep roasting over hot coals, knife and axe-throwing set up, and just a load of men hanging out.
To be clear, this isn’t some macho gathering of beer-drinking, fire-loving meat eaters; there is a wide range of men here that write poetry, create art, music and embrace a wide range of masculinity, but by and large, the fire, food and stuff connects us so we use it.
What is important to see is that as the light fades and darkness sets in, the guys sit around the fire and a welcome to MOB is given. MOB is explained as a space for men to be, without the mask, and to talk. To be inspired, to inspire, to breathe and find an air bubble in the chaos of life.
Men talk about life, mental health, faith, dreams, passion and hopes that faded and feel lost. Men unlock something in sharing a moment of their story and for others, something is unlocked in hearing that story shared.
Now, for me with my CVM hat on this is an epic level 1/level 2 event. We are building friendships, reaching men and forming these contacts. We are learning from men who might have no faith at all – what is important to them and what guides their lives. We are listening, journeying and walking with guys.
I think that this is something we could see across the UK. Groups in areas coming together, working together, inviting their mates together and lighting some fires across the UK to help reach men. This isn’t seeing men as projects, it’s genuine, it’s based on friendship and is essential in reaching men authentically; not forcing a gospel exchange for a free night round the fire, but with integrity meeting men in creative ways to stand together and share our lives and faith.
