"Men are not less than, they are different. Understanding their needs and meeting them where they are is the key to bringing them back into the church and empowering them to lead their families." - Merrill Hutchinson

In this episode of the Rock Solid Families podcast, hosts Merrill and Linda Hutchinson discuss the importance of men's involvement in the church and the home. They highlight the concerning trend of fewer men attending church and being actively engaged in family life. Drawing from the book "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Morrow, they explore the reasons behind this phenomenon and the need to address it. The hosts emphasize the significance of meeting men's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in order to engage them in church and family life. They provide practical suggestions for creating a more inviting and inclusive environment for men, such as avoiding judgment, open communication, and prayer.

Throughout the episode, Merrill and Linda stress the importance of understanding and meeting men's needs in order to encourage their involvement in the church and as leaders in the home. They discuss the hierarchy of needs, as outlined by Maslow, and how it applies to men's engagement in church and family life. The hosts also address the feminization of the church and the need for a more male-friendly environment. They encourage women to pray for wisdom in their approach and to avoid comparing their spouse to others. The episode concludes with a challenge for listeners to have open conversations about faith and church involvement with their partners, and to pray for guidance and unity in their spiritual journeys.

Key Takeaways:

• Men are leaving the church at a greater rate, and it is important to understand why and address their needs.
• The hierarchy of needs (physical, emotional, and spiritual) plays a role in men's involvement in the church.
• Men may feel disconnected or undervalued in the church, and it is important to create an environment that meets their needs.
• Avoid nagging, guilting, or comparing men to others when it comes to church attendance.

Quotes:

• "The research tells us that there is less men, and we've seen that, whether it be going to church, whether it be… Even our Thursday morning Bible study, at the middle school level, it's a two-to-one ratio when it comes to girls to boys." (00:00 | Linda)
• "And so this is no new conversation. Where are all the men in the church? Why have men sort of fallen off the table when it comes to a lot of healthy families and keeping marriages together?" (03:09 | Merrill)
• “A lot of times churches will connect with men to maybe work on projects. Maybe they're helping fix the roof, or maybe they're helping them cut the grass, or maybe them helping widows that are in need of winterization or something like that, where men feel like, I am putting my faith into action, and that's how I worship. And so, yeah, we've gotta help men meet those physical needs. That's why your Strong Dads has a workout component to it. You have Bible study, but half of it is getting up, getting sweaty, working out, and meeting those physical needs.” (16:10 | Linda) 
• "Pray for yourself. Pray for wisdom to know how to handle this man of yours. Pray for an understanding of how a man works and stop trying to think that he should work

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