‘More men are finding Jesus - my church is full of them!’

There has been much discussion recently about toxic masculinity, the manosphere and the negative impact of influencers such as Andrew Tate. But there have also been glimmers of hope.

Surveys from across the US, UK, Scandinavia and Australia suggest that young men in particular are turning to Jesus in increasing numbers. Church has not always been seen as a place where men want to be, but our congregation is full of them.

When I arrived at Noddfa Church in 2014, the church was one of the few remaining chapels still open in the area. But with just a handful of elderly people attending, it was weeks away from closing. It is situated in a post-industrial coal mining village deep in the heart of the Welsh Valleys. There is high unemployment and the area tops most of the charts for social deprivation. The valley was not just secular but anti-Christ. The people there were broken and bitter, let down and apathetic. They hated God.

Our men do not want small talk when they come to church, they want strong preaching and raw debate

Today our church serves over 300 souls a week. Each Sunday, more than 150 people come together to worship Jesus together. We run a school for disenfranchised pupils, an award-winning food bank, youth groups, daily discipleship groups, grief counselling, language classes, choirs and a seminary for ministers in training. Our annual carol service is held under an iconic mining arch that welcomes thousands of guests every year and we have hosted services for the BBC. Our church is now the biggest employer in the valley! The building is open every day and is a thriving centre of community life.

But what is most unique about the story of Noddfa Church is that our growth has predominantly come from young men. But why?

Dramatic decline

There are many theories as to why there has been a dramatic decline in men attending church in recent decades. Male-dominated trades such as plumbers and electricians are often on-call at the weekend or working overtime to support their families; more men play team sports that have matches on a Sunday.

In many cases, the majority of church outreach targets women, with toddler groups and other social events that do not typically appeal to men.

The language used in the church can also be seen as overly sensitive; hymns are embarrassingly high for men to sing and more contemporary worship songs can present Jesus as the perfect boyfriend. At the end of the service, you’re presented with a cup of tea in a little china cup that you struggle to hold on to while having a conversation about the flower rota.

This all creates a perception that church is not a place for men to go.

Something new

We’ve worked hard to make Noddfa Church a safe space for men in our broken community. Our services are very traditional, with clear gospel teaching. We proudly sing old-fashioned hymns, many of which the men know from rugby games or the traditional male voice choirs that Wales is so well-known for. Our discipleship groups cultivate an environment where men can be real with each other and build authentic relationships. We live out our faith together, openly confessing our shortfalls and sharing the grace of Christ to each other.

We’ve worked hard to make Noddfa Church a safe space for men in our broken community

Our men do not want small talk when they come to church, they want strong preaching and raw debate. So, when we gather together to open the scriptures, we do not sugarcoat the content. Men want to engage with the truth and be challenged by it. We have an open forum where it is OK to discuss any tensions. It is OK to disagree over theology and still love each other. Every meeting is a prayer meeting where our men expose their hearts and are strong enough to lead from their vulnerability.

Men crave purpose and responsibility; they want to know how the gospel can be applied to their everyday lives. They want to father the fatherless. They long for a sense of Christian duty, to stand for the truth, to love and serve their families in a sinful world. They thrive under strong, biblical leadership that models what it is to be a man like Jesus.

Good for all

This isn’t to say that we have forgotten about the women in our church. Our approach to mentoring men has blessed the women in our valley, who are as equally loved and catered for and have their own bespoke groups. We thank God for the strong and faithful women who are part of our church family! 

Through discipleship and authentic examples, our men have learned to respect and honour women. We have seen many families reconciled under the gospel. And as our young men continue to live out their faith authentically, others are being drawn to Noddfa Church to hear more of Jesus. They are finding meaning, purpose and a church family in which to love and serve.

What God can do with a little oil: Church Growth in a Desperate Situation by John Funnell is available now