Annual Ministry Update and Christmas Greetings
Continuing the Call of Faithfully Serving – An Eternal Investment in Biblical Manhood
December 2024
The entire MMC team wishes you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with God’s blessings, grace, and mercy. We trust the joy of Christ’s birth will be with you during the holiday season.
As we reflect upon all the tumultuous events around the world during this past year it is easy to become discouraged, but when we place our thoughts on God’s plan for each of us, we can overcome our fears, doubts, and struggles. The Psalmist reminds us, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why is it so disturbed within me? Put your hope and praise in Him, my Savior and my God.” Ps. 42:11.
It is during troubled times that many churches and pastors that we serve around the world call upon the staff and resources of Men’s Ministry Catalyst to help equip men to be spiritual leaders, husbands, fathers, businessmen, and servants of our Lord. Equipping others through our messages, devotionals, podcasts, workshops, booklets, and books, we help people daily claim the promises found in God’s word.
Jim’s latest book More Than a Fisherman discusses the essence of discipleship and energizes each of us to be authentic disciples who make disciples. His practical parables and metaphors show us that ministry is not just for ordained ministers, but that each of us has a responsibility to share the Good News within our relationships. As the apostle Peter encourages the new believers in the first century, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace.” (I Peter 4:10) How can we help you serve those in your network? What MMC resources would be helpful to connect them to Jesus?
What is The Greatest Gift You Can Give?
At the top of Jim’s computer sits a sign which says, “Our goal is to be servants of the Lord” Jos.24:29 Joshua defined service to the Lord clearly so that no one could be mistaken about what it involved. It consisted of giving God his due while repudiating all false gods. To give God his due is first to hold Him in reverence and awe and then to serve Him with sincerity and truth. Friends, this is our calling, and it only happens because of the power of the Holy Spirit and the faithful support of people like you – our Faith Partners.
Your Prayers and Financial Support Helped MMC Accomplish So Much This Year!
Swimmer Riley Gaines with Jim at Be Bold for Jesus Conference in Spokane, WA
As reported in our Monthly Updates, scores of churches on both the West and East coasts are equipping their men to become disciples who make disciples starting in their own homes. Over 21 radio and television stations around the country broadcast interviews where we spoke about standing strong against Woke culture (The Watchman book interviews). Our ministry to men has empowered denominations like the Calvary Chapel USA, the Anglican Church in New Zealand, Wine and Oil Churches in Mexico and beyond, along with a large and growing movement in Africa. National men’s ministry movements like the popular Links Program at PGA golf courses, National Coalition of Ministry to Men, Promise Keepers, and several conservative political leaders have used and endorsed our resources and approach to discipleship.
An Alliance and Partnership to Extend MMC’S Legacy into the Future.
Since November of 2023 Jim, Wendell, and the MMC Board of Directors have had discussions and been doing due diligence with Relational Discipleship Network (RDN) who, like MMC, are focused on AUTHENTIC DISCIPLESHIP. In June of 2024, our board attended a two-day seminar with RDN. The following day they met with key RDN staff and board members. The MMC board unanimously voted to continue working together with the intent of combining our two organizations.
As we consider a merger, RDN checks all the boxes of the criteria we were looking for and best fits our profile. They are a separate non-profit organization that has worked alongside Real Life Ministries in North Idaho for fifteen years. When Real Life Ministries experienced explosive growth years ago, pastors from around the country wanted to see what the key to their growth was and how they might replicate that in their local churches. As you can imagine, this was very disruptive to the staff and on-going operations of Real Life Ministries. As a result, a separate 501c3 organization (RDN) was created to manage this growing interest in Real Life Ministries.
Over the years, RDN has become a major dynamic resource, training, and coaching organization for churches who wish to fulfill the mandate that God has given to go make disciples. The RDN website clearly states their mandate of making disciples in relational environments ( https://rdn.org/) and this mandate is evident in all they do. This mandate is in total alignment with what MMC has been doing for over four decades.
Here ARE the Benefits of this Partnership.
When you have a church already committed to truly making disciples who make disciples, it is much more efficient and effective for MMC to gain access to work with the men of the church. In that scenario, we are not creating a program or initiative outside of what the overall church is already committed to doing. We can effectively partner with them in equipping and encouraging men, who can impact the family, church, community, and marketplace.
In our over forty-four years of ministry, there has never been a more critical time for men to rise and become biblical leaders at home, at work, marketplace, and in the church. We need to stand up to a progressive culture that wishes to take away Biblical Manhood! We see men in general struggling in ways like never before. They need timely and spiritually rich interactive resources, messages, and fellowship. This helps them join with other men who are also committed to overcoming and living in victory through the power of God’s Word.
Mark Bright, Executive Director of Relational Discipleship Network
What Happens to Jim, Louise, Wendell, and the MMC Team?
It has long been our prayer to develop a relationship with an organization that will continue MMC’s legacy to go and make disciples who make disciples. Jim and Wendell will continue to work with RDN during the next several months and then, when appropriate, transition into an advisory role. More detailed information and a complete report will be sent to you at the first of the year.
We need your help in order for this partnership to be accomplished. The combining of RDN & MMC will create a powerful men’s ministry and leverage four decades of MMC experience and portfolio material. Without your continued faithful support, RDN cannot fully integrate the mission of MMC into its dynamic organization.
Jim, Louise, and Wendell are committed to helping make this merger possible so that a new director and support team can be put in place. Jim will continue to write and speak as the Lord directs and as the request for his services continue to evolve. Furthermore, one of the primary tasks as directed by the MMC board and RDN is for Jim and Louise to provide personal ministry to our supporters and friends, just like they have always done.
MMC 2025 FINANCIAL CHALLENGE – $150,000.
Two of our faithful partners were so moved by the opportunity to help MMC build its legacy of faith and service that they pledged $75,000 in matching gifts to help us reach our 2025 goal. WOW! Their generosity warmed our hearts! Imagine that your gift can be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $75,000. Without your love, prayers, and financial support none of what has been accomplished these past 44 years would have been possible. We are especially grateful to our Monthly Faith Partners for their ongoing efforts to help us meet our monthly financial commitments. Please pray and consider giving your year-end tax-deductible gift to perpetuate MMC’s work and help solidify the legacy to which Jim and many others have committed their lives.
Click here to give online through our secure website or for instructions on how to donate by mail. Click here to order More Than a Fisherman or other MMC resources for yourself or as gifts for others.
We praise God for you and your family! Again, Merry Christmas, and rejoice in the Lord Always!
Love and blessings to you,
Rev. Wendell A. Morton | Executive Director / Dr. Jim Grassi | Founder/President
P.S. Thank you for standing with us as we serve together for His glory and to inspire others in these days before Christ returns.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)