“We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Mark Doebler, the Grove’s Head Coach (Senior Pastor), “We usually draw 50 to 60 people. I think this shows that there’s a hunger for this in our community.”

The service took place in a gym that had been decorated with hunting/camping/fishing gear. A trophy buck peered from behind trees positioned at the back of the stage.

The service began with two upbeat songs (with masculine lyrics, of course). Coach Doebler introduced a segment called “Game Plan” in which he taught briefly from John 10. “Coach D” disappeared while David Murrow and associate Pastor Tim Mylott discussed the book “Why Men Hate Going to Church.”

Then the fun started. A cellular phone call interrupted the proceedings (this was planned). David turned to Tim and said, “Go find Coach; he needs some help.” David filled time by playing a video clip from the animated film, “The Incredibles” (the clip actually set up the sermon). As the clip ended, Coach D was wheeled onto the stage in a large box, with only his head visible. He preached a brief sermon about the boxes that trap men. He was eventually cut from the box by other men, illustrating how a band of brothers can help men break out of their boxes.

After a song/offertory, Doebler called all the men 16 and older to the front for a quick pep talk and object lesson. He gave each man a box-cutter knife to take home, reminding him once again that it takes a band of brothers to break us out of our boxes. The men put their hands together and “broke huddle” as one would before a football game.

The service lasted 53 minutes. The sermon was 9 minutes long.

Other than a couple of sound/lighting snafus, the service went smoothly. Response cards were overwhelmingly positive. Most encouraging: a handful of men indicated their desire to be discipled in a “band of brothers.”

The church is launching into a six-week series titled, “Life is Like…” Next week’s installment is “Life is Like a Football Game.” The church will meet in the parking lot for a tailgate party (bring your own meat for the grill). The Grove is giving away a pair of tickets to the Chicago Bears vs. Carolina Panthers NFL Football game. (Future messages will demonstrate how life is like golf, NASCAR, etc.)

After this weekend’s response, Coach Doebler is convinced that 10-minute sermons built around an object lesson are the way to teach men. As evidence, many men were hanging around the gym 15 and 20 minutes after the service was over.

Coach D made it clear that, although the church’s primary target is men, anyone is welcome at The Grove. The intent is not to exclude women and children, but by targeting men (who are the hardest to reach), they hope to encourage everyone. “Women are wonderfully relational,” Doebler said. “Men need a little more help. We are going after them because they don’t feel comfortable in 99 percent of churches.”

Rebekah Montgomery, a reporter for Crosswalk.com, attended the grand opening and is planning to write an article about the church launch. Her article about David Murrow’s book was the most clicked-on article at Crosswalk during the month of August.

(Last minute update: I just got e-mail from Coach D. Here’s what he had to say after the Sunday, October 2^nd  service, “We had 100 people today, with lots of newcomers and quite a few men who returned from the previous week.  I don't have an actual breakdown, but I'd truly be surprised if we didn't have more men than women again today.”)

To visit The Grove online, click here