The Sons of Allen ministry plan: A congregation's journey to provide ministry to men in a post-Enlightenment world

This essay is a case study involving a small, rural congregation and its efforts to provide ministry to men in light of certain contemporary realities. Bethel African outreach program to streetwise men. The congregation's original efforts proved to be costly and poorly utilized. They also had the potential of fostering paternalism and classism. To avoid these pitfalls, a think tank was formed utilizing men of the congregation, streetwise men and the pastor. Through the work of the think tank, a new ministry plan was developed, which proved to be more cost-effective, better utilized and less likely to be abusive.; This essay is divided into four chapters. Chapter one is a discussion of the crisis of masculinity. The work of six writers of the contemporary men's movement underscore the fact that many American men are in crisis. These men share core needs that are not related to their socio-economic status. Addressing these needs was the primary aim of the revised ministry plan.; Chapter two presents the work of David Bosch and his notion that missiology is in crisis. Bosch believes many contemporary Christians are reluctant to engage in mission activities because of past abuses. One source of these abuses is a certain development theory which elevated middle-class values while subordinating the value systems of others. Bethel's original ministry plan was based on such a theory. The revised ministry plan is built on a post-Enlightenment theory of mission, which reduced the likelihood of abuse.; Chapter three is a journal outlining the work of the think tank and the twelve-month mission plan it developed.; Chapter four summarizes the evaluation session of the think tank. It also discusses the significance of its work as it relates to the Bethel congregation, the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the academic community.