More Christian women in U.S. play active roles in Gospel than men
How Minnesota men are coming together to change the story
By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher
On any given Sunday, visit a local church service in the state of Minnesota, yea, North America-you are most likely to discover that Christian women are in greater proportion than their male counterparts.
And the same is also true for weekly Bible meetings and tarries in African immigrant churches in the United States; women have always far-outnumbered the men before and after the COVID-19 epidemic.
Why so? It could be largely due to what charismatic Frontline Church’s senior pastor, Evangelist Russell Smith of Park Rapids, Minn., calls one of the biggest tragedies that the flu disease brought upon the world, including the U.S.
“COVID hit; Satan hit and men ran around and scattered,” he told a group of Christian men here Saturday, April 20, 2024, when he gave a heart-touching testimony.
However, the aftermath of Satan’s attack according to Rev. Smith, was the breaking up of our Christian family units. As a result, he said, most men stay away from the church due to pressure from job, family and children.
That trend is about to change soon in that Christian men including some church leaders in the Twin Cities Metro area came together Saturday, for the first time, organizing and finding a way to work together as a single unit in pursuit of advancing the Gospel of Christ worldwide.
At least close to 40 men attended the first meeting which took place at Spiritual Life Church’s fellowship hall in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Over a delicious breakfast, they discussed laying the “foundation” for bigger things to come which centers on winning souls for Christ.
“The reason churches are no longer full is because there are no men,” remarked Spiritual Life Church co-founder and senior pastor, Dr. Joe Fornara, who gave opening remarks at the start of the occasion. He had organized the meeting, dubbed as the MEN’S MINISTRY. Pastor Russell Smith was the second speaker.
Dr. Joe, gifted in prophecy as his wife, Prophetess Dr. Judy Fornara, told the gathering how he had heard from the LORD, and could no longer delay God’s command which prompted him to call the meeting.
“I heard from God; [He said] just do it…” Joe told a curious-looking crowd. “It worked the last time; it will work this time because we know what we are doing,” Joe continued with his presentation, often punctuated by jokes.
His main goal, he said, is to help establish or build the new group or Men’s Ministry; and not necessarily become the head, saying, “ I’m not the leader; Christ is the leader. I’m just conducting it.”
Accordingly, they (leaders) would listen to everyone’s views concerning things they wish to see the group achieve in the upliftment of God’s Kingdom and would go after it.
He then passed papers around for attendants to write their name and contact information plus TWO THINGS or suggestions for the group to consider at the next meeting.
“I want this to be so big; I don’t want to do it in this church (Spiritual Life Church); this church is too small to hold us,” Pastor Joe, who once organized a big crusade in Minneapolis, Minn., hosting world’s evangelist, Pastor Benny Hinn, said.
A former Vietnam War veteran, Joe came to know the LORD while he was in his 40s, this was a while after he returned from the Vietnam War, heartbroken, after he witnessed some of the horrors of war there with the U.S. Army.
Before his call to serve the LORD Dr. Joe served as a fortune business executive, trading in minerals, mainly gold. And like his wife Dr. Judy Fornara has traveled extensively worldwide, winning thousands to Christ, giving to the needy and helping to plant churches.
Known for his philosophical speaking, the Bible College professor stated that though there’s nothing wrong with “democracy” itself, God’s people (Christians), are supposed to function under a system of “theocracy.”
“We are meant to function under a theocracy run by God; not democracy!” he said. Theocracy is defined as a governing system in which priests rule in the Name of God.
“There’s nothing wrong with democracy; democracy feels a form of unity but as you can see, it also comes to a point where it splits and people have extreme opinions; and the two shall never meet,” he emphasized.
“Let our opinions, our thoughts and our desires be drawn from the word of God; let’s consider that Jesus Christ is Lord; the LORD of all,” he went on.
He spoke of ethnic dimension being a key factor to winning souls for the Body of Christ and made a reference to Matthews 28:19-20, urging Christians to search out the true meaning of these verses and what the LORD meant.
According to him, the actual Greek definition to the above passage calls for Christians to “make disciples of ethnic groups.” “We are supposed to make disciples of all these different groups,” he continued.
“We need to bring the groups together. And the ones that are going to buy into the idea of bringing themselves together with one another are different ethnic groups in churches,” he said.
“The Church consists of many different cultures. And it consists of many different people. And we all need to come together as one Body in Christ. Because He’s not just our leader; He’s our God.”
He viewed Saturday’s meeting as a good start, telling this writer that of the three churches he invited, two showed up. Secondly, many of those he had invited, particularly pastors, already had appointments for the weekend, thus making it impossible for them to come.
He assured that more men are expected to show up at the second or third meeting to be announced later.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY AUTHOR