Building Mangers -- and Relationships

The sounds of hammers and nails will echo around the family life center at Mechanicsville Christian Center (MCC) again Dec. 5 as fathers teach their children a real-life lesson about keeping Christ at the center of Christmas.

This will be the fourth year the Assemblies of God church has hosted The Manger Build, designed by Noble Warriors, a men's ministry based in nearby Midlothian, Virginia. The program encourages congregations to host church-wide events where fathers and their children build a life-sized manger together.

While the initiative has been around for a decade, Noble Warriors founder Mike Young took it nationwide two years ago. Since then, 200 churches in 32 states have participated, including a number of AG congregations.

MCC joined a regional emphasis in 2011 after its "Manland" sermon series helped jumpstart its fledgling men's ministry program, according to Dwayne Moore, pastor of adult ministries and connections.

In addition to 20 small groups meeting throughout the week, the men's ministry has played an integral role in spearheading Manger Build.

"It can be done anywhere," says Moore, who stained the manger he built with his daughter before placing it in their front yard. "It's noisy, but a fun thing. You hear this great sound and it's mostly kids hitting the wood trying to drive nails."

A church can usually pull off an event with a few weeks of advance planning, and Moore says these construction projects have made a twofold impact on MCC.

"It's helped men realize it's easier than they think to have spiritual conversations with their children," Moore says. "It's helped families that participate to keep Christ as the focal point of Christmas."

About an hour north of Mechanicsville, Highway Assembly of God in Fredericksburg will host events on Dec. 5 and 19. This will be the third year for its Manger Build. Last year more than two dozen fathers and children participated.

Men's ministry leader Ken Bray helps spearhead the project. Although the third-generation cabinet builder had been incapacitated by an arm injury, he felt he still could be instrumental in facilitating it. To help children from single-parent homes and fathers who need advice, Bray found several coaches who offer tips during the Saturday morning building.

"Some probably build them in 20 minutes, but we set it up for an hour so they have plenty of time to get it built and take a break for a snack," Bray says. "We tell them if it takes longer, so be it. We're not trying to rush anything."

This year his goal is to get men and boys from Royal Rangers more active in the builds.

Highway AG charges a $20 participant fee to help defray materials costs, but many members make donations so that low-income children and families still can be involved.

"That's been a huge blessing for the ministry and the ones who are participating," Bray says. "One of the most important things about this event is building men as spiritual leaders in their homes."

The men's ministry leader's favorite part of the events comes at the end, when fathers and children line up for photographs. Their smiles represent the bonds they have formed.

Bray hopes to imitate what Young has done with Noble Warriors mangers, such as giving them to needy families.

"I love to see us use this an outreach, taking them to nursing homes and giving them to people as a regular thing," Bray says.

Teaching kids that -- like Jesus -- it's what they give at Christmas instead of what they receive that can make an eternal difference.

Kenneth C. Walker

Kenneth C. Walker is a freelance writer, co-author, and book editor from Huntington, West Virginia. He has more than 4,500 article bylines and has written, edited, or contributed to more than 90 books.