• Small group monthly breakfasts.
‘MFTM’ meets on a Friday from 7.30 to 9.00 in one of the member’s homes with his wife providing the meal. On arrival they enjoy tea/coffee and chat about this and that. This is followed by a devotional and discussion about future activities and events. They pray and eat and are then ready for whatever the day can throw at them.

Community involvement.
Men are wired to do things. A month after forming, ‘MFTM’ invited the SAPS Station Commander to join them at a breakfast. Little did they know that he had been transferred to Howick just 4 weeks earlier. He was greatly touched by the invitation and stated that ‘MFTM’ were the only people to have welcomed him. Not even his own Station had held a welcoming function. ‘MFTM’ told him that they were Christians and that they were tired of the public criticizing the SAPS and that they wished to come alongside him. He asked them to lead a weekly prayer meeting at the Howick SAPS and to encourage attendance at the Community Police Forum. ‘MFTM’ has honoured his requests and its members have lead Wednesday prayer meetings since May 2007 and have supported the CPF. One member has been on the executive for the past two years.
The Station Commander had a slot at one of the quarterly breakfasts and told the audience that the weekly prayer meetings had contributed to increased morale in the station.

Quarterly breakfasts.
‘MFTM’ believe that many men do not feel comfortable meeting on church premises. ‘MFTM’ also believe that whatever is done must of an excellent quality. Use is therefore made of local hotels for these events.
Quality Christian speakers are engaged and are requested to encourage the audience with positive content to their talk while presenting the Gospel in a non threatening manner.

An annual event.
During October 2008, Landa Cope spent the weekend in Howick and was the speaker at the men’s quarterly breakfast and at an evening dinner for men and their partners (180 people). She also conducted a ‘Leadership’ training session during the course of the day.
In February 2009, a ‘Making a Difference,’ weekend men’s conference was held at Em’seni near Winterton in KZN. Fifty men attended and were addressed on Friday night and on Saturday by high class speakers on a variety of subjects.
The Winterton and Bergville churches were engaged a month before the conference and ‘MFTM’ were hugely encouraged by their enthusiasm and the co-operation that exists between them. They decided to have a combined Sunday service at the conference site. About 200 people attended the service and then picnicked on the banks of the river.

The establishment of other men’s small groups.
The ‘MFTM’ encourages the establishment of other men’s small fellowship groups. ‘MFTM’ realizes that each group is unique and that each group must collectively decide on where, at what time and when they meet and what community involvement they will participate in. ‘MFTM’ merely shares its experiences and format with any group that wishes to establish itself. A document containing information on how the ‘MFTM’ operates is available.
The ‘MFTM’ experience is that men wish to join such groups but that there is wide spread reluctance to lead groups. Such a pity!
As at June 2009, the ‘MFTM’ is engaging with men from Harrismith and Winterton who attended the Em’seni conference with a view to encouraging them to set up quarterly breakfasts.

2007. Two quarterly breakfasts at Fernhill Hotel. Speakers were Peter Howard-Browne and Eric Tocknell. Average attendance 100 men.

2008. Three quarterly breakfasts at Fernhill Hotel. Speakers were Ray De Vries, Tim Biggs and Landa Cope. Average attendance 100 men at the first two with 140 at the third.
October 2008. Dinner at Fernhill Hotel with 180 people attending. ‘Leadership’ workshop with 50 people attending. Landa Cope was the speaker at both events..

Feb 2009. ‘Making a Difference’ Em’seni weekend conference. 50 men attended. The speakers were, Ron Pretious, Neville Nightingale, Robin Barnsley, Dennis Gee, Robin Stephenson and Denzil Tryon.

June 2009. Quarterly breakfast at the Hilton Hotel. 163 men attended. Tich Smith was the speaker. To request a copy of Tich's testimony, please email Howard at : howardt@absamail.co.za.
After having completed his high schooling at KES in JHB, Tich Smith came down to Maritzburg Varsity and soon proved to be a wonderful all rounder both on and off the field.
Tich represented Natal in 3 sporting codes, 2 of which he did before the age of 20, namely rugby and cricket, followed by golf a little later.
After a serious knee injury put paid to Tich’s rugby career, his focus was on cricket where he represented Natal for 12 seasons and also went onto represent South Africa during the rebel tours.
It was during this time that the great Aussie fast bowler Dennis Lillee released his biography and rated Tich as the best player of fast bowling in the world during this period. Quite a complement from a bowler who was better known for bowling head hunter bouncers rather than dishing out compliments to the opposition.
Remember these were the days when thigh pads offered about as much cushioning as a folded serviette, when captains had to use cattle prodders to get their tail enders out to bat and there were no helmets so there was always a chance of sporting a kookaburra smile if your technique was a bit dodgy.
Tich is married to Joan and they have 4 children. He now focuses on full time ministry after having retired from the day to day running of his highly successful insurance brokerage which his son now manages.

August 2009. 120 attended the Men’s Breakfast at the Hilton Hotel with Arnold Moll as the guest speaker. His topic was entitled, “What gives Christians the right to say that they are right?” Testimony to the fact that his address struck a chord with the men is the fact that 50 CD’s were ordered after his talk. CD’s plus two sheets of notes have been added to the church’s video/CD racks. After the breakfast, one of the men remarked that it was the best case that he had heard for Christianity. One of Dr Mol’s statements is, “It (Christianity) is either the only religion that is right, or it is the only religion that is wrong.” The CD is suitable to use in a Home Cell group or for personal edification.

DR ARNOLD MOL