Missionaries Excited by Results of Men’s 360Go Ministry

Editor's Note: Men's Ministries Day in the Assemblies of God is Sunday, Jan. 25.

When people discuss men going on missions trips, there’s almost an innate understanding that intense physical labor will be on the menu. Although that automatic go-to thought is well deserved, what Dan Kersten, communication director for Assemblies of God Men’s Ministries has discovered, missionaries are also seeking teams of men willing to humble themselves as exemplary servants.

Kersten says that more and more missionaries are reaching out to him to supply teams of men to conduct men’s retreats, do evangelism outreaches to children and families, and engage with the male community in and around their area of ministry.

Why? Simply stated: to open the eyes of men to Jesus and what it means to be a Christ-follower.

When a 360Go men’s team arrives from the United States and breaks preconceived or observed norms for American men by humbly serving in areas that are often in sharp contrast to local cultural norms for men, it attracts attention and spurns gospel conversations.

“We want to make sure the missionary has a stronger position on the field when we leave,” Kersten says. “We want their relationships to be stronger and their work to be easier when we leave. A second goal for us is to connect local men to missionaries — put men in places where they will discover how to use their gifts and abilities for the Kingdom while sharing their stories to build the Kingdom.”

360GO PERU

Kersten recently returned from Cusco, Peru, where he led a 15-man 360Go team working with missionaries Ben and Ginia Harper, who have serving in Cusco since 2021, to host a retreat for pastors and men’s leaders.

“The goal of the retreat was to help the Peruvian Church become more aware of its need to minister to men, disciple men, and teach biblical principles of being a husband, a father, and in leading in the home,” Kersten says. “In that culture, it’s difficult to engage the men because they’re very stoic and independent. There’s a lot of influence from the Incan and Quechua cultures and there’s not a lot of understanding of a man’s responsibility as a husband and a father from a biblical perspective.”

A few of the men on the team were invited specifically to lead training sessions and services based on their experience in men’s ministry coupled with their fluency in Spanish. The rest of the team were tasked with serving the 30 pastors and leaders attending the conference, with those speaking also serving at every opportunity.

“They were well prepared and served very well,” Ben Harper says of the 360Go team. “Their effort in preparation led to an excellent ministry experience in the launch of Men's Ministry for the nationals that they are still talking about. . . . the team brought excellence and passion to everything.”

“For each meal we had a cook team, a prep and serve team, and a cleanup team,” Kersten says. “The men rotated across three teams: preparing the meals, preparing the dining area and serving the meals, and cleaning up afterwards — clearing tables, washing and storing dishes and silverware, and making sure the area was cleaned up for the next meal.”

In addition to serving as kitchen staff, the 360Go team members also spent quality time with the Peruvian men, building relationships despite some language barriers.

“We provided prayer ministry and we introduced them to the game of corn hole,” Kersten says with a smile. “They loved it! It seemed every spare minute many of the men were out there playing and building relationships. We also, with the help of the bilingual men, did a lot of Q and A . . . and each attendee was also presented a free Hispanic Fire Bible.”

“The ministry team (pastors Josh Rivera, Eli Simental, Isaac Tellez, and Kersten) were able to navigate the theme of masculinity that will truly help me build on the establishment of Men’s Ministry in the Cusco region,” Harper says. “One attendee of the men’s conference said it was the most professional and impactful event that he has had the privilege to participate in.”

Kersten recalls a later conversation with the Harpers.

“They were emotional several times when they were talking about the feedback they received from the Peruvians,” Kersten says. “Bill told me one of the leaders told him, ‘I was so shocked to see all these American guys serving us, hand and foot — if there was a glass empty, they filled it; if there was a piece of trash on the ground, they picked it up. Normally, we always serve the Americans, but the Americans were serving us!’”

360GO ALBANIA

In the fall of 2024, Kersten led a group of men to work with veteran missionaries Kurt and Stephanie Plagenhoef and their son, Joel, who have been serving in Albania and the Balkans since 1995. The ministry the team was involved in was unique, but it was also so effective in reaching men that since that time, Plagenhoef and AG churches in Albania have continued to use the same outreach with great success.

So, what grabs stoic, Muslim, Albanian men’s attention and draws them into a church — a place most had never entered?

In this case, what piqued the men’s curiosity was the one style of cooking that trends heavily male — grilling. That’s right, an invitation to a free, American-style barbecue with all the fixings is hard to resist even in Albania!

“In Fushe Kruja, we canvassed the city and invited people to join us for an American style BBQ,” says Kurt Plangenhoef. “The first night was for men only, the hardest group of people to reach.”

Kersten says his team was well prepared to host as it was flush with men who knew the ins and outs of doing barbecue right.

“We cooked strip steaks and chicken, and we brought bags of the Light for the Lost (LFTL) special recipe dry rub that only leaders of Light for the Lost cook teams know how to make,” Kersten says. “These men — they’ve never had barbecue before — loved it!”

“Twenty-seven men came and had a great time talking with the team,” Plagenhoef says. “In response to the gospel, 10 Muslim men stood to confess their sins and Jesus as Savior. One of them was a well-known atheist professor. All were amazed to see him professing Christ!”

Although the first night was remarkable in itself, Plagenhoef explains that in the past even one or two making a decision for Christ was considered success, so the next night caught everyone off guard.

“The second night of the outreach was open for all,” recounts Plagenhoef. “We prepared for 50 guests and were overwhelmed when about 150 people came! We scrambled to prepare more food. Everyone ate, heard the gospel, and 25 people stood to receive forgiveness of sin and salvation through Jesus. Praise God! We also prayed for the sick and gave out Light for the Lost Bibles — the first Bibles most of these Albanians have ever seen or held.”

Kersten says that the barbecue outreach events have continued since the 360Go team headed home, with similar success stories taking place in other communities.

Following the men’s outreach with the 360Go team, Plagenhoef says that a men’s ministry was started in Fushe Kruja at the church with about 15 men.

“This is historic,” he says.” Some of the men have come to faith. Others are on their way. Often among Muslims in Albania the process of coming to Christ takes about a year. We recently had our annual Albania AG men’s conference. The Fushe Kruja church sent seven men, which is a first. Getting into fellowship with other believing men is a key to bringing more Albanian men to Christ. Free meat at an American BBQ helps too!”

UPCOMING

Kersten says that the positive impact 360Go men’s teams are having on missionaries and their ministries, such as demonstrated in Peru and Albania, is a common experience. He also says that the need for more men for these kinds of ministries is growing.

“I already have trips planned for this year, beginning in May to Honduras working with King’s Castle and missionary Jessica Harshbarger; in June to El Salvador, also working with King’s Castle and missionary Stephen Sobey; and then in July to Egypt, hosting a boy’s camp with missionary Adam Trimbur.”

For the 360Go Honduras outreach, Kersten says he needs a lot of men willing to interact with children and families — no special skills required. The 360Go El Salvador outreach Kersten is hoping to see father-son and spiritual father-son pairs choosing to participate and share a lifechanging ministry experience together (minimum age 14) as it takes place over Father’s Day.

And then there’s the 360Go Egypt outreach for men who are athletic and high energy. A weeklong sports camp for the sons of Egyptian AG pastors and boys from the Lillian Trasher orphanage, this outreach is sure to make lifelong impacts.

“We’ll be doing relay races, active games, possibly kickball, and a lot of soccer,” Kersten says. “We’re going to get dirty and we’re going to have a lot of fun, but it’s going to take men who have a lot of energy in order for them to keep up with the boys throughout the week.”

Kersten is currently looking for districts to partner with Men’s Ministries in leading their own 360Go teams.

“We have missionaries who really have a need and believe a men’s team will help them fill that need, but we need districts, pastors, and churches willing to do it,” Kersten says. “I can’t personally lead more than four 360Go trips year, but we’re praying districts will commit to doing one 360Go trip every year.”

Through feedback he has received, Kersten says that men participating in 360Go outreaches return to their churches and homes more missionally minded and with a personal grasp on what it means to be a strong servant leader.

“When men get connected to and passionate about God’s mission, just a little time and a little effort make a huge difference on the field and ultimately in their churches and homes,” Kersten continues. “A man who is missional must be discipled, and a discipled man will be missional, which flows over into every area of his life.”

To learn more about Men’s Ministries 360Go missions opportunities, click here or email Kersten at [email protected].