As we move through October and begin looking toward the season of Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on a simple but powerful question: What are we thankful for, and what are we doing with the blessings God has entrusted to us?
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Notice that Paul does not tell us to give thanks for every circumstance, but in every circumstance. That distinction matters.
This has been a year of extraordinary opportunities, meaningful relationships, significant changes, and, yes, challenges. Through it all, I have been reminded that United Methodist Men's strength has never been found primarily in our structures, programs, or meetings. Our strength is found in the lives transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ and in the brotherhood that encourages us to live out our faith.
I am thankful for the men who continue to answer God’s call.
Across the United States and throughout our global connection, I have seen men doing far more than attending meetings. They feed hungry families, mentor young people, support their churches, walk alongside brothers who are struggling, and find new ways to introduce others to Jesus Christ.
In my travels this year, I have been deeply moved by the passion and commitment of men in different cultures and communities. Although our languages, traditions, and experiences may differ, our calling remains the same: to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and invite others into that journey.
We are more than a collection of local men’s groups. We are part of a global brotherhood, connected by faith and committed to service.
I am thankful for those who invest in young people through Scouting.
I am also grateful for the dedicated volunteers, congregations, and leaders who help young people grow through Scouting and other youth ministries. At their best, these ministries teach service, responsibility, leadership, and care for neighbors. They bring generations together and offer young people mentors who listen, encourage, and model lives of faith and integrity.
When we support young people and those who guide them, we do more than sustain a program. We are investing in lives, families, and communities—and helping the next generation discover that they belong.
I am thankful for those who are willing to embrace change.
The Church is changing, and men’s ministry must be willing to change with it.
For generations, United Methodist Men has provided fellowship, spiritual growth, and opportunities for service. Those commitments remain essential. Yet we must recognize that the next generation of men may not experience community in the same ways previous generations have.
Young men today are searching for belonging, purpose, authenticity, and relationships where they can be known and valued. Many are carrying burdens they rarely speak about. They need more than another meeting on the calendar. They need Christian communities where questions are welcomed, vulnerability is not mistaken for weakness, and faith becomes a lived experience.
Our challenge is not simply to invite younger men into what we have always done. It is to create opportunities for them to help shape what comes next.
That is why I believe God is calling us to move from club to community, from maintaining organizations to building relationships, and from measuring participation to celebrating transformed lives.
I am thankful for those who have faithfully served before us.
We stand on the shoulders of men who prayed, organized, sacrificed, taught, mentored, and served. Their commitment laid the foundation upon which we build today.
We honor their legacy not merely by preserving the forms of ministry they created, but by carrying forward the mission that inspired them.
Faithfulness to our past does not require fear of the future. Rather, it gives us the courage to follow God’s leading into new possibilities.
I am thankful that God is not finished with us.
Leadership and ministry have moments when the road ahead is not entirely clear. We face difficult decisions, shifting relationships, and questions without easy answers.
Yet thanksgiving does not depend on everything going according to plan. Gratitude reminds us that God is present in the uncertainty, at work in the challenges, and preparing possibilities we cannot yet see.
As General Secretary, I am increasingly convinced that the future of United Methodist Men will be shaped not simply by the programs we develop, but by the relationships we nurture, the disciples we equip, and the communities we empower.
Our mission is larger than any one organization, generation, or tradition. It is the mission of helping men and young people discover and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and live that faith through service to others.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I invite every United Methodist man to consider three simple questions:
- Who has helped shape my journey of faith, and have I thanked them?
- Who is looking for belonging and encouragement that I could reach out to today?
- How might God be calling me to use my blessings to make a difference in someone else’s life?
Imagine what could happen if every United Methodist man intentionally reached out to one person who felt disconnected, discouraged, or forgotten.
That simple act of Christian love could begin a transformed life.
An invitation for Giving Tuesday
On Tuesday, December 1, we will observe Giving Tuesday, a day when people worldwide turn gratitude into generosity. I invite you to consider a gift to the General Commission on United Methodist Men in support of discipleship, Scouting and youth ministry, and the development of leaders and faith communities. Every gift, whatever its size, is an opportunity to participate in what God is doing through this ministry.
Giving is not the only expression of generosity. A word of encouragement, time spent mentoring a young person, an invitation to a man who feels alone, or a willingness to serve can also become an offering of thanksgiving.
My prayer for this season is that our gratitude will move beyond words into action. May we give thanks for what God has done, remain faithful in what God is doing, and move courageously toward what God is calling us to become.
Let us continue to Love Boldly, Serve Joyfully, and Lead Courageously.
And above all, let us remember that the greatest expression of thanksgiving is a life offered in service to God and neighbor.
Rev. Dr. Rick Vance
General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer
General Commission on United Methodist Men
About the General Commission for United Methodist Men
The General Commission on United Methodist Men is a program ministry of The United Methodist Church, serving men’s ministry and scouting ministries around the world. Learn more.