Dying to Love: Equipping Young Men to Become Counter-Cultural Husbands

Abstract

This thesis is a qualitative study examining how cultural perspectives on the role of men as husbands influence the attitudes of 18-26 year old men at Newlife Church in Kitsap County. Newlife Church is identified as one of the fastest growing churches in the United States despite being located in one of this country’s least religious metropolitan areas. This study explores the attitudes, beliefs, and expectations that young men of Newlife Church have about the role of men as husbands. The study is driven by five research questions: 1) How does Scripture define the role of a man as a husband? 2) How do young men of Newlife Church describe the role of a man as a husband? 3) How do young men of Newlife Church describe a successful marriage? 4) How are young men being prepared for their role as husbands? 5) How can Newlife Church better equip young men to be counter-cultural husbands? Data was gathered through three focus group discussions. Each focus group was composed of 18-26 year old single men who regularly attend or have previously attended a Newlife Church gathering. A total of eighteen young men participated in the study. Collected data was analyzed to identify common words, big ideas, and emerging themes. As a result of the research, four implications emerged: 1) Young men of Newlife Church are relentlessly exposed to cultural examples and media messaging that are relationally dangerous and counter to God’s plan for a husband in marriage. 2) An effective and sustainable small group ministry can serve as a key starting point for training young men to become countercultural husbands. 3) Newlife Church lacks a strategy to develop and sustain any type of ministry that trains young men to be biblical husbands. 4) Young men at Newlife Church will be able to stand strong for Christ only when they know better what they already know. Information learned during the research will be used to develop an infrastructure for small group ministry that will biblically challenge cultural perspectives, train young men to lead successful marriages, and equip them to take the mission of Jesus to Kitsap County.