THE PROBLEM?

Compelling the Christian to Act…

http://youtu.be/v4X4OfU2eds

Part 2 - The SolutionHow Can and Should the Church

Help?God intended “three estates” for

community:

1. Family2. State3. Church

Defining what Really Counts

Break the Cycle: Break down Barriers

Need an “image” for “father” Allow Identity from Father

Fill the gap Do NOT become “surrogate” father

Provide a model for the Next Generation Educational Assistance Job Training/Placement Counseling

Equipping the Community

For Fathers, With Fathers

Learn from the example set by Apostle St. Paul with Timothy…

A model of fatherhood through the Gospel

Mentors for the Fatherless

FITF – Fathers in the Field

TMP – The Mentoring Project

Mentors for Fathers

God as a Model Father

The Healing Plan

1 Timothy 5:3-8Levels of Responsibility:1. Nuclear Family2. Extended Family3. Faith Community

Teach, Counsel, Encourage

1 Timothy 5:4, 7

Process and Progress

Help those dealing with Fatherlessness to:I. Admit the PainII. ForgivenessIII. Acceptance and ValidationIV. A Place of Support

The Impact of Mentoring

Can change a life

Iterative Process

Widows = Single MothersOrphans = Fatherless Children

Forgiveness & Hope

How are we to Respond?

The opportunities exist. They are close at hand.

With the help of God, the church can respond by…

Rebuilding Trust. Restoring Hope.

Proclaiming Mercy.

Conclusion

References / Bibliograhy Baucham, Voddie, Jr. What About the Fatherless Families. June 6, 2012.

http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/reaching-out/what-about-the-fatherless-families (accessed November 4, 2014).

Blankenhorn, David. Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem. New York, NY: HarperPerennial, 1995.

Gallagher, Maggie. "Father Hunger." In Lost Fathers, by ed. Cynthia R. Daniels, 165. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 1998.

Hamer, Jennifer F. "The Fathers of “Fatherless” Black Children." Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services 78.6, 1997: 564-578.

MacCallum, Fiona, and Susan Golombok. "Children raised in fatherless families from infancy: a follow-up of children of lesbian and single heterosexual mothers at early adolescence." Journal of child psychology and psychiatry 45.8, 2004: 1407-1419.

Strong, Mark E. Church for the Fatherless: A Ministry Model for Society's Most Pressing Problem. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2012.

Tripp-Reimer, T., and S.E. Wilson. "Fatherhood and families in cultural context." In Cross-cultural perspectives on fatherhood, by F. Bozzett and S. Hanson, 1-27. New York, NY: Springer, 1990.

Tyson, Helen Glenn. "The Fatherless Family." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 77, 1918: 79-90.

Prayer for the FatherlessFather, today I ask that you would pull back the layers of pain caused by the careless hands of earthly fathers. Pour oil into the wounded and broken places in the hearts of the little boys and girls – both young and old. Fill their being with the warmth of your love. Obliterate the darkness and scattered dreams of days, months and years of unfulfilled expectations. Allow them to find a home in your fatherly embrace. When they feel alone, let them know and experience your presence. Father, speak loudly into their hearts: Your are my child and I love you. Assure them of your plan for their lives, your plan to give them a hope and future. Let them know that they have a good Father – You.

Amen!