This post is part of a series on fatherless boys.
Conservative estimates put the number of fatherless boys in America at twenty percent. Therefore, it is critical that the church reach out to this much neglected demographic.
In my previous post I discussed the importance of focusing on fatherless boys in your men’s ministry. But don’t stop there. Be sure to emphasize them in your Christian education and pulpit ministries as well. Here are some suggestions.
Preach and Teach on the Importance of Ministering to Fatherless Boys
Pastors, you have a wonderful mechanism for steering your church. It’s called a pulpit. Use it to call attention to the need to minister to the fatherless. As such, there are a number of things you need to accomplish. John Sowers does a good job of listing them in Fatherless Generation.
“Preaching on father absenteeism should achieve the following goals: Educate the church on the problem of father absenteeism. Make the church aware of the effects of father absenteeism on children. Empower single mothers as individuals and parents. Stress the importance of marriage as it relates to father absenteeism. Address the father’s responsibility to his children. Make the community aware of its responsibility to the fatherless. Present God as the supreme Father for every person and child.” (Fatherless Generation: Redeeming the Story, John A. Sowers, p. 84)
Even when not preaching specifically on the fatherless, frequent mention of them in other context will keep your congregation sensitized to their needs.
Preach and Teach on God as Father
The fatherhood of God is not a minor biblical topic. We see it taught throughout the word of God, especially in the New Testament.
Take, for example, the beginning of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-15, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.”
This passage teaches us that fatherhood is modeled after God and that when fathers abandon their children, that is a direct attack on God the Father himself.
Passages like this should form the basis of an entire series of God as Father, and should not be relegated to just one sermon.
Preach and Teach on a Christian View of Dating, Marriage, Sex, and Procreation
The fatherless crisis in America has resulted from a rebellion against biblical teaching on marriage and family. In this pagan age, I suggest churches have, not only a doctrinal statement for the promotion of orthodoxy — right belief, but also a basic lifestyle statement on sex, marriage, and family for the promotion of orthopraxy — right living.
Make sure your entire church knows where the Bible stands on the topics of dating, marriage, sex, and procreation and the responsibilities that these entail. In this day of massive sexual promiscuity, we must be crystal clear on what God’s will is in these areas.
Educate Your Children’s and Youth Workers on the Needs of Fatherless Boys
Do not take it for granted that your children and youth ministers and volunteers know how to minister to fatherless children, especially fatherless boys. I suggest your require reading and special workshops for these workers.
In those workshops, you can discuss specific fatherless children in your church and how best to minister to them.
Showcase Married Couples and Single Men as Teachers in Your Children’s Christian Education Classes
Proper male role models for fatherless boys, both husbands and single men, should figure prominently in your CE ministry, and especially in your youth ministry. Fifth and Sixth grade Sunday school classes in particular should have male as well as female leaders in them.
Having Christian male role models is important for all boys, but especially for fatherless boys. Note that gangs start recruiting new gang members in middle school. The church should be mentoring boys well before then.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
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