The Curse of Fatherlessness

• ““Mentoring boys into being responsible young men is Mentoring boys into being responsible young men is the proven method to build strong fathers and healthy the proven method to build strong fathers and healthy families.”families.”

• Leading up to Hitler’s takeover of the “Fatherland,” Leading up to Hitler’s takeover of the “Fatherland,” Germany had 19% fatherlessness. Today in America Germany had 19% fatherlessness. Today in America we are at 30%. It would be disastrous for us not to we are at 30%. It would be disastrous for us not to act.”act.”

The Curse of Fatherlessness

““We are engaged in rescuing men, and that includes We are engaged in rescuing men, and that includes young men. New construction is always better than young men. New construction is always better than reconstruction. We have men ministering to men in reconstruction. We have men ministering to men in

cell blocks, but we’d rather avoid that by ministering to cell blocks, but we’d rather avoid that by ministering to youngsters on blacktops.”youngsters on blacktops.”

Bishop Harry Jackson

““The idea that God created (young people) with a The idea that God created (young people) with a unique purpose really challenges them. The next unique purpose really challenges them. The next

generation wants to be God’s answer to problems of generation wants to be God’s answer to problems of the world. They just don’t have a clear understanding the world. They just don’t have a clear understanding

of how that comes together.”of how that comes together.”

Hebrews 13:5-6

“…“…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support.

I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold helpless, nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold

on you)! Assuredly not!” (Amplified)on you)! Assuredly not!” (Amplified)

God is Our Father• WORDS HAVE GREAT CREATIVE POWER WORDS HAVE GREAT CREATIVE POWER • GOD CREATED ALL THAT EXISTS BY HIS WORDS GOD CREATED ALL THAT EXISTS BY HIS WORDS • EXCEPT FOR MAN – WHOM HE CREATED WITH HIS EXCEPT FOR MAN – WHOM HE CREATED WITH HIS

HANDS… HANDS… • CREATED FOR RELATIONSHIPCREATED FOR RELATIONSHIP• FOR INTIMACY FOR INTIMACY • AND THEN, HE SAID – CALL ME ABBA – FATHERAND THEN, HE SAID – CALL ME ABBA – FATHER

Our Father• WHY WOULD HE USE THAT PICTURE? WHY WOULD HE USE THAT PICTURE? • ““FATHER” – IMAGES THAT ARE NOT POSITIVE FATHER” – IMAGES THAT ARE NOT POSITIVE • WHY MANY FEEL MIXED UP IN LIFE?WHY MANY FEEL MIXED UP IN LIFE?• ““FATHER” TODAY CREATES SOME CONFUSION FATHER” TODAY CREATES SOME CONFUSION • FOR MOST MEN – “FATHER” IS A MYSTERIOUSLY FOR MOST MEN – “FATHER” IS A MYSTERIOUSLY

IMPOSSIBLE JOBIMPOSSIBLE JOB

The Core of a Man is Formed in the Breath of

His Father

• God and Adam – “He breathed life…”God and Adam – “He breathed life…”• Jesus and Disciples – Breathed on them, “Receive ye Jesus and Disciples – Breathed on them, “Receive ye

the Holy Spirit.”the Holy Spirit.”• Apostle Paul – “The Bible is God-breathed…”Apostle Paul – “The Bible is God-breathed…”

Called to Lead

• Adam – Called too lead his family.Adam – Called too lead his family.

• TO GUIDE, GUARD AND GOVERN TO GUIDE, GUARD AND GOVERN

• TO DIRECT, PROTECT AND CORRECT TO DIRECT, PROTECT AND CORRECT

• AND, THAT IS THE CHARGE TO FATHERS STILL TODAY AND, THAT IS THE CHARGE TO FATHERS STILL TODAY

Winston Churchill

““Now, maybe I've done Now, maybe I've done something my father would something my father would have been proud of.” Still have been proud of.” Still looking at age 50 for the looking at age 50 for the

affirmation that had never affirmation that had never been his from his father!”been his from his father!”

Pastors and Discipleship

• The basic ministry of a pastor is to disciple men.The basic ministry of a pastor is to disciple men.

• Man, disciples his familyMan, disciples his family

• ““You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

- - (2 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJV)(2 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJV)

Benefits

• STRONG MEN make STRONG FAMILIES STRONG MEN make STRONG FAMILIES

• STRONG FAMILIES make STRONG CHURCHESSTRONG FAMILIES make STRONG CHURCHES

• STRONG CHURCHES WILL TRANSFORM CULTURE! STRONG CHURCHES WILL TRANSFORM CULTURE!

Honor the PastHonor the Past

Be Disciplined in the Be Disciplined in the PresentPresent

Envision the FutureEnvision the Future

Empowering the Next Generation

Models

• Moses & JoshuaMoses & Joshua

• Jesus and the 12Jesus and the 12

• Paul & TimothyPaul & Timothy

Young Men’s Ministries

What does it look like?

Malachi 4: 5-6 (NLT)

“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the

LORD arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the

hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land

with a curse.”

Edwin Louis Cole

• “The absentee father is the curse of the day.”

• “It is fatherlessness that is the curse of our day and it is a worldwide curse.”

Billy Sunday

The tragedy of his ministry, however, was that his children did not follow him in the faith.

Principle

New construction is always easier than reconstruction.

Commissioning Young Men

• Courage• Maximized Manhood• Sexual Integrity• Power of Potential

Middle School – Adventure RangersHigh School – Expedition Rangers

Resourcing the Vision

Resourcing the Vision

What you believe about God has the greatest What you believe about God has the greatest potential for good or harm in your life.potential for good or harm in your life.

– – Edwin Louis ColeEdwin Louis Cole