We have just celebrated Father’s day and articles abound on fatherhood today. Many of these articles are negative but one that caught my attention talked about the positive influence of faith on fatherhood and the importance that it plays in the church and home environment. The article appeared in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, June 13, 2008. It was written by a professor from the University of Virginia. One part of the article points to the overall benefits to the home, children and church of father’s who are deeply involved in their faith.
It says, “that religious fathers are more likely to devote time, attention and affection to their children than their secular peers. For example, compared with dads who indicate no religious affiliation, fathers who attend religious services regularly devote at least two more hours per week to youth-related activities, such as coaching soccer or leading a Boy Scout troop. Churchgoing fathers are also significantly more likely to keep tabs on their children, monitoring their activities and friends. Finally, religious fathers are about 65% more likely than unaffiliated fathers to report praising and hugging their school-age children ‘very often.’”
For all of you involved in ministry to young people, we know it can be hard to get men involved because of their schedules, routines, and activities. However, this article is a great way to help them understand how valuable their participation is to the children in their lives and at church. Not only does their involvement help kids but the article goes on to demonstrate the tremendous wholeness it brings to the lives of the men as well. In summary, when men are involved in ministry everyone benefits. That is a win, win, win scenario.
You can read the whole article here, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121331741679270239.html?mod=taste_primary_hs , which is based on a report from one of our partners, The Institute for American Values.
