Fatherhood

Fatherhood is often undervalued in today's society. However, society operates best when Dad and Mum and their biological children live in a family.

That's how God intended it to be when he made Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and multiply!

Whilst this is the ideal, we recognise that this is not always the situation you may find yourself in.

However. . . wherever you're at, whatever situation you find yourself in, fathers are important!

Here are a few resources to help you explore the importance of fathers. . .

First a great video - with a boy saying 'I'm watching you, Dad'.
Our children watch what we DO and how we ACT and what we SAY!
The boy says "The way you live your life is having a big impact on me".
The video is made by Floodgate Productions - Watch the video on You Tube or on Floodgate Productions.
It can be purchased alone for use in church services etc or as part of a DVD package.

The Origin of Fatherhood
An excellent article by Andrew Lansdown (Life Ministries, WA) on fatherhood.
Andrew speaks of God as Father and the model He provides.
Read the article: The Origin of Fatherhood

The First Duty of Fatherhood
Another article by Andrew Lansdown.
Andrew writes "A family begins, or ought to begin, with a man and a woman who are morally and legally united as husband and wife."
He says "The first duty of a father is to love and cherish the mother of his children. If he wants the best for his children, then he must seek the best for his wife, because their welfare is inextricably linked with hers."
Read the article:  The First Duty of Fatherhood 

Fatherhood Foundation
This Australian website and group, run by Warwick Marsh, highlights the importance of fatherhood and supplies practical inspiration.
Weekly inspiring emails are sent by request.
The Website has articles, information and more to help fathers (and all parents!)
Their One Hundred Ways To Praise A Child Poster poster is encouraging.
Click here for the Fatherhood Foundation website.

Good Dads - Faith Makes a Difference
The latest research from the USA shows that faith makes a positive difference in fathering. Click here to read the article.

Statistics Show Fathers are Needed
In an article titled Stay Wedded for All Our Sakes, Andrew McIntryre spoke of the importance of fathers. The article was printed in The Australian, 6 June, 2001.
Andrew McIntyre is the public relations manager at the Institute of Public Affairs in Melbourne.

"The, damage and cost to us all of single parent, most often fatherless, households should be intolerable. In the US, official departmental figures show that 90 per cent of homeless and runaway children, 80 per cent of rapists, 75 per cent of adolescent patients in drug abuse centres and 85 per cent of youths sitting in prisons, grew up in fatherless homes."

Father's Day

In the USA (and many countries around the world), Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

In Australia we celebrate Father's Day on the first Sunday in September.
[History of Father's Day - click here]
Of course we need to value fathers all year round!
The following article, by Rebecca Hagelin, the Vice-President of The Heritage Foundation, was published for Fathers' Day 2009.

Honoring Fatherhood
By Rebecca Hagelin, June 9, 2009.
In her article she says encourages us to honour our fathers. She says:
"Yet, "dad" seems to be the only person in modern society who it is acceptable to belittle. To what extent does such treatment pervert our son's developing attitudes about the men they are expected to become? And why would we teach our daughters that there's no real hope or need to marry a strong, reliable man of character? ..."