Well, it’s June and that means Father’s day is upon us. This event has special meaning to me this year as a soon to be father. I find myself filled with excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and a number of other emotions. Most of all, I am eager to fulfill the call that I believe God has issued to the men of today. However, you do not have to be a birth father to answer this call.

This call is to be fathers to a generation of children who are fatherless. One of the worst epidemics in the U.S. is the number of children raised in fatherless homes. Check out some of the statistics below based on a survey in the late 1990’s:

 2 out of every 5 children in America do not live with their fathers.

 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.

 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.

 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.

 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.

Although those statistics are shocking, I have good news. GOD HAS PROVIDED AN ANSWER. That answer is YOU! The Bible tell us in James 1:27, "Pure religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." The widows and orphans of the 21st century are the single mothers and fatherless children. It is the responsibility of the church, predominantly the men of the church, to stand in the gap for this generation. We need to love them, help them, spend time with them, and teach them. They need to know the importance of serving God, reading God’s Word, spending time in prayer, and helping others.

The last statement in the Old Testament is in Malachi 4:5-6, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of children to their fathers." I believe we are in that day. God is calling TRUE fathers to rise up and turn their hearts to the generation behind them. I encourage all men to answer this call and begin to lead this fatherless generation by example. Happy Father’s Day to all of our men and God Bless You!!!

—-Jay Arnold