The Curse of Fatherlessness
• “Mentoring boys into being responsible young men is
the proven method to build strong fathers and healthy
families.”
• Leading up to Hitler’s takeover of the “Fatherland,”
Germany had 19% fatherlessness. Today in America
we are at 30%. It would be disastrous for us not to
act.”
The Curse of Fatherlessness
“We are engaged in rescuing men, and that includes
young men. New construction is always better than
reconstruction. We have men ministering to men in
cell blocks, but we’d rather avoid that by ministering to
youngsters on blacktops.”
Bishop Harry Jackson
“The idea that God created (young people) with a
unique purpose really challenges them. The next
generation wants to be God’s answer to problems of
the world. They just don’t have a clear understanding
of how that comes together.”
Hebrews 13:5-6
“…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way
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
helpless, nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold
on you)! Assuredly not!” (Amplified)
God is Our Father
• WORDS HAVE GREAT CREATIVE POWER
• GOD CREATED ALL THAT EXISTS BY HIS WORDS
• EXCEPT FOR MAN – WHOM HE CREATED WITH HIS
HANDS…
• CREATED FOR RELATIONSHIP
• FOR INTIMACY
• AND THEN, HE SAID – CALL ME ABBA – FATHER
Our Father
• WHY WOULD HE USE THAT PICTURE?
• “FATHER” – IMAGES THAT ARE NOT POSITIVE
• WHY MANY FEEL MIXED UP IN LIFE?
• “FATHER” TODAY CREATES SOME CONFUSION
• FOR MOST MEN – “FATHER” IS A MYSTERIOUSLY
IMPOSSIBLE JOB
The Core of a Man is Formed in the
Breath of His Father
• God and Adam – “He breathed life…”
• Jesus and Disciples – Breathed on them, “Receive ye
the Holy Spirit.”
• Apostle Paul – “The Bible is God-breathed…”
Called to Lead
• Adam – Called too lead his family.
• TO GUIDE, GUARD AND GOVERN
• TO DIRECT, PROTECT AND CORRECT
• AND, THAT IS THE CHARGE TO FATHERS STILL TODAY
Winston Churchill
“Now, maybe I've done
something my father would
have been proud of.” Still
looking at age 50 for the
affirmation that had never
been his from his father!”
Pastors and Discipleship
• The basic ministry of a pastor is to disciple men.
• Man, disciples his family
• “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is
in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard
from me among many witnesses, commit these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
- (2 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJV)
Benefits
• STRONG MEN make STRONG FAMILIES
• STRONG FAMILIES make STRONG CHURCHES
• STRONG CHURCHES WILL TRANSFORM CULTURE!
Honor the Past
Be Disciplined in the
Present
Envision the Future
Empowering the Next Generation
Models
• Moses & Joshua
• Jesus and the 12
• Paul & 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
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•
•
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Courage
Maximized Manhood
Sexual Integrity
Power of Potential
Middle School – Adventure Rangers
High School – Expedition Rangers
Resourcing the Vision
Resourcing the Vision
What you believe about God has the greatest
potential for good or harm in your life.
– Edwin Louis Cole