More Information on Fathers in the Field
Encouraging Single Moms
Encouraging young boys in their growth in love and God!
Here is some EXTRA but important information on the Fathers in the Field Program!
Who locally is involved?
Our Savior Church in McCall, Idaho has chosen to support Fathers in the Field with time, effort and finances because we believe it is a vital to build relationships, partner and support the families in our community that have absent dads.
Four men in our church faith community - Bill, John B., Robb, and David have currently been trained and approved to be Mentor Fathers. What "qualifies" them to be a Mentor Dad?
Each of them filled out a 7 page questionnaire to apply
There is a required recommendation from a local community leader for him to be approved
Each individual must then be well known and approved by the Pastor of Our Savior Church
Each application is forwarded to the national office of Fathers in the Field.
Each Mentor Dd has a background check ran on the person by a law enforcement agency (only If their background check is clean, will the individual be approved by FitF to serve as a mentor father.
Each Mentor Father is Trained! Training involves a handbook for each mentor father and on line resources that he can access. Most applicants for the ministry enjoy outdoor activities and want to share their love of the outdoors with a boy growing up without a father.
When do you meet with the Mentor Fathers? What happens at the meetings?
If a single mom is interested in the program for her son, there is an initial meeting with just the mom, Our Savior's Pastor, the Mentor Father, and (what is called) the Church Champion for FitF.
The meeting lasts an hour or so. The purpose of that initial meeting is to explain the program and benefits of partnership with the single mom. Every single mom’s questions will be answered; then if she wants her son to take part in the program, a second meeting is scheduled.
The son attends the second meeting with his mom and all of the participants sign a commitment form for the coming months. The mom commits to make the son available 4 times per month for activities with the mentor father. These include an outdoor activity, a compassionate service project to help an elderly person, and attendance at a worship experience in a local church with the mentor father.
The son commits to be ready for the activities and to discharge his responsibilities each month.
The mentor father commits to be on time for each scheduled activity, and to mentor the boy to the best of his ability, with God’s help.
The Pastor and the FitF Church Champion commit the church and Fathers in the Field to support the mentor father and his “field buddy”, spiritually, physically and financially for the next year.
Mentor father and field buddy receive Fathers in the Field hats and agree on a schedule of activities for the first month.
Why should I join this program? What are the benefits?
Every boy who has been deserted by his father suffers from an “abandonment wound”! If this deep hurt, anger, bitterness, and feelings of worthlessness are not addressed, the boy is at risk as he grows up. 70% of juveniles in reform institutions are fatherless, and 67% of state prison inmates come from fatherless homes. Children from fatherless homes are 30% more likely to abuse drugs and/or alcohol, twice as likely to drop out of school, and dramatically more at risk to commit suicide! But when a boy hears from a caring mentor father that he has a Father in Heaven who loves him and offers forgiveness through His Son Jesus, the boy is empowered to forgive his earthly father and break free from the torment of abandonment. Learning new outdoor skills from his mentor father, and providing compassionate help to the elderly, also tend to elevate the boy’s sense of self worth and competency. The benefits are life changing for a fatherless boy!
Must I be a member of the church/Lutheran/Christian to participate in the ministry?
Absolutely Not!
What will it cost me to join?
Nothing - the cost of the program is being picked up by the sponsoring church. There is no cost to the single mom.
Why should I do this? What are the benefits?
This is the best thing a single mom can do to help her son. Fathers in the Field was started by a man in his fifties who grew up as a fatherless boy. He knew the suffering, bitterness and anger caused by an abandonment wound first hand; that is why he launched FitF, to help boys growing up without a dad. The statistics are scary for boys growing up without a father in the home. But the bad effects can be reduced or eliminated by a caring mentor father, and the love of our Heavenly Father. Once a boy can honestly forgive his earthly father for abandoning him, the raw abandonment wound begins to heal and his entire outlook changes for the better.
Link/address to national Fathers in the Field website or other organizations.
The national website for Fathers in the Field is at fathersinthefield.com.
"Ok I want my boy and me to be involved...I have some questions or would like more information - what do I do?"
"Who is the point of contact and how do I contact you?"
Our Savior Lutheran Church in McCall at (208) 634-5905 or Church Champion for FitF, Bill Williams.