As Fatherlessness Spreads, American Family Association Launches OneMillionDads.com
TUPELO, Miss.—In the U.S., 43% of children live without their father; 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes; 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes; 71% of pregnant teens are without a father, 71% of high school drop-outs come from fatherless homes, and 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes.
The ‘Dad void’ in America has reached epidemic proportions. And One Million Dads (OMD, www.OneMillionDads.com), a division of American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) is committed to doing something about it.
AFA has launched the web site www.OneMillionDads.com as an online presence for Christian man and fathers to come together. OMD provides men with tools, resources and support to be a better dad, better grandfather, better uncle or simply better man.
The OMD initiative is being spearheaded by AFA’s Jim Shempert, OMD’s project leader, who says he feels burdened for all of God’s people, especially men, as he sees the increasing statistics based on fatherless homes.
“Suicide, homelessness, alcoholism, drug abuse and incarceration are all higher when Dad is not in the home,” he says. “And if Dad can’t be in the home because of divorce, then at least he can be involved in his children’s lives in a positive way.”
With the tag line “Lead or others will,” www.OneMillionDads.com will encourage, motivate and teach men so they will be equipped with the leadership skills to serve their family, church and country. Men can also stay informed through OMD’s Facebook page and on Twitter.
“A lot of people would say, ‘Shouldn’t you be ministering to people outside the walls of the church?’” Shempert continues. “Until the men of the Church stand up and become the leaders that God called them to be, then communication with the world will always be difficult. OMD’s message is that Christ loves you enough to die for you. He has plans for your life. He wants you to return to Him, so that He can make you the person He always meant you to be. As a group, OMD will go forward and learn as men of the cross together.”
