Fathers Matter . . . How Do We Translate This to Children's Ministry?

If our family ministries are going to be genuinely effective, we have to engage, educate, and equip dads. I watched a short clip on YouTube about how fathers matter to a child's education. Take a moment to watch it and then consider the questions below . . . 

So, if . . . 

• A father is a top influencer in a child's education, isn't it reasonable to conclude a father is a top influencer in a child's spiritual growth???
• A father's one point increase in his involvement in parenting resulted in a four point increase in a child's academic test scores, isn't it reasonable to conclude if a father even slightly increases his involvement in discipling his child it would increase the child's spiritual growth???
• Since fathers are the second most influential person in inspiring a child to read, isn't it reasonable to conclude a father is highly important in inspiring their child to read the Bible???
• When fathers read, their children will want to read, so isn't it reasonable to conclude if a father spends time reading his Bible, his children will want to read their Bibles???
• Since the frequency a father reads books to their 1 to 2 year olds is linked with their greater interest in books later in life, isn't it reasonable to conclude if a father spends time reading the Bible to his very young children, they will have a greater interest in the Bible later in life???
• We know how fathers spend their time with kids today directly impacts how they will behave in the future, so isn't it reasonable to conclude if fathers spend time with their kids today, they will have a greater interest in God in the future???

So . . . how do we get dads to engage and take spiritual leadership of their children today? Consider the following . . . 

• Realize while we certainly have a role in the discipling of children, we can not have the impact on children their own dads can have.
• Share this information with the dads - if most of them knew these things, most of them would take their role as dad more seriously.
• Provide opportunities for dads to be equipped - give them the tools they need and the confidence to use them.
• Pray, pray and pray some more . . . pray for and with dads.

How will you engage, equip, and encourage dads to pass on a heritage of faith to their children, since we know it matters what they do?