DTC Stories

Defending the Cause: The Harvest in our Community

“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” John 4:35 (ESV)

Before you can reap, you must sow.

Fathers in the Field equips churches to plant the first seeds through a signing ceremony where the Mentor Father, Field Buddy, single mother and Church make a covenant commitment that outlines the coming year. A time spent committing to each other that they will attend church, serve widows, have fun in God’s classroom (the outdoors) and spend time in God’s Word. At this time a Mentor Father looks his Field Buddy in the eye and promises a trip at the end of the year, a Rite of Passage Celebration Event.

Photo of Signing
Left to Right: Pastor Chris Brown, Field Buddy Caiden, Mentor Father & Lead Church Champion Chris Benson, Cayden’s grandma, Church Champion Brian Baker.

On this trip a Mentor Father presents a photo album of their year together and speaks a blessing over his Field Buddy. This blessing is done in front of not only the Field Buddy’s peers but the Mentor Father’s peers. This fatherless boys will be reminded of all that God has done in his life over the past year and have the blessing of a trusted advisor and mentor spoken over him in front of other men.

Year End Trip
Field Buddy Caiden and Mentor Father Chris Benson

These amazing trips happen all year across our country. As a Mentor Father myself I have often wondered what it is that the Field Buddy would say if given the chance to speak a blessing over his Mentor Father. If he could describe the harvest that has been going on in his own life over these intentional years, what would he say? Recently I got my answer.

Mentor Father Chris Benson has invested in his Field Buddy Caiden for 3 years. At their Year 3 Rite of Passage Celebration Event Caiden turned the tables and spoke a blessing over Chris in front of the Mentor Fathers and Field Buddies present on the trip with them.

Caiden’s blessing is below. As you read it, try to put yourself in Caiden’s place. A fatherless boy whose dad is gone yet has been experiencing the blessings of his Heavenly Father through a Christian man – a local missionary to the fields of the fatherless. This man, Chris, has freely given of his time and talent for no reason other than he sees the value and worth that God declares you to have.

Chris, my best friend, my fishing partner, AND most important my mentor father.

In the last 2½ years you have taught me

  1. To be a godly teen
  2. To be_respectful of others
  3. To fly fish, the gear needed for fly fishing, and the safety while fly fishing
  4. A lot about responsibility and ethics
  5. How to serve the community and do Gods work
  6. How to work on the ’41
  7. How to be held accountable for my actions
  8. How to be respectable to women
  9. AND the most important thing you have taught me is how to break off a key in the ignition of a car

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU HAVE INVESTED IN ME!!

Photo of Field Buddy Caiden and Mentor Father Chris Benson

While we have hundreds of boys across the country experiencing the blessings of a Mentor Father, there remain 12+ million more that aren’t. While we need to constantly keep the words of Jesus in our hearts, “lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” we must also be faithful and act. Seeing the harvest does no good if no one goes out to harvest. Imagine if the disciples had said to Jesus, “we see the harvest is ready but we’re too busy.” Thank God they responded by obeying the commands of Christ.

What about you, how will you respond?

The time to act is now, the Harvest is Ready.

Standing in the Gap,

John Smithbaker
Founding Servant
P: 1-844-472-4241
E: info@fathersinthefield.com