“When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36-38 ESV)
For decades, American churches have diligently sent missionaries to foreign countries but the painful reality is that we are currently living in the mission’s field. Fathers in the Field is a domestic mission, non-parachurch ministry that is actively equipping churches to respond to the call of our Lord Jesus, helping them to raise men to mentor fatherless boys. And, we prayerfully need more.
The ministry begins with our missionaries, men who are answering the call of God to “Defend the cause of the fatherless…” (Isaiah 1:17). Their mission is twofold: to help churches effectively reach fatherless boys with the Gospel through Mentor Fathers and to raise financial support to insure this life-changing work continues. Jesus’ words are just as true today as they were nearly two thousand years ago, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” There are currently five full-time missionaries serving the entire nation with Fathers in the Field. We pray more men are willing to answer the call!
The work of our regional missionaries has resulted in hundreds of churches across the country starting this ministry and raising up their men to matter significantly in the lives of many fatherless boys.
Single mother Courtney Stewart knows firsthand the affect it has had on her son when she says “Fathers in the Field has given Christopher a consistent man that he can depend on and who is leading him to a relationship with God through Christ.” With more missionaries we could reach more fatherless boys through more churches with the Gospel.
Our domestic mission’s field has over 25 million children who have been abandoned by their fathers. Many of these children never even had the opportunity to make this plea as their first memories don’t include a father; they are the fatherless children living in your community, on your baseball team, walking by your house.
Statistically, children from fatherless homes account for:
- 63% of youth suicides
- 90% of runaway or homeless kids
- 85% of youth sitting in prisons
- 71% of high school dropouts
- 75% of teens in drug treatment
God ordained the family structure to be the only fortress we have in this fallen world and that is why Satan has so cruelly attacked our families and distorted the roles God gave fathers as the Pastor, Provider and Protector of God’s children. Once the father is gone, abandoned boys are left to follow the path of darkness and carry the many deep and soulful wounds around for a life-time, unless godly men stand-up and step-into a boy’s life and mentor him in the knowledge of their Heavenly Father’s love for them.
Without more missionaries in the field, how will these boys hear about the good news of the Gospel?
We need your help! Is God calling you to serve with Fathers in the Field as a domestic missionary? Do you know a man who would respond in faith to the call?
