Karen Thomas was working on her will, trying to finalize all of the details. Yet in the process she struggled to find peace. She and her husband Chelcie wanted to leave their three children a portion of their estate that part was settled, but something from their plans seemed to be missing. What was missing was a way that they could honor God with the rest of their wealth and how to be good stewards of God’s possessions. That way became clear in April of 2014 at the NRA Prayer Breakfast when she heard John Smithbaker share about Fathers in the Field.
John is the founding servant of Fathers in the Field, an equipping ministry that helps churches reach out to fatherless boys in their community through godly Christian men as Mentor Fathers. Currently in America, 50% of children are being raised in homes without their fathers, and the number is increasing daily. These boys carry abandonment wounds that make them question their personal worth and value. They go through life questioning why their father has abandon them, wondering what they did wrong. At the same time, society tells these boys that they don’t need a father; that they are better off without him. Society is wrong. Boys need a father in their lives, to champion them, to lead them into manhood.
Fathers in the Field helps churches to equip men to step into the lives of fatherless boys and lead them into being the men God created them to be.
Hearing this message of the needs of fatherless boys from a man who was himself fatherless touched Karen’s heart. After John’s speech Karen stopped him and asked to know more about the ministry. The more she heard about the abandonment wound suffered by fatherless boys and the life changing work of the ministry, the more she felt the desire to help. Karen knew that these boys needed people to champion their cause, to help provide godly men as Mentor Fathers and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was her chance to use the financial gifts God had given her to step up and help the fatherless. Not just in the short term, which she is currently doing, but well past her time on earth. “God entrusted us with His money to advance His kingdom and Fathers in the Field will absolutely advance His Kingdom and leave a Legacy the glorifies God.”
After determining exactly how much of their estate was being donated to Fathers in the Field the rest of the process was simple. Karen and Chelcie were able to insure that a portion of their earthly blessings from God would be used after their death to further reach fatherless boys with the Gospel. Karen’s belief is that this donation will help ensure “that every fatherless boy will have a father come alongside him and demonstrate Christ’s love in the Gospel.”
The message that touched Karen and Chelcie’s hearts is included here, that you might hear it for yourself and understand better why it moved them to give.
Have you considered your Legacy? Please consider including Fathers in the Field in your will as an endowment gift, however small. This life changing ministry exists to bring healing to the lives of fatherless boys across the country, but because of limited resources, we are just skimming the surface of the problem. Your generous donations will be used to help raise missionaries who will help churches begin this life changing ministry. We are now living in the Mission Field and we need your help to reach more communities.
Is God calling you to help support Fathers in the Field to reach more fatherless boys with the life changing Gospel, through Godly Christian men as Mentor Fathers? Please consider today how you can matter greatly in the lives of fatherless boys across America.
