The Fathering Crisis in America: Impact on Families and Future Generations
The Fathering Crisis in America is a pressing issue affecting millions of children today. With 33% of children growing up in fatherless homes, the implications are dire. These children face increased risks such as poverty, substance abuse, and academic failure. The crisis doesn't just impact the present; it jeopardizes the future of our society and the Church. As our communities grapple with these challenges, understanding the statistics and stories behind the Fathering Crisis is crucial for creating supportive environments for current and future generations.
The Fathering Crisis in America: Impact on Families and Future Generations
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Presentation Transcript
Rendezvous 2009 Why You’re Here…
The Fathering Crisis We have a Fathering Crisis in America • It affects you and your children TODAY
The Fathering Crisis We have a Fathering Crisis in America • It affects you and your children TODAY • It will affect your children and grandchildren TOMORROW
The Fathering Crisis We have a Fathering Crisis in America • It affects you and your children TODAY • It will affect your children and grandchildren TOMORROW • It is putting the future of the Church at risk
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts Children growing up in fatherless homes: • More likely to be born at low birth weight • Five times more likely to be poor • Twice as likely to suffer physical abuse
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts Children growing up in fatherless homes: • More likely to commit school crimes • More likely to fail and drop out of school • Less likely to graduate from high school • More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts Children growing up in fatherless homes: • Girls three times more likely to be teen moms • Boys twice as likely to commit crimes and be incarcerated • More likely to have their marriages end in divorce • More prone to depression • More likely to commit suicide
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts Children growing up in fatherless homes: • Girls three times more likely to be teen moms • Boys twice as likely to commit crimes and be incarcerated • More likely to have their marriages end in divorce • More prone to depression • More likely to commit suicide
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts Children growing up in fatherless homes: • More likely to be born at low birth weight • Five times more likely to be poor • Twice as likely to suffer physical abuse • More likely to commit school crimes, • More likely to fail and drop out of school • Less likely to graduate from high school • More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol • Girls three times more likely to be teen moms • Boys twice as likely to commit crimes and be incarcerated • More likely to have their marriages end in divorce • More prone to depression • More likely to commit suicide
The Impact on One Girl - Crystal [Crystal’s essay or video]
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts There are 25 million Crystals
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts There are 25 million Crystals 33% of all children in America
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts There are 25 million Crystals 33% of all children in America Minorities and Teenagers more likely to be unfathered
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts There are 25 million Crystals 33% of all children in America Minorities and Teenagers more likely to be unfathered Half of all children will live 2+ years in Crystal’s shoes by age 18
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts The Impact on the Economy: • Federal government spending on thirteen means-tested benefit programs and on child support enforcement for single mothers. Programs include • Earned Income Tax Credit, • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) • Child support enforcement • Food and nutrition programs • housing programs • Medicaid • State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP).
The Fathering Crisis – The Facts The Impact on the Economy$100 Billion Annually!
The Crisis in the Church Generation Next: “Sure I go to church, but if I read my Bible in the next three weeks, I will be above average.” “I don’t know what I believe…What is truth anyway?” “Why can’t Allah be God?”
The Crisis in the Church Generation Next: “I have no convictions…but everyday I’m told to be tolerant of the convictions of others.” “For me, there are no absolutes.”
The Crisis in the Church – The Research “Only a third of churched young people say that the church will play a part in their lives when they leave home” --Barna Research 85% of children from Christian homes in public school do not embrace a biblical worldview --Nehemiah Institute
The Crisis in the Church – The Research “God is still important to me. I just believe some different things from you.” • 63% don’t believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God • 58%believe all faiths teach equally valid truths • 51% don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead • 65% don’t believe Satan is a real entity • 68% don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a real entity --Barna Research
The Crisis in the Church Why??
The Crisis in the Church Fathers play a lead role in spiritual formation: “If dad does not attend church, there’s only a 2% chance that his child will as an adult.”
The Crisis in the Church Fathers play a lead role in spiritual formation: “If dad does not attend church, there’s only a 2% chance that his child will as an adult.” “If dad does attend church, the likelihood of his child attending church as an adult jumps to 66-75%” --Craven
The Crisis in the Church How are fathers doing? • 25 million children (33%) of children living away from dad • Men make up only 39% of Sunday church attendance and 30% of weeknight attendance • Even effective fathers struggle with how to spiritually equip their children
The Fathering Crisis We have a Fathering Crisis in America • It affects you and your children TODAY • It will affect your children and grandchildren TOMORROW • It is putting the future of the Church at risk