June 10 - 17, 2007

 SOLI/Update

    www.stewardshipoflife.org

 Do Something Really Good for Dad
What are you planning to give Dad for Father's Day? Another tie? Cologne? Something from Home Depot is always nice. Or maybe the tackle shop or golf outlet.

But this year, give the dads in your life a gift they can really use: Take them to church.

Statistics confirm the sad truth that in most congregations the women outnumber the men. In many cases it's by a wide margin. If you look around at your own church, you'll probably spot a number of Moms who are always there with their children, but their husbands never come.

It's sad because studies show that when a father and mother are both active, interested and committed to church life, the children are much more likely to grow up to be lifelong church-goers than if just the moms come.

It's also sad because when you look at the condition of men, you know they need the moral guidance and spiritual development that church can give them. Consider: Statistics show that men are much more likely to have drug or alcohol problems than women. Men are responsible for the overwhelming majority of the world's crime and violence (which is why male prisoners outnumber women inmates 10 to 1). And finally, the suicide rate for men is three times what is for women.

What's the bottom line? Men need church. And good stewardship of the family and society tells us that the world would be better off if more men joined their wives and children in church.

For the long term, every local church can examine their worship and congregational life to find out why more men aren't coming, and to make sure they maximize every opportunity to cultivate male disciples.

But for the short term, start by inviting Dad to church this Sunday. Or if the Dad in your house is one of those men already committed to church, then tell him on Father's Day how much you honor and respect his faith. Then take him to lunch.