Burdened For The Fatherless

Last weekend I got a voice message from a friend of mine, Jake, who graduated from Moody with me. He lives and works in Des Moines, Iowa and is very involved in ministry there at his church and at his job. Jake definitely has the gift of encouragement. It is hard to have a conversation with him and not feel encouraged in some way. On this particular phone call he left a question for me. He told me that he recently had become involved working with fatherless youth. He then asked me how we could be praying together for the fatherless. I was really challenged by his question and the obvious intent of his heart behind his question. Although I have definitely prayed for young men and young women over the years who don't have their fathers involved in their lives, the size of his question really caused me to think.

Fatherlessness has become an epidemic in our nation. I see the effects of it in the urban context, but fatherlessness exists in suburban and rural contexts at an ever increasing rate as well. Young people that grow up without a father are more likely to be impoverished, less likely to graduate from college, and have an increased chance of incarceration. I will refrain from sharing the statistics on this, but they are definitely disheartening. What makes fatherlessness so challenging to tackle is that it is caused by both systemic injustices and personal sin. It is a complex challenge. Materialism and chasing the American dream plays a part. Economic injustices and lack of opportunity plays a part as well. The reasons or causes for fatherlessness may vary, but the effects don't change.

But back to Jake's question, "how can we be praying for the fatherless?" First and foremost, God is referred to throughout Scripture as the defender and the helper of the fatherless. It is evident that the fatherless are on God's heart. I am reminded what the founder of World Vision, Bob Pierce, once said - "Let my heart be broken with the things that break God's heart." We need to allow God to break our hearts for the fatherless. I think that is the best place to start.

Secondly, I am reminded of the prayer that Jesus challenged his disciples to pray in Matthew 9:36-38 = When he 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." We can therefore be praying that God would raise up laborers with a heart for the fatherless.

The interesting thing about the Matthew 9 passage is that right after Jesus tells them to pray for laborers, he sends them out as laborers. We need to be the laborers with hearts for the fatherless. There is an African proverb that says, "it takes a village to raise a child." The church can be that "village" for the fatherless. The church can and should be the family for fatherless children. So what does this look like? If you are married and have a family, although your primary ministry is your wife and children, you can still reach out to the fatherless. In fact it should be a natural, as an increasing number of your children's friends may be fatherless. You have a great opportunity to have them over for dinner, take them to church, and take them on family trips. Singles within the church could and should be involved as well. Although singles don't have the connection through their kids like married folks do, there are endless opportunities for singles to mentor and disciple fatherless young men and young women.

We can also be praying that fatherless young people will find their identity in Christ - that they will find their identity as a child of God. Young people need the strength, protection, affirmation, and love of their father. When they don't get that, they look to fulfill that legitimate need illegitimately through relationships/sex, gangs, drugs/alcohol, etc.

In conclusion, let's be the village for fatherless children, let's be the family of God for them, let's be the Church.

Psalm 86:5
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 82:3
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Deuteronomy 10:17-18
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.