Could your church help dads and their lads? - CFN newsletter Week 96

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 96

> Turning fathers' hearts to their sons
> News:
> Transsexual 'marriage' still illegal, say campaigners
> Faith challenge laid down for men
> Sky's the limit for Salvation Army children's comic
> Sites:
> E-churchUK - fellowship for visually impaired believers
> Clubbers Temple - reaching the clubbing generation
> Good News Family Care - values and a safety net
> Marriage MOT: Love is not ... rude
> You've got to laugh:
> Members' Zone latest

Dear All

If family breakdown is not to continue, the relationship between fathers and sons has to be one that gets much more attention than it has up to now.

And that's why it's so encouraging to report on increased funding for YMCA's Dads and Lads scheme - one of the most exciting developments in this needy area around in the UK at the moment. Take a look at our lead article, and find out how your church can get involved in helping fathers and sons in your local community.

Ever thought of becoming a 'mature' missionary - once the kids have grown up? It's the big boom area for missionary organisations, so check out our first person piece.

There's plenty more to help, encourage, entertain and inform you this update - do pass on this e-mail and let your friends know!

And don't forget - if you haven't got round to renewing your membership to CFN, do it today! If you've any questions about your membership, just call our subs department on 01903 602136 or e-mail subs@christianmedia.org.uk

Take care

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

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ANALYSIS

Turning fathers' hearts to their sons

• Dads can make a massive difference to the lives of their sons – and churches can help, reports Sam Brooks of YMCA
  

Research shows that the presence of a father figure can make a massive difference to the lives of young people, especially boys. Yet nationally it is estimated that only one per cent of all parenting education is aimed at fathers.

YMCA England’s Dads & Lads programme aims to challenge this and to help fathers, sons, mentors and boys to bond through sport and activities. The organisation has just received about £159,000 over three years from the Home Office Family Policy Unit. The money will be used to extend the Dads & Lads work.

The programme has already been very successful and about 40 grants have been given to organisations from YMCAs to schools and churches.

"Churches are beginning to see that ‘turning the hearts of the fathers back to their children’ can and perhaps should be a key part of their ministry," says Rev Andy Glover, Pastor of Hoole Baptist Church, which is based alongside the YMCA Dads & Lads programme office in the Hoole Lighthouse Centre.

One example of a step in the right direction at the Lighthouse Centre are the ‘DAD’ courses. Fathers with kids of all ages go through the specially developed YMCA ‘DAD’ materials. Monthly men’s breakfasts as well as ‘Who let the dads out?’ mornings are organised, to give mum a break and perhaps a lie-in.

The Saturday before Mother’s Day, 21 dads came with their pre-school children. Big Boys Toys’ nights will take place for men (and their kids) who are not afraid to admit that they actually do like winning a large screen Playstation game, or even a game of table tennis or pool.

Jonathan Melville-Thomas, Youth & Junior Co-ordinator at Kingston YMCA and a children’s church leader said: "One day I was leading my group of children through what our earthly and heavenly father was like. I was inundated with descriptions and requests of what they wished their dads were like or what they would like them to do. I wondered to myself how much their fathers knew of this and how it could be explored.

"I decided to set up a session where dads, lads and lasses could spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning playing games, doing sport and eating a hearty brunch together. The idea was for them to also find out from one another what they thought of issues such as bullying, competitiveness and TV and film watching.

"I chose the ages of seven to 11-years-old because often they are the ‘forgotten years’ for fathers spending time with their offspring. Recent research shows that nearly half of fathers with young children barely see them due to starting work early, travelling and doing overtime. This was one way in which men could find out in the presence of other dads and their children what they think. It could also give space for Mum to do something either on her own or with a younger child."

Go to the rest of this article - with real life examples of how it works, plus resources available for your church - in our Advice section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/advice.asp

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Transsexual 'marriage' remains illegal say campaigners

The Government is being urged to tread carefully when drafting future legislation with regards to the ‘marriage’ of transsexuals.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Faith challenge laid down for men

Christian Viewpoint for Men has thrown down a challenge to more than 1,000 men.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Sky’s the limit for Salvation Army comic

The UK’s only children’s Christian comic is aiming high for 2003 - it's going to provide in-flight reading for thousands of young travellers.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

Love is ... not rude

You don’t hear much about rudeness these days. It seems that people can be as blunt or disrespectful as they like and they are rarely challenged. This won’t help us build a strong marriage.

Courtesy and respect are essential parts of a healthy relationship. We all like to be treated as though we are of value. Rudeness says:, “I don’t care about you or your feelings!” When we are rude we are only interested in getting our own point across, making sure the other person knows we are upset or hurt. It’s focussed on ourselves not on the other person.

Love is always concerned for the well being of the other. How often do you let rudeness creep into your conversations? Is there anything you need to ask your loved one’s forgiveness for right now?

Why not resolve to ensure everything you say is courteously expressed, even the tough things that have to be communicated!
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> EVENTS

> BRAINTEASERS ...

1 How can you arrange for two people to stand on the same piece of newspaper and yet be unable to touch each other without stepping off the newspaper?

2 A rope ladder hangs over the side of a ship. The rungs are one foot apart and the ladder is 12 feet long. The tide is rising at four inches an hour. How long will it take before the first four rungs of the ladder are underwater?

3 Which would you rather have, a trunk full of 10ps or a trunk half full of 5ps?

4 Steve has three piles of sand and Mike has four piles of sand. If they put them all together, how many do they have?

5 In which sport are the shoes made entirely of metal?

6 If the Vice President of the United States should die, who would be President?

7 How can you throw a golf ball with all your might and - without hitting a wall or any other obstruction - have the ball stop and come right back to you?

8 Find the English word that can be formed from all these letters: PNLLEEEESSSSS

Answers http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.htm

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Turning fathers' hearts to their sons
> Kate's marriage tips: love is not ... rude

> Resources

> A good mum - testimony from a bereaved daughter
> Husband to the widow - testimony from a bereaved wife
> Moments with Mum - the latest column from Elisabeth Corcoran
> Missionary finishers - could you 'go' later in life?
> Brainteasers - questions to baffle you (and the answeres)

> News

> Transsexual 'marriage' still illegal, say campaigners
> Faith challenge laid down for men
> Sky's the limit for Salvation Army children's comic

> Top sites this week

> E-churchUK - fellowship for visually impaired believers
> Clubbers Temple - reaching the clubbing generation
> Good News Family Care - values and a safety net
> Disabled Parents Network
> Relessonsonline offer free sample

> Events: More of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 500 sites at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 500-page plus archives

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