As I’ve wrapped up the book and started the book tour, I’ve definitely been wearing two hats. Publicly it’s been getting the word out about the new book, but behind the scenes the locomotive that is The Mentoring Project has moved forward at a dramatic pace. In the past six months or so, we’ve hired a new President and a new communications director, and are currently planning our dream team to take our vision forward. As I speak on the road, I’m asking for people to partner with us in providing mentors for young men growing up without fathers, and I’m amazed and encouraged at how many have stepped forward to join us. It’s been humbling but also exciting. 
Last week I met with the Presidential Task Force on Fatherhood and Healthy Families. While we’ve met before, this was our first work retreat in which we plunged into the issue over an extended series of meetings, preparing our recommendations for the President as he and his team steer the administration around the topic of fatherhood. I was encouraged as we met and talked about fatherhood and fatherlessness that the church in America is poised to make an enormous impact. In fact, one study referenced in our discussions said that most Americans, including Americans who do not practice faith, believe churches are the main source of hope regarding the fatherless crisis. I believe likewise.
This is an issue that the President cares deeply about, because he himself has succeeded with the help of mentoring figures. As the father of two beautiful girls, he speaks often from his pulpit about the need for responsible fathers. One of my favorite lines the President has used is that “any fool can get a girl pregnant, but it takes a man to be a father.” I think that is true.
To be sure, we will not be recommending that the President spend a great deal of government funds on this issue. In fact, in the Fatherhood movement, 90% of funding has come from private sources. I don’t see that changing. However, we have the benefit of a President who cares about men and their roles as fathers and desires to shine a spotlight on various aspects of importance. Our recommendations to the President may be made public at some point, but in brief they are that he continues to champion the issue, that the administration increase communication between existing government agencies and programs (we have a detailed list of those agencies and concerns they might share) an evaluation of best practices in existing programs allowing us to share that information with agencies working within the issue, and a broad use of the convening power of the White House to increase communication between existing private agencies. There is, of course, much more, and I am deeply encouraged by the plans being put into action.
That said, the President and the Task Force agree and have made public that government is not going to be able to solve the problem of fatherlessness. The only hope I see on this issue is the church. We have the buildings, we have the funds, we have the manpower, we have the theological mandate, all we need are the workers.
At this point, TMP is running 7 programs in Portland, providing mentors for 100 fatherless boys. But we have over 300 churches who are ready and willing to start a program. We are funded at our current level of involvement, but we honestly need to move forward at a rapid pace. I’m incredibly grateful to those who are already donating to our organization, but we do need more. I think the church, through mentoring, can curb the divorce rate, the teen suicide rate, shut down prisons and so much more. It will take an intense effort, and TMP will champion that effort. If you’ve not already partnered with us, please do so here. And if you are already supporting us, will you tell your friends?
Thanks so much for your help. I’ll keep you posted as we move forward.
