Father’s Day is a time to celebrate fathers and the incredible influence they have on the lives of children, but it should also prompt us to ask a hard question: Where are all the fathers? We have an orphan crisis in our country and in our world. Pervasive fatherlessness is a chronic and dangerous problem in the U.S. Over 40% of American children born this year will be born to single women. Beloved, this is a crisis!
At its core, fatherlessness leads to a lack of critical discipleship among men. This Father’s Day, we need more godly men to step forward, embrace responsibility and invest their lives in the next generation.
While no earthly father is perfect, the absence of fathers leaves a profound void. When children are raised in father-absent homes, the likelihood of neglect, abuse, teen pregnancy, poverty, obesity, substance abuse and behavioral problems skyrocket.
These statistics are staggering and remind us that the battle for life must extend past anti-abortion laws and pregnancy resource centers and into the hearts and homes of our children and families. Children need godly men in their lives, especially if their father is unavailable. Christian men should not merely lament these statistics; we should ask how God is calling us to become part of the solution to fatherlessness.
Scripture defines manhood through service, sacrifice, protection and leadership. Men of God do not run from responsibility; they move toward it.
This goes beyond the call to father one’s biological children. The heart of God is reflected in caring for vulnerable children, as Psalm 68 describes God as a Father to the fatherless. Adoption and foster care are more than “women’s ministries;” they are opportunities for men to demonstrate biblical masculinity.
In my experience as president and executive director of Lifeline Children’s Services, too often, foster care and adoption conversations are assumed to begin with women. Many families first hear the call to foster or adopt through a wife or a mother, while men remain passive participants. But godly leadership means prayerfully engaging, seeking God’s direction and being willing to say yes when He calls.
Recent research suggests that fatherhood shapes not only children but fathers themselves. A 2025 study led by researcher Edwina Orchard found that parenting multiple children was associated with greater brain connectivity and protection against functional brain aging later in life. The benefits were observed among both mothers and fathers, but men showed an even greater advantage. God’s design for family is not merely a blessing for children; it is also part of how He matures and shapes parents themselves.
The need is simply too great for men to sit on the sidelines. Whether the initial prompting comes through a husband or wife, families and vulnerable children need men who are fully invested and committed.
The deepest need many vulnerable children have is not merely material—it’s relational. Children need dads who are present, dependable and dedicated for the long haul. Foster care and adoption are not rescue missions; they are lifelong commitments to provide stability, identity and protection that can alter the trajectory of a child’s entire life.
The church has a unique opportunity to respond to fatherlessness by raising up men willing to engage. This does not mean that every godly man ought to foster or adopt, but it does mean that every man can mentor, disciple and invest in younger men (2 Timothy 2:2).
Boys need examples of what it means to be a godly husband, father and leader. Older men should intentionally seek out opportunities to teach younger men how to build strong marriages and families. The next generation of fathers is formed through the example of faithful men today.
Adoptive, biological and foster parents play a critical role in shaping a child’s view of love, authority, security and grace. Strong families require strong fathers and strong mothers working together. Even the best earthly parents are imperfect, but their purpose is to point children to the image of a perfect Father. God is a Father who never leaves, never forsakes, never grows weary and whose grace never runs out. When fathers faithfully love and lead their families, they help children better understand the heart of God.
Beloved, the fatherless and vulnerable need our availability, our proclamation of the gospel, our consistency and discipleship. Men of God, we must embrace the gospel, get in the game and wrap our lives around the vulnerable in our community by pointing them to the gospel. Will you seize this opportunity?
