A few years ago several members of our church heard a sermon by the pastor of a large congregation from Soweto, South Africa.  He made the point that, during the time of Apartheid, when the European minority had all the political power in their country, evangelical churches missed the opportunity to address this central social issue of the time.  Consequently, they weakened their evangelistic efforts.  Evangelism and social justice aren't separate religious movements; They're not even two sides of the same coin.  they're more like salt and water in the ocean.  They are totally integrated into each other; inseparable.

Then, Pastor Boon asked us, "If Apartheid was the central issue in South Africa in the 1980's, what is the central social issue for our community?"  Several people offered suggestions, but when I gave my answer, I'm pretty sure I was right.

The  central social issue in Bridgton, Maine, New England, and probably all of the US is fatherlessness.  Sure, there are single parent families where it's the mother who isn't present.  I spent my teen years living in such a household due to the early death of my mom, but typically single parent homes are fatherless. Admittedly, many dad's who no longer live with their children still do an excellent job being a dad to them, although it's not perfect by anyone's definition.  But many divorced (or never married) dads are simply nonexistent in their kids day to day life. 

Just as sad are the dads who, while still sharing a house with their wife and children are so wrapped up in their snow mobiles, bowling leagues or manicured lawns that they miss their children's growing up.  We have worked with enough youth to know how crippling this is for children, but it is also heartbreaking to realize what the dads are missing out on:  Tucking in your children, talking about relationships, laughing, playing, kissing away tears are the highlights of fatherhood.  Sharing with them the things we love, whether football or ballroom dancing; carpentry or cooking; wrestling or reading;ping pong or poetry; creates a bond that will last long after we fathers are gone. 

Apartheid has been brought to its knees; It's time we fathers return to our knees, asking our Father for help, and do the work He's given us to do.