1 Worldwide Epidemic You Might Not Expect

Over the past month I’ve seen a worldwide epidemic rear its ugly head three different times. The first was at our graduate recognition service at Mt Vernon. The graduating seniors had an opportunity to thank their parents, and a good number of them said something to the effect of, “I’d like to thank my mom for always being there for me. I knew it was tough raising me on your own . . .”

The following week I spent a week in the Dominican Republic where we’ve helped start a school and church in a Haitian slum. While talking to the pastor there, he had mentioned how one of the greatest issues he faces with the school children is the lack of fathers around.

And then, in honor of Father’s Day our local paper ran this alarming statistic:

Only 32 percent of children in Mississippi live with their married, biological parents, according to The Upshot. This is the lowest rate in the country and it means two-thirds of the children in the state are being raised in single parent households. Last year, 83 percent of those households in the country were headed by single mothers, according to the Census Bureau.

One worldwide epidemic that you might not expect is fatherlessness. As a man and a father, I can throw stones. This epidemic is horrific and a complete abandonment of God’s plan for the family. This epidemic is fueled primarily from man’s selfishness, where we want to enjoy the benefits of sexual experiences without accepting any of the responsibilities involved.

Unfortunately, this epidemic has hit such a critical mass that it’s becoming more and more socially acceptable. In my state, more than half the children growing up are without their biological fathers in the same house. That is an epidemic that is ruining an entire generation. (It’s not just my opinion. There is legitimate research to back this claim up).

Here’s the million dollar question: What do we do? What have Christians done to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this epidemic? What can we be doing? What should we be doing?