I was recently catching up with some of the men in our Who Let The Dads Out? group. They were excited to tell me that they and their wives were expecting new additions to their families (in one case twins who are destined to become Crystal Palace supporters like their dad!). And elsewhere I have friends who are now expecting their first child. For all these families, for all these men, the joy and excitement was clearly evident. And yes for the ‘newbies’ there is also some trepidation for this journey into the unknown, but one of the things that unites them all is their determination to be the best dads they can be for their families. Talking with these men fills me with hope. I know they have support to cope with the ups and downs of life – family and friends who help them to stay resilient. And I know that they will pass on their wisdom to their children as they grow, as my father did for me. So this Father’s Day I will think on these men. I will give thanks for them. I will pray for them. I will also give thanks for all the groups out there that celebrate and support fatherhood, helping men to be the best dads they can be for their families. If you can, take your own moment on Sunday 20 June, Father’s Day, to reflect on the nature of fatherhood. I hope it will be a moment to lift your soul. Tony Who Let The Dads Out? team Andy Frost loves adventure – over the years he has run ultra marathons, surfed big waves and wing walked at 12,000 feet. However, he believes the greatest adventure is following Jesus. He is the Director of Share Jesus International, a popular speaker and author of books including Raising Faith and Long Story Short. His latest book, just out, is called 52 Faith Adventures for Dads and their Kids. In our latest Ramble video, Andy takes two minutes to explain his vision for this book. For more details and to register your interest in this book click below. We warmly invite you to join our latest Who Locked The Dads In? free online event for group leaders and teams, and for anyone who is interested in developing a ministry to support fathers and father figures. Saturday 3 July 2021, 10 am-11.30 am Congress 3 will focus on how we engage with our local communities and connect with our local authorities in order to increase our support of father and father figures, many of whom are struggling even more as a result of the fears and anxieties of this last year. We are delighted to be joined by Rich Keeble (Founder & Director of EPIC Dad Fathers & Families Project) as our keynote speaker. Run the Race - Episode 2 (free to view) Watch anytime 8.00 pm until midnight on 8, 9 and 10 June and on 12 June anytime from 7.00 am to 11.00 am. This week, Rob Parsons, Mark Chester and Gerrit Bantjes bring you the much-anticipated second episode of Run the Race – our new programme designed especially for men. To the best of our knowledge, we’ve never before had an event that included a hawk, a wax-sealed envelope, and a hotel without walls. Until now! Check out a short taster of what to expect below, and get yourself booked in for one of the evenings this week – it’s not too late! The Research Lab The Fatherhood Institute is conducting a comprehensive review of decades of research into the roles of fathers in families. The project, entitled Contemporary Fathers in the UK, is funded by the Nuffield Foundation, and features a series of rigorously researched but accessibly written themed reports. Reports published under the project to date are: - Lockdown Fathers – the untold story (2021): Fatherhood during the first Covid-19 lockdown in the UK - Who’s the Bloke in the Room? (2018): Fathers during pregnancy and at the birth in the UK - Where’s the Daddy? (2018): Fathers in UK research - Cash or Carry (2017): Fathers combining work and care in the UK. For further details, including full and free access to these reports, visit the Fatherhood Institute. |