by Beth Beutler
Strong, wise, diligent—and in need of daily strength from God. How will you bless the fathers and father figures in your church this Father’s Day and show them your appreciation?
Daddy, can you fix this?
Mark, we need the report for tomorrow’s breakfast meeting. Can you stay late?
Honey, the garage wants $180 to reline the brakes. Should I tell them to go ahead?
Hey, Coach, can we talk?
Men provide, protect, fix, lead, and counsel. We expect men who have children, and often those who don’t, to serve effectively as “father figures.” Sometimes we forget how much strength the journey through life has always asked of men. In today’s world, the cost can seem even higher.
What does it mean to be a man? Our culture sends conflicting messages; every day, the media offer up more contradictory examples of manhood. The demands of long days at work, volunteer duties, and pressure to spend quality family time make the to-do list longer and longer—and priority setting harder and harder.
Our heavenly Father longs to strengthen his sons for the challenges they face. He longs to draw them to himself and fill their hearts with the wisdom that flows from his own, fatherly heart. Yet sometimes in the busyness, amidst the demands, men simply forget the Lord’s invitation:
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28
The men in your church need to be reminded of God’s love and the grace available to them. They need to feel appreciation and support. Father’s Day is a wonderful day to express your respect and love in Christ and to share his encouragement.
A Distinctive Father’s Day
How can you maximize the opportunity Father’s Day provides? Consider one of these three ideas, created to bring everyone in your church together to recognize the men who contribute so much.
Collect value-priced Father’s Day gifts and make them available in your children’s Sunday school area. Host a “shopping day” the Sunday before Father’s Day and allow the students to pick one item to give to their dads, grandpas, or other men who are like fathers to them. Help them make Father’s Day cards with a biblical message to put with the gifts. Then encourage them to present both gifts and cards with a hug on Father’s Day.
Invite all the men of your congregation to enjoy a temporary coffee shop after services on Father’s Day. Have women and teens serve gourmet coffee, donuts, fruit, and juices. Present gifts of encouragement to each man who attends. See more details here.
Enlist the women and/or teens in your church to help assemble some male-oriented gift bags, including a CTA gift, coffee/cocoa packets, children’s artwork, bags of trail mix, gum, masculine soap, and the like. Have children hand these out to all the men in attendance during the offering or while the congregation sings a hymn like “This Is My Father’s World.”
Whatever you decide to do this Father’s Day to celebrate the contribution men make in your church, be sure to encourage them to rely on their Savior for strength, wisdom, and protection. Remind them they can turn to their heavenly Father for forgiveness when they fail to live up to his model of holiness and patience. And as everyone leaves, don’t forget to bless them, especially the dads and those who serve as father figures, asking Jesus to fill their hearts with joy and with strength for their journey!
