Daily Archives: June 20, 2012
Interview with John Sowers, How churches can help a Fatherless Generation
Yesterday I posted that Dr. John Sowers was recently honored at the White House for his work with The Mentoring Project. John gracious gave me some time for a quick interview. While I read this interview I was struct by the profundity of his call for the church to mentor the fatherless – and for the kingdom-building implications this could have in my own church if we took it seriously. I hope you enjoy this interview. – Andrew
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Andrew: Tell us about how you and The Mentoring Project (TMP) got connected with the White House Office of Public Engagement.
John: I first connected with the White House in 2009 when I was invited to the White House Town Hall meeting with President Obama and others, lifting up the need for great fathers, and men to be mentors. It was a catalytic event for me, and something that definitely affirmed my calling to the fatherless. (I write more about that experience in the last chapter of Fatherless Generation.) Since then, Joshua Dubois (Faith Based Director) and I have become friends. I have been really impressed at the emphasis on mentoring.
Andrew: How do you hope God uses this honor to bless the work of TMP?
John: It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the White House. At the same time, the real joy is seeing the fatherless conversation begin to take it’s rightful place. This is THE issue that our country needs to recognize. The next generation is our future, for better or worse. This generation is the first generation that has been willfully abandoned by their fathers. And unfortunately, for this generation – and our country – the story is not ending well. This year, the city of Chicago has had some 900 shootings … and the Police Commissioner recently said that some 80% of these shootings are gang-related. We know that, statistically, gangs are composed of fatherless youth. Fatherless boys are joining fatherless gangs and shooting other fatherless boys.
