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Men
of Valor honors the presence and critical roles of BOTH their mothers and their fathers in the lives of their children. Current
research confirms what common sense teaches: the presence of BOTH mother and father is vital to the optimum development of
these children. This is true for never married parents, or for those married parents whether the marriage is happy
and solid, fragile, or has disintegrated completely. We encourage ALL fathers to become more active and effective leaders
in the FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN, INCLUDING THEIR CHARACTER, SKILLS, AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.
Ultimately, our hope is to provide MULTIPLE AND ONGOING WEEK-END OR WEEK-LONG MOUNTAIN CAMPS for ALL
FATHERS (whether happily married, unhappily married, divorced, or never married) alongside
ALL OF THEIR CHILDREN, and alongside their GRANDFATHERS. By encouraging this MULTI-GENERATIONAL family re-union,
we hope to re-engage and spotlight ALL fathers in a positive manner in the eyes of their children. We hope to re-engage fathers,
alongside their children, in a more effective way, in the spiritual lives of their children, their families, and in the church
community. Is not the encouragement, empowerment, and equipping of fathers to don the mantle
of spiritual leadership responsibilities for their children and their families a Biblical
mandate? (see Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, and Malachi 4:6). This is critical
for intact families. How much more may this encouragement be needed for
fathers and children no longer in an originally intact family following disolution of marriage? And for the never-married
fathers, completely adrift from their children, perhaps this encouragement and spiritual equipping could be a lifeline
for them and their children.
Men
Of Valor
are
Faithful Fathers
Encouragement, support, and comraderie: A Fathers
Group meets each week to hear informative speakers and to discuss individual challenges and successes at the Lone
Tree Golf Club and Hotel, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm every Tuesday evening. Lone
Tree Golf Club and Hotel is located a mile south of Park Meadows Mall (one mile south of C-470 and I-25 junction)Lone
Tree Golf Club and Hotel is located a mile south of Park Meadows Mall (one mile south of C-470 and I-25 junction) at
9808 Sunningdale Blvd., Lone Tree, CO, 80124, telephone 303-790-0202. FATHERS,
JOIN US!!
Grandfathers, Join Us!
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The
relationship between a mother and a father with their own children is unique and God-given.
Both mothers and fathers have long enjoyed the responsibility and privilege or raising and
nurturing their children. Perhaps as never before, fathers may need to be actively encouraged, equipped, and empowered
to step forward on behalf of their families.
CONSIDER: The following applies to the spiritual leadership of fathers.
Although the data is from Christian sources, it may well be of interest to non-Christians.
Men's membership in churches nationwide
has fallen recently from 47% to 39% (Saddleback Church Data). Were this trend to continue, the Christian spiritual discipleship
of these fathers for their families would probably diminish substantially.
Data from the Billy Graham Crusade confirms that "in
92% of the times when fathers come to salvation (through a commitment to Jesus Christ), the remainder of their families come
along with them". This compares to only 19% when the mothers "come to salvation", according to Billy Graham.
The unmistakeable conclusion: get the fathers, get the family!!! "Save" the fathers, "save" the
family!!!
Yet,
the basic fabric of our society, the traditional family unit consisting of mother, father, and their children, is under attack
by those who would redefine family and/or separate one parent or the other from their children.
For instance, nationwide data indicates
that following 85% of divorces one parent or the other is designated as a non-custodial parent. This non-custodial
parent, on average, is allowed to be with their own children only one overnight every two weeks. Non-custodial parents are
typically (85%), but not always, the father. Does this society sanctioned / court imposed fatherlessness
matter?
In
Colorado, according to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers), "The single most defining characterstic of the (Colorado)
prison population, even more so than race, drug problems or high school dropout, is father-less-ness.
Almost 7 in 10 inmates in Colorado, and throughout the country for that matter, have never lived with their natural father.
Only one in 10 are from an intact two parent family. The great social divide in America today is between the parented and
the unparented." Thus, father-less-ness is a common denominator for many felons.
According to Father Facts, 2002, Wade Horn, Ph.D., "Children
who live absent their biological fathers are on the average at least two to three times more likely to
use drugs, to experience educational, health, emotional, and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse, and to engage
in criminal behavior than those who live with (both ) their biological parents".
A recent national survey conducted by the Radcliff Public
Policy Center in 2000 determined, " A resounding 96% of respondents in a national survey agreed that parents should share
equally in the care taking of children (Cambridge, MA).
President George Bush has stated, "Over the past four decades, father-less-ness
has emerged as one of our greatest social problems. We know that children who grow up with absent fathers can suffer
lasting damage. They are more likely to end up in poverty or drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, have a child out
of wedlock, or end up in prison" (speaking at the National Fatherhood Initiative's Fourth Annual National Summit on Fatherhood
in Washington, D.C., June 7, 2001), and
Whereas, former President Bill Clinton has stated, "The single biggest social
problem in our society may be the growing absence of fathers from their children's homes because it contributes
to so many other social problems" (speech at the University of Texas, Austin, October 16, 1995, from Father Facts, 2002),
Therefore,
Let
us recognize that in most instances, barring neglect, abuse, or parental addiction to habituating substances, when
each parent desires to be in the life of his/her children (whether the family is intact or not), it is in most children's
best interest to maintain an even balance of this primary relationship, with each of their parents (both their mothers and
their fathers) whenever possible.
May we have hearing ears, seeing eyes, and softened hearts for our children crying for the presence
of both of their parents. They need BOTH parents. They especially need the father for their full spiritual
development.
Steven W. Newell, M.D., founder
Men of Valor
9492 E. Aspen Hill Place
Lone Tree, CO 80124
Telephone: 720-635-5000
Fax: 303-790-4004
email:
swnewellmd@menofvalor.net
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We will provide CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS TO AS MANY FATHERS AND
THEIR CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE who need financial assistance in order to attend Men of Valor sponsored weekend or weeklong summer
camps in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.
The
Best Parent
is
BOTH Mom
And
Dad
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© 2009, Men
of Valor
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Children with involved, loving fathers are more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, and
avoid high-risk behaviors like drug use and truancy. **Children from fatherless Homes Are: 5 times more likely to commit suicide** 32 times more likely to run away** 20 times more likely to have behavioral disorders** 14 times more likely to commit rape** 9 times more likely to drop out of school** 10 times more likely to abuse chemical substances** 20 times more likely to end up in prison.** (**source: data
from It's Better to Build Boys ThanTo Mend Men, 2004, Looking Glass Books, by S. Truett Cathy, founder of Chic-fil-A.) Single-parent families are five times as likely to be poor as two
parent households. # Involved fathers have
a 94% rate of making their child support payment when they are active in their children's lives. # "A key to preserving families is strengthening families as
a whole and giving kids the love and care of two involved parents." # (# source: data from Ken Sanders, Ph.D., The Centering On Fathering Program, Colorado
Springs, Colorado)
For more information or questions,
or to receive updates for meetings, events, etc., email your contact information to: men-of-valor@comcast.net
-or- fax to 303-790-4004.
Please include your first, last name and middle initial,
home, cell and work telephone, fax, email, and street address including zip code. Please also include if you want to assist us in some manner
and what you would like to do. Thank you.
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