A NOTE FROM KEVIN MARPLE
When I was a newer Christian, newlywed, and starting a family, I didn’t realize how much my relationship with other Godly men would come to mean to me. My wife and I began our family two years after we were married, and we both agreed that we wanted to raise our kids in the church. Prior to getting married, we found BCC and we both felt comfortable attending and we’ve been there ever since. That was almost 37 years ago.
We found that when we did “family” together, with other families, we developed relationships that would last a lifetime. Of course, we didn’t know that then, but the fruit is evident now. Some of those relationships have come and gone but what I’ve discovered is that through that process God always brought other men into my life who encouraged me in different seasons of my life as a father. It is such a blessing to see how God uses people in community to build those lifelong relationships.
Life can be very busy, and I also understand how being a father can be all-consuming. It is important to be present in our kids’ lives and support them as a father should. But I have found it is also important for fathers to support one another. Being in community with other men and fathers should be encouraging. Supporting one another (as iron sharpens iron) is critical to our faith, our marriages, our well-being, and the health of our families.
Not all of us were raised in the ideal nuclear family with a Godly fatherly example. But God is our example of a loving and caring father. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and other Godly men, we can encourage one another as we navigate fatherhood. God will always meet us in each of our seasons and surround us with people who encourage us and walk alongside us through good times and bad. But we must choose to be intentional in developing those relationships.
So, I ask, where are you in Community with other men and fathers? The church offers so many ways to engage in community and I want to encourage you to step into that opportunity. Life can be challenging, exciting, burdensome, and fulfilling. Sharing all of it with other men who care for you and walk with you is so important.
Paul encourages the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 5:11) – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” …
“Together, we'll experience a deeper faith as we grow in the context of meaningful community.” This is more than just a tagline for the church. It is how we do life together – we encourage one another and lead as fathers together.
Being Dad to our three sons has brought me some of the greatest joys in my life!! I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating all of the dad’s in your life!
Happy Father’s Day!
Kevin Marple
Elder