What We Do
Godly men standing in the gap of Missing fathers
Christian mentors can play a significant role in the lives of young men without fathers, specifically within the context of their faith. They have the potential to impact these boys by providing support and guidance: spiritually, emotionally, and morally. Their investment into these young men can help them develop a strong faith foundation, navigate challenges, make wise choices, and grow into men who embody Christian values and positively contribute to their families and communities.
“I think working at Blue Sky Ranch is an amazing opportunity to teach young men life skills, to be a positive mentor and a Godly role model for them. I have been in prayer asking God to lead me to do good things. I believe this is an answer to those prayers. I feel the burden for these boys because I went off the rails in my early teens. Many years later, God saved me; and I believe it was for doing HIS work. I believe Blue Sky Ranch is where HE wants me to be.”
-Dave Anderson, Mentor
Why Mentoring Matters
Positive Life Choices
Without proper guidance, young men are vulnerable to negative influences, involvement in risky behaviors, substance abuse, or criminal activities. Mentoring encourages prosocial behaviors.
Emotional Support
Growing up without a father can lead to feelings of abandonment, low self-esteem or a lack of identity. Mentors help develop resilience, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging.
Achieving Academic Success
Young men without fathers may face educational disadvantages and a higher risk of dropping out of school. Mentors positively impact academic success and future opportunities.
Breaking the Cycle
Fatherlessness has a lasting impact on future generations. Mentors can help break the cycle of absent fathers and contribute to stronger, healthier families in the future.
“Mentoring is an amazing opportunity to put your faith and values to action—to show unconditional love to those who need it the most. It gives us the ability to actively model what authentic manhood looks like. When we do, the lies of the world are destroyed, and potentially, a life is saved.”
-Matt Haviland, Mentor
Being connected to these men is super important to me. I count my time at the ranch as a true blessing and miracle from God. My relationships with the mentors, and what they have to say, is important to me. It is obvious that they really care about me…us. The skills and truths I have learned at the ranch play a big part in my life today as a new high school graduate.
-Jesús Hidalgo, Mentee
Impacting Lives
Why Christian Mentors?
Spritual Guidance
Christian mentors can provide spiritual guidance and help young men develop a relationship with God. They can teach biblical principles, share personal faith experiences, and help mentees navigate questions of purpose, identity, and morality from a Christian perspective. This guidance can provide a strong foundation for their spiritual growth and help them develop a sense of purpose and direction.
Values & Character Development
Christian mentors can instill and reinforce values such as honesty, integrity, compassion, forgiveness, and humility. They can model Christ-like character traits and encourage young men to develop a solid moral compass based on Christian principles. A godly role model in this area will shape their decision making, behavior, and relationships, enabling them to lead lives that align with their faith.
Emotional & Psychological Support
Christianity offers hope, healing, and restoration. Christian mentors can support young men through challenging emotional and psychological experiences, helping them find comfort and guidance in their faith. They can provide a safe space for these boys to express their emotions, offer prayer and encouragement, and share biblical wisdom on topics such as forgiveness, resilience, and finding peace in difficult circumstances.
Community & Belonging
Christian mentors can introduce young men to a supportive faith community, such as a church or youth group, where they can find acceptance, belonging, and positive peer relationships. In these settings, mentees can develop friendships with other young men who share their values and faith, fostering a sense of community and support.
Fatherly Role Modeling
Christian mentors can serve as father figures, exhibiting qualities of love, guidance, and car that may be absent in young men without fathers. They can provide a healthy model of masculinity rooted in Christ’s teachings, demonstrating what it means to be a godly man, husband, and father. A positive understanding of masculinity will form healthy relationship patterns.
A Nation in Crisis
The Fatherless Epidemic
Million
Boys without Fathers
Mental & Emotional Effects
- 85% of all children who exhibit behavioral disorders are fatherless
- The absent father leaves his son with diminished self-concept & compromised physical and emotional security
- Fatherless boys are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and suicide
- 60% of young people who commit suicide come from fatherless homes
Societal Crime Results
- 70% of all young people in state-operated institutions are fatherless
- Young men who grow up without a father are twice as likely to end up in jail
- 75% of rapists came from fatherless homes
Health & Safety Concerns
- 75% of adolescent patients in substance abuse centers are fatherless
- Fatherless boys are twice as likely to die as children and live an average of 4 years or less over a life span
- 90% of runaways are fatherless
- The fatherless are at 100 times higher risk to suffer mental, emotional, physical, and fatal abuse
Family & Future Outlook
- 71% of all high school dropouts are fatherless
- 20.2% of biological fathers are choosing NOT to parent their own children
- Fatherless boys are more likely to experience unemployment, have low incomes, remain on social assistance, and experience homelessness
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