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Hi John, Fatherhood is the most important job a man can ever have. To many Americans, this statement would come as a surprise. Because in today’s culture, this is a radical idea. Raising a family has increasingly taken a backseat to career ambitions, traveling the world, and doing whatever “feels good.” It’s a trend that led to the U.S. birth rate falling 4% last year – the largest single-year decrease in nearly 50 years. In my recent opinion piece for Newsweek, I pointed out many of the pitfalls of this cultural shift in America – the most disturbing of which is that we now have a culture that actively supports abortion, rather than celebrates the beauty of children and the family. But still, the simple fact remains that fatherhood is the most important job a man can ever have. Fathers are vital to the family, and in turn, to our communities and society as a whole. And children should be valued and celebrated. Psalm 127:3-5 says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” That’s right – all children are a gift and a reward. The Bible doesn’t say that only children who fit within your plans and timelines are a gift. It doesn’t say that children are a gift unless they interfere with your career goals. It says that ALL children are a gift. It makes no exception because of any circumstances. This isn’t to say that having children is easy, because it’s not. Believe me, as the father of seven children, I know that being a father changes your life in dramatic ways. Your priorities change. You get less sleep. Your relationships are tested. And the things you once saw as important pale in comparison to the human life you are now responsible for. But with that responsibility comes immense joy! Since coming to Human Coalition, I’ve had the privilege to connect with some of the men who work every day to protect preborn children and their families from abortion, while also serving in the all-important role of “Dad” at home. In honor of Father’s Day in just a few weeks, I wanted to introduce you to a few of these dads. And give them an opportunity to share their thoughts and perspective on fatherhood.
“My dad was the strongest role model for me. I think our love for our father is hardwired from our Heavenly Father… When my father passed in January of 2019, I felt like I lost a piece of me… Working at Human Coalition and in the pro-life movement has helped me be a better father. I am reminded every day that life is fragile and can be here one moment and gone the next. It has taught me to fight for life, for the life of my family, and the life of every family. It’s made me want to be a better father, husband, and person. Life is precious and every person is valuable because we are all made in the image of God.” – Jeff Bradford, President and father of four “As a Christian man, I look to the Bible to define fatherhood and God as our Father in Heaven. It’s been a 28-year (and counting) journey for me, and now, I am entering the ‘grand’ fathering phase. In a word, fatherhood means ‘love’… I have used this experience at Human Coalition to teach my children the value of preborn life, the responsibility of men in a relationship, and giving grace to anyone who finds themselves in an unexpected pregnancy.” – Mike Tobias, Executive Vice President and father of six “Being a father is by far the best job I have ever had. I have the unique opportunity of having six children. I love getting to know each of their personalities. They are by far the greatest thing that I have ever accomplished in my life.” - Joseph Pagano, National Director of Government Programs and father of six “I am minister, business owner, and community leader but what I do as a dad matters most. I pray my legacy as a father is remembered long past any vocation.” - Rev. Dean Nelson, Vice President of Government Relations and father of three “For me, fatherhood is being entrusted by our Creator with the greatest discipleship opportunity of my life. God has given me three wonderful children, and I now have the responsibility to raise them up in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). It is my privilege to get to train this portion of our next generation of followers of Christ, and I couldn’t be more thankful to get to go on the journey.” – Jason Law, Director of Communications and father of three “My wife is eight months pregnant now, and I am in love with this baby. The little kicks and turns keep ramping up the anticipation of holding our child. It's wild. My nerves, excitement, and joy continually increase, and meanwhile, the sense of responsibility and purpose feels like a gift that will change my life.” – Jay Erwin, Videographer and father of one “I’ve been blessed by God with the arrival of our first child on December 1, 2020. I’ll be honest... the newborn phase is an insane awakening. But despite all the challenges in the first six months, being a father gives me a reason and a responsibility to be present each and every day, be better than yesterday, and be a hero to my daughter and wife. I’ve learned what it means to truly love like I never knew before and to do so through sacrifice and action. And it has given me a chance to honor and love my wife more and more every day.” – Chad Richart, Senior Marketing Specialist and father of one “When I think about fatherhood, I immediately think about my father. He joyfully led our family through the good times and the bad. He was present. He provided for us. And he would do anything for us. But most importantly, he loved us so well. That’s what I hope to emulate when my daughter arrives next month.” – Tim Alford, Writer and father of one Aren’t these fathers incredible? Each one of these men – as well as the many other dads at Human Coalition who are not pictured or quoted – is a model for what a godly father looks like. And I couldn’t be prouder to work with each of them in the fight for life. This year for Father’s Day, I hope you’ll take time to honor the fathers in your life who didn’t give in to the cultural trends that say being a dad and having a family isn’t important. The fathers who instead embraced their role to raise children as a “gift from the Lord.” Happy Father’s Day! For Life, Benjamin Watson |
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