The Crisis Is Real
If you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or spiritually intentional father, you’ve likely felt the weight of this already.
You see it in young men struggling with identity, in overwhelmed moms carrying the spiritual load, in dads quietly withdrawing because they feel unequipped or uncertain. It’s not just anecdotal—it’s systemic. It’s spiritual.
And now, it’s measurable.
Manhood Journey’s Godly Father Assessment—taken by over 6,000 Christian dads—reveals some sobering truths:
Fathers Are the Missing Link
Disengaged fathers don’t just hurt families—they weaken churches. Teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and spiritual confusion all skyrocket when dads are absent or uninvolved. Youth groups, Bible drills, and church programs do good work, but they were never meant to replace the influence of a faithful father.
of Christian dads intentionally invest in their children’s spiritual growth.
say their instructions and actions don’t consistently match
of Christian fathers do not serve in their church in any capacity.
Spiritual Fatherhood Foundations
God calls Himself “Father” over 160 times in the Gospels. That identity is under attack. The decline of fatherhood isn’t just sociological—it’s a spiritual assault. Satan has always sought to destroy what God wants to reveal: the loving authority of a Father. We must stand in the gap.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6:6–7
“He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them—the children yet unborn—and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.”
Psalm 78:5–7
Churches Must Intentionally Invest in Fathers
It’s good to be an involved dad. But Scripture calls fathers to something deeper: to be biblically faithful leaders. That means proclaiming and displaying the Gospel, pointing their children to Christ, and leading spiritually in the home.
Scripture Makes it Clear: A Father Leads By:
Where Do We Go From Here?
Churches must intentionally invest in fathers and provide the tools they need to help them faithfully lead their families. As the church, we should not settle for better dads. We should strive for biblical fathers. How does this happen?
Report Introduction by Dr. Ken Canfield, Ph.D.
“If you’re a leader who is seeking to do a better job of providing resources to the fathers in your congregation and care, I recommend you read this report as an initial or additional step in understanding and optimizing the role of biblical fathering in your congregation.”
Dr. Ken Canfield
Founder, National Center for Fathering
In Partnership With
These are some of the excellent organizations we work with that have helped bring this report to you.
Download & Share
Download the State of Biblical Fatherhood Report and discover what 6,000+ Christian dads revealed about their spiritual habits, struggles, and hopes. This report will help you disciple fathers more effectively in your church or ministry.
Download the State of Biblical Fatherhood Report and see what 6,000+ Christian dads revealed about their spiritual lives. Use it to disciple fathers more effectively in your church or ministry.
Multiply Your Reach
Pastor, leader—don’t keep this to yourself. This report was made for you, but it’s also made to move through you. Share it with other pastors, men’s ministry leaders, and influencers who are serious about raising up biblically faithful fathers in their churches and communities.
Get More Share Tools:
Looking to share this report with your church, team, or network? Visit the Tools Page to access promo graphics, email templates, mockups, and everything you need to spread the word.
Resources to Engage, Equip, and Empower Fathers
The State of Biblical Fatherhood report reveals a sobering truth: most Christian dads are spiritually under-equipped and overwhelmed. But it also showed where the Church can step in with hope. At Manhood Journey, we believe the local church is the best place to reverse this trend. That’s why we’ve created practical, proven resources—to help pastors and leaders disciple fathers without having to start from scratch. When you engage the dads in your ministry with intentional, biblically grounded tools, you’re not just building better dads—you’re advancing a generational Kingdom mission.
