Growing Fathers (FrontLine July/August 2025)

FRONTLINE Volume 35 • Number 4

It has often been noted that God is working in the world primarily through three institutions—the family, the church, and the government. These institutions are like concentric circles working outward from most personal to least personal. Any pastor knows that strong congregations are made up of healthy families, and God designed healthy families to be led by Christlike fathers.

With these truths in mind, a group of four pastor friends came together in 2020 to work on a project. We noticed that while mom blogs, secular dad podcasts, and more general parenting helps abound, Christian dads who want to develop their parenting skills face a lack of resources. Feeling the need to grow in this area ourselves, we started a blog to share the parenting lessons that God was teaching us. Our mission was simple: “Growing Fathers exists to help Christian dads become more like Jesus and apply the Bible to parenting for the strengthening of families and churches to the glory of God.” We wanted to provide an online resource for dads that was both expositional and practical. Our goal was not to replace the local church but to push dads back to their churches and strengthen churches by strengthening families.

Looking back five years later, we are thankful for what God has done. Each month, thousands of people interact with our articles. We have more than doubled our team, and we regularly feature guest authors, some of whom appear in this issue. In April, we launched The Growing Fathers Podcast, and we look forward to producing more resources in the future.

We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with the FBFI in producing this issue of FrontLine. Each article you read in this issue appeared first on our blog.

In the first article, Chris Pennington encourages dads to have biblical priorities as expressed through their words. Words are powerful! And simple, repeated phrases like “God loves you” and “Please forgive me” will ring in our children’s ears for a lifetime.

Next, Walt Brock (co-founder of Ironwood Christian Camp in Newberry Springs, California) addresses parenting priorities in each stage of child development. Walt suggests that there is a fundamental question to be answered in each stage and gives parents direction for tackling these questions.

Third, in one of our most practical and convicting articles, John Pate recommends “31 Ways to Help Your Weary Wife.” Many of our readers are young dads whose wives are in the throes of pregnancy, nursing, and parenting toddlers. We understand that one of the most important ways to be a godly father is to love your wife well (Eph. 5:25). And all of us dads need to grow in this area.

In the fourth article, John Dalrymple talks about how to pray for our children. John brings out six simple prayer principles for fathers from Luke 11, which includes the Lord’s Prayer.

Next, in a lighthearted yet important piece, Chris Lynch reminds us to have fun together as a family! He explains why fun time is valuable, but he also encourages us to keep it in its place and stay balanced.

Sixth, Caleb French warns of the dangers of being a “friendless father.” He tells the story of how he and I began meeting regularly for accountability, how we do it, and how it has changed our lives. This article provides a link to a resource on our website.

Finally, Paul Whitt, who pastors at Bethany Baptist Church in Brevard, North Carolina, gives warm-hearted, practical counsel on being a godly grandfather. I know that his words will uplift you.

Although the articles that appear in this issue were written for dads (or, in the case of Paul’s article, granddads), we trust that all our readers will be blessed by the rich, biblical content. May this issue of FrontLine help you to become more like Jesus.

Kristopher Schaal for the Growing Fathers team

Podcast: Interview 82 – Introducing the July/August FrontLine: “Growing Fathers” – Proclaim & Defend

Features:

Five Things Kids Need to Hear Dad Say
Chris Pennington

Not only do your kids hear what you say, but those words shape their little hearts.

Six Questions Our Children Have That Demand Answers
Walt Brock

Children will ask six foundational questions in the course of growing to maturity.

Thirty-One Ways to Help Your Weary Wife
John Pate

Your relationship with God and your relationship with your wife must affect your daily life, down to the most commonplace interactions.

Jesus’ Guide to Praying For Your Children
John Dalrymple

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is your prayers for them.

Podcast: Interview 83 – Jesus’ Guide to Praying for Your Children (John Dalrymple) – Proclaim & Defend

Family Fun God’s Way
Chris Lynch

Like a medicine, wholesome enjoyment heals, salves, and strengthens us.

The Fatally Friendless Father
Caleb French

We often use the word “friend” to describe our common-interest acquaintances when what we really need are “battle brothers” who know our worst and hope in Christ for our best.

Sharing Your Faith with Your Grandchildren
Paul Whitt

My greatest legacy is not what I leave for my grandchildren—but what I leave in them.

Sound Words:

INSPIRATION FOR THE PASTOR’S STUDY

First Partaker: Two Sermons by Andrew Fuller
Mark Minnick

Bring … the Books: More Books for a Deserted Island
Thomas Parr

Straight Cuts: John 20:17—A Secret Ascension?
Benjamin Heffernan

Windows: Caring Enough to Confront: Giving and Receiving Correction
Bruce McAllister

Departments:

NEWS FROM ALL OVER

ON THE HOME FRONT

BEST OF PROCLAIM & DEFEND

REGIONAL REPORTS

HEART TO HEART: You Don’t Need to Know Yourself
Jaimie Flack

AT A GLANCE: The Church’s View of Israel— Part 1
Layton Talbert

WITH THE WORD TO THE WORLD: Speak What You Know
Jim Tillotson

STEWARDSHIP MATTERS: Financial Stewardship by the Christian Family: The Temptation of Greed
Corey Pfaffe

CHAPLAIN’S REPORT: FBFI Chaplain Highlights
Joe Willis

(Originally published in FrontLine • July/August 2025. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.)