Father absence and adolescents : a youth ministry approach

Abstract

In recent years father-absent children and adolescents have become a challenge within South African society. Statistics (Stats SA 2017) shows that the percentage is, surprisingly, even higher than expected with over 60% of fathers being absent. The local church must take an interest in the absence of a father and father-absent children and adolescents. The guiding hypothesis to this study is that when local church leaders recognise the influence of fathers being absent from children and adolescents, they and the congregation can help father-absent children and adolescents as an extended family and can manage preventable problems with them. Church leaders should focus on re-education or retraining of fathers and men to build up their family and the local church. This study has its focus on the youth ministry and specifically the topic of the absence of father and father-absent adolescents as challenges for the youth ministry in an attempt to address the concern for an effective youth ministry towards those father-absent youths with an inclusive and congregational approach, as well as addressing the concern of the role of the father from the Bible and role of pastor/congregation as an extended family. From a theological perspective, the responsibility of faith communities toward father-absent children and adolescents is unquestionable. However, it can be ascertained by answering questions: 􀏸) what is the message of the Bible about the father and his role in the family? 􀏹) how can a local church help the children and adolescents who live with their biological father being absent in their home? 􀏺) which factors are likely to influence increased father absence? 􀏻) how does father absence affect a youth ministry? 􀏼) how do the father absent children and adolescents feel about the absence of their biological fathers and about God as Father? This study will endeavour to address the theological basis for the role of father and congregation, the various developments of youth, the concepts of youth ministry and family ministry, and the influence of the absence of a father. The research focuses especially on an empirical study with two groups- father absent adolescents and local pastors- in a qualitative survey. Twenty-one father absent adolescents and twelve local pastors were approached to participate in qualitative interviewing. Absent adolescents and twelve local pastors were approached to participate in qualitative interviewing.