| Fresh, Family, Fun! |
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Better Dads hosted our Third Annual Single Mom's Family Camp on June 12-14 at Canby Grove Christian Camp. I don't even know where to begin to report all the incredible things that happened at this camp. First of all, let me say 'thank you' from the bottom of my heart to all of the volunteers, donors, and prayer warriors who were involved in this event. You will never know how many lives you touched or how deeply you touched them until you are standing before our Maker. But I know that miracles happened and lives were changed this weekend. I don't make that statement lightly. Literally people's lives were changed and hearts healed.
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| Letters |
Hello,
I am a 24 year old single mother to a beautiful 5 month old boy. I received your book as a gift from my best friend who is gay. I just finished reading it, and I LOVED IT! Your book gave me so much needed information, and insight. I thought I would not need the help of any man to raise my son, but I have realized after reading your book, that I will need that help. So I wanted to thank you for opening my eyes. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! PLEASE KEEP UP WITH YOUR SEMINARS AND BOOKS, BECAUSE WOMEN LIKE ME (YOUNG, SINGLE, AND SCARED) NEED THEM!!!!!!
Sincerely,
SG
Hi Rick,
Your book "Man Whisperer" was a big help to me as a single person and more recently a newly-wed. It has taught me so much about how to honor and respect the differences between men and women and how to bring out the best in the man God has blessed me with. I have learned key areas for encouraging and uplifting my husband and seeing him blossom as a result. I also work with a lot of men and it has helped me tremendously to relate to them on a positive level while supporting and encouraging them. Having attended one of your seminars and reading this book has changed my whole attitude towards how I view the wonders of God's creation in man. Thank you for the wonderful insights you have provided. Richest blessings to you and Suzanne.
MCS
Mr. Johnson,
I just wanted to take time out of my day to write to you and thank you for such a wonderful book! I bought the book at Wal-mart yesterday afternoon and finished it this morning. As I read your book, I found myself thinking of my brother at a young age and of my nephew, who is now 15. Both are boys of divorce, and your insight about the lack of a strong male role model was astounding. I am going to buy the book for my sister in hopes that she will find it as enlightening, humorous and sincere as I did.
I would like to thank you for taking the time, the interest, and the much needed focus on boys in today's society that our boys need. Your efforts and genuine concern for the young men of today gives me hope for their future. I hope that you continue to hold your seminars and are able to reach out to many mothers whether they are single, in a deployment status, widowed, happily married or just plain confused about the wonder of boys. Again, a heartfelt thank you to you and to your wife.
Sincerely,
TN
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| Yeah Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death |
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The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has annointed me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. Isaiah 61:1
Recently I was at a medium security prison speaking to the men on fathering and authentic masculinity. For many of the men it is the first time they have ever heard anyone tell them how important they are as fathers and the value their life has. The men I speak with there are all within six months of getting released and are in a transition program. Because I am a contractor at this prison, once I enter the facility I am pretty much on my own in the general population. I do not have to be accompanied by a guard like at the maximum security facilities I speak at. This was a little disconcerting at first as these men are considered to be only a "moderate" risk to health and human safety.
On this day as I was leaving the room after teaching a class, a very large, muscular, black man stepped in front of my path, blocking the doorway. Frankly that didn't seem like a good thing, but because you are taught never to show fear in prison I continued to walk towards him. As I approached his voice rumbled, "Mr. Johnson?"
"Yes."
He held his giant hand out to shake mine and continued, "I cannot attend your classes because I do not get out of prison until 2020. But I wanted you to know that every time you come here I sit in that office adjacent to your classroom with the window open and listen to you. I just want you to know how much your coming here has meant to me. It has changed my life. Now I am trying to reach out to be a father for my children."
People ask me all the time, "Do you think what you are doing in the prisons makes any difference?" The honest answer is "I don't know." But that is not the point. The point is that it is my job to plant seeds not worry about the results. It is God's job to water and nuture those seeds. What I do know is that just by our actions or inactions we are influencing people's lives that we probably will never know about. Remember to use that influence wisely. |
| Father-Son Camping Trip |
 Better Dads will be hosting our first annual Father-Son Camping Trip in September. This camp will be for non-residential fathers and their sons. Our goal is to offer fathers and sons who do not live together an opportunity to bond, learn new things, and have fun. All sorts of fun things will be offered including: fishing, swimming, hiking, classes on wilderness survival, and other "guy" stuff! Best of all we will have large quantities of BBQ and other food. Be sure to pass this along to a father who could benefit from some time together in the woods with his son. More details to follow. |
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