Islam has 99 names for God, but Father is not one of them. In the current conflict, most of the enemy have never known the presence of a loving God, and many are from dysfunctional families in which they never knew the love of a father.  Many military fathers also struggle with the Biblical principles of fatherhood as they try to balance spiritual leadership with the demands of a military career. 

Frequent separations, hectic work schedules even at home station, and a work environment which is increasingly secular make it difficult to find the time required for effective fathering.  As one "military brat" observed to his dad after he had his own child, "You were gone for most of my birthdays, and practically all of the holidays, but I guess you were there when it counted . . . ."

Innumerable  studies over the years have shown that fatherless children are at dramatically increased risk for drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, mental and emotional disorders, criminal behavior, and suicide.  While most military children aren't technically fatherless, the prolonged and repeated absences required of military fathers in the current environment can result in the onset of such behaviors, and place added burdens on already over stressed dads.

The movie Courageous, by the makers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants, premieres on 30 September. It effectively portrays the problem of fatherless children, as well as the challenges of living out one's faith as a Christian father.  At a recent preview for military chaplains, many were moved by this powerful presentation, as they recognized their own failures and began to realize the need to correct them.