Salt Fresno Magazine March 2010 Page 46

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n article and an advertisement featuring President

Obama encourages fathers to be active in raising
children. The President describes a 'hole' that is left
in children's lives that the government can't fill. The
advertisement challenges fathers to spend time
each day with their children. The President indicates
that it doesn't have to be hard and even a few
minutes would have a great impact.

The President touches on a social reality that
impacts the lives of adolescents. "Families" of
adolescents may include a biological mother, mom's
boyfriend, biological sister; a biological mother,
former boyfriend who is called the father, and an
adopted sister; a biological father, mother, siblings;
two moms and no father, or a father who is present
but not engaged with the family.

Some fathers and parents feel that their lives are so
fragmented and broken that they don't have time
for the adolescent. Adolescents feel that the parents'
preoccupation leaves them to fend for themselves
and learn to grow up on their own, even in the best
of families.

Fathers have a special influence on the life of
adolescents. They provide the secure foundation for
the adolescent to begin to open up to, explore, and
enter the adult world. The father gives the
adolescent the example of engaging with the world
and the confidence to take the risk to step out.
While we know of people who have made
successful transitions to the adult world with the
support of only the mother (or on their own), the
father's role gives the adolescent the best
opportunity to confidently enter the adult life.

But with all due respect to the President's message,
spending a few minutes each day is not enough.
Fathers (and mothers) need to be present in their
adolescents' lives. They need to be present in their
activities and during the character building
moments of life. They need flexibility and
boundaries in raising the adolescent.

And since adolescence is extending into the
twenty-somethings, fathers (parents) will need to be
invested for the longer transition to adulthood.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD
is one. Love the LORD your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength. These commandments
that I give you today are to be upon your
hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk
about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road, when you
lie down and when you get up. Tie them as
symbols on your hands and bind them on
your foreheads.

Deuteronomy 6:4-8 (NIV)

Those of us who are in the broader community

(educators, church, youth workers, employers, etc.)

can help. In Deuteronomy 6:4-8, we see parents and

children in a community seeking the Lord. In what

ways can we assist parents and adolescents in

having the time to pursue God and be with each

other? Are there homework assignments that can

bring parents and adolescents together without

adding more pressure? Can we design student

ministries to promote parent/adolescent

interaction? Is there a place that parents can seek

help? A more di cult issue is occupations.

Employers, can work be structured so that fathers

(and mothers) are available to their adolescent?

Brian Henderer

, D.Min,

recently graduated from

Fuller Seminary in the area of

Youth, Family and Culture.

With 20 years experience in

youth ministry and educa-

tion, Brian serves with Young

Life and the Fresno Area

Youth Coalition. Brian and his

wife, Dasha, reside in Clovis.

Brian may be contacted at

bhenderer@gmail.com.

By Brian Henderer D.Min.

Sponsored by SALT Fresno Magazine

FUN EVENING OF MUSIC,

ART & INSPIRATION !

FUN EVENING OF MUSIC,

ART & INSPIRATION !

Volume 7 Issue 1

Larry Arce

Fresno Rescue

Mission Director

Second Anniversary Issue

Fresno Magazine

Jesus said, "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here

to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God- avors of

this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste

godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in

the garbage. Here's another way to put it: You're here to

be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is

not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as

public as a city on a hill." Matthew 5:13-14, The Message

Dot Powell

, Executive Director and Editor-in-

Chief of Salt Fresno Magazine served as the
hostess for the Showcase on Thursday,
November 19, 2009 at Praise Church in Clovis.

After opening prayer by Pastor Person, the

Shekinah Children's Choir thrilled the audience
with lively songs.

Larry Arce, Executive Director of Fresno Rescue
Mission who we featured on the cover of our
second anniversary issue, spoke to the crowd
about the work that happens daily at their
facility. He also brought a generous gift of $500
as a donation to the magazine.

The Shekinah Children's Choir and Dancers
returned with singing and dancing and really
had the place jumpin'! Dot Powell introduced
several contributing writers, including the
Managing Editor, Kim Bagato.

The evening concluded with a beautiful song by

Iris Person. Everyone was blessed by her angelic
voice and sweet spirit.

Please join us for future Salt Shaker Showcase
events. Each one is completely different than
the last, so you won't want to miss out!