A Year of Fatherhood

I remember one night, just over a year ago, that little face desperately needed to sleep but he couldn't quite get there on his own. Weighing just over 7 pounds, I held him in my arms deep into the night, pacing back and forth in the bedroom, trying to comfort him to sleep. At times I even fell asleep in the rocking chair with Samuel in my arms. I remember looking at him, so small, in such a large world, looking back at me as he fell asleep. Those late nights were the beginning of a brand new season in my life.

As time went by and Samuel grew, he grew a little less snuggly towards me. One day he would fall asleep on my chest and the next day he just wanted his blanket and bassinet. I missed those earlier snuggly days now and again, regardless of the sleep I lost.

It just so happened tonight, Samuel is just about 13 months old, and he was having trouble sleeping. It seemed like the kind of situation where he just couldn't quite get there on his own, though he is often a great sleeper. So, I ventured into his sleepy room to find my little buddy sitting up and upset. I picked him up and took a seat with him in our rocking chair. It took a few minutes for him to collect himself, but after a little bit he laid back in my lap, rested his head on my arm, clasped his blankie and just stared at me with a constant grin. Suddenly it was like we were back in the first weeks of his life, those same eyes locked with mine. We stared at each other until he eventually began to doze off, slowly closing his eyes and opening them again to make sure I was still looking at him. Finally, he fell asleep again in my arms.

It's been a year of fatherhood, and I've only experienced the first year of my child's life, but I know that this will be a night I will never forget, like those nights when he was first born, that little face at peace in my arms. I know one day he'll go off to school, work, start a family, and go wherever the Lord takes him, but nothing defines our lives quite like our childhood. No matter where Samuel goes to school or what he does with his life, he is my son.

It is encouraging for me to remember, as a believer, I am first and foremost God's son. No matter what I've done, or whatever my assignment on earth may be, I am a son of God. My love for Samuel is primarily rooted in the fact that he is my son (secondarily that he's just so darn cute), and I can't image loving him any more or any less. It blows my mind to think that God loves me same way, with all of his heart, not because of what I do, but simply because I'm His son, and no lie of the devil can take that away.

Why We Do What We Do

When looking at the percentage of Bible-based believers in America from one generation to the next, researchers have found some very alarming trends.

- "Builders" (born 1927-1945): 65% Bible-based believers
- "Boomers" (born 1946-1964): 35% Bible-based believers
- "Busters" (born 1965-1983): 16% Bible-based believers
- "Bridgers" (born after 1984): 4% Bible-based believers

Historically, when the percentage of Bible-based believers drops to 2%, a nation is beyond recovery. When researchers studied the percentage of the American population that agreed with a "Biblical Worldview," they found that historiclaly 9% of adults agree with all of the Bible's teachings, but less than 0.5% of those born after 1984 agree. Over 80% of churchgoers become Christian before the age of 18. Once a person reaches 20 years of age, the odds of reaching that person falls to 10%. The Southern Baptist Convention’s Family Life Council found that 88% of Christian youth fall away in college in 2002. LifeWay conducted a similar study in 2007 and found that 70% of Christian youth fall away in college, and only 35% ever return.

These statistics reveal the greatest mission field in America, our high schools and universities. High schools are of specific importance because of the large percentage of believers who are saved before the age of 18. If high schools are America's greatest mission field, then students are America's greatest missionary!

The Lord is raising up a nationwide prayer movement in the schools of America. All over the nation, students are answering the call to prayer in their schools like never before! There is a sovereign move of God happening before our eyes. It was in December, 2007, that the Lord challenged me saying, "Can you raise up a prayer movement in the schools of Kansas City that contends with the plans of the enemy for their generation?" Since then, we've learned through history of the profound importance of prayer in school, from its removal to its present return, prayer in school changes the nation.

This is why we have dedicated our lives in this season to respond to this crisis. While destructive trends in our youth culture are ever increasing, God is raising up a holy rebellion. The Lord has always called the Nazirite messengers out of the youth of the nation, and He is doing it again today in America. We live in a historic hour, and while the crisis is unprecidented we're seeing a return to prayer that is transforming schools like no other time in history. God's promises prevail: "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).


I want to encourage you to listen to a message given by Allen Hood, the President of the International House of Prayer University, at the Fasciante youth conference this summer on the urgency of the hour and the call to form a prayer culture in our schools. 


It is our hope that you would be encouraged to go before the Lord in prayer on our behalf as we believe for a historic shift in our nation. Your prayers do not go unheard! If you would like more information on our ministry and how to partner with us, visit our website at www.loganbloom.com.
  
For His Glory,
Logan Bloom
Director of High School Missions at IHOPKC

Donate