There seems to be a message resonating in the Body of Christ and that is the value of spiritual parenting.  Particularly, those having the Father heart of God, embracing young people with the desire to help them realize their destiny as a Christ follower.  Although I am 48 and should be in my prime as a pastor, my professional calling for over 22 years, I am much more excited about seeing those my son and daughters age blossom to their fullness, than any career move I might make.

The generation that is graduating from our high schools and colleges in these challenging, uncertain times ,will bear the torch that will change the world.  We saw that with the election of Barack Obama as our 44th President.  He was elected with the promise of hope emanating from his lips.  More young people voted for his message of hope than ever and they are believing that he will change the face of politics.  .  The true message of hope is found in Colossians 1:27, “Christ in you the hope of glory”.  God himself wants to use us, which means He chooses to partner with mere humanity, to bring hope and change to the world around us based on the principals found in His Word.

While change is exhilarating and exciting, there has to be substance.  We have found that good ideals and programs not founded on truth come up short.  Of course the truth I'm referring to is the Truth contained in His Word, as well as what we see in His creation, including the creation of the ideas He births within each one of us for Kingdom purposes.  Truth can be found in His creation, within those whom He created for His glory.  This generation has the greatest opportunity ever as the spirit of religion is beginning to be found wanting and is being laid bare.  Jesus is making a public spectacle of anything that smacks of man's tradition and this includes religion.  The Apostle Paul had this in mind when he explained to the church at Corinth what our place is in Christ...

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us  in triumph in Christ an through us, He brings the knowledge of Christ.  Everywhere we go, people breathe the exquisite fragrance"
II Corinthians 2:14
He further says,
"And we have such trust through Christ toward God, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit;for the letter kids, but the Spirit gives life."
II Corinthians 3:4-6
So we as spiritual parents - fathers, if you will, are tasked with the responsibility of helping to remove he veil over the glory of our young people who are artiesians, musicians, artists, writers, producers, directors, teachers, etc, who can rise to the top of their industries capturing the 7 mountains of society.  These according to Lance Wallnau are Religion/Church, Family, Education, Government, Media, Art and Business.  Those who control these mind molder regions of society will influence the world.  We then, as fathers, seasoned by time and experience, must commit to take a young person or a new Christ follower under our wing and show them how they can impact society.  When Jesus said make disciples; though evangelism is part of the deal, He was actually saying..."While you are going ...while you are living out your life according to your gifts and calling, teach someone else how to follow Him."

When reading the Scripture found in Malachi, prophesying the coming of John the Baptist, we find these words, "And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers lest come and strike the earth with a curse."  The actual thought here is not that we are going to have some new fatherhood movement.  Rather that He will turn the hearts of the Patriarchal fathers to the children - The patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - in other wards, they would once again return to the foundation of their faith in the Last Days.  Our mission  then, as fathers, is to guide young people to a foundation that has it's substance in God's Word and then help them navigate life according to their giftings.