Blog Tour: "Fatherless Generation" by John Sowers

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John Sowers, Fatherless Generation: Redeeming the Story. Zondervan, 2010. 138 pgs. 

Thank you once again to engagingchurchblog.com for hosting this blog tour and providing the book for me to review.  

In this book Sowers tells the story of burgeoning fatherlessness in America and the results of this ongoing tragedy.  He tells this story through a mix of personal stories, both his own and those from others, information on what is happening and the consequences of it, and biblical passages which reveal the heart of God on this matter.  In short, being fatherless is having massive negative consequences on the lives of young men and women and we, as God's people, need to step up to be fathers to the fatherless, just as God himself proclaims that He is a father to the fatherless.    The book is divided into two sections.  The first examines the problem and the second examines the solution.  Sowers paradigm for helping is that of redeeming the story which, to him, means helping people who are fatherless to still turn their lives to good.  He urges the reader to get involved in this through mentorship and community.  

Fatherless Generation is a quick, clear, and motivating read.  It sounds a call which more churches and Christians need to hear and answer.  Single parent families are entirely too common.  We know about the negative consequences and, as Sowers shares, we also know how to ameliorate many of them while having a lasting impact in the lives of individuals who desperately need help.  

I found this book to be well written and interesting.  Sowers' blend of story with exhortation was very compelling.  After finishing this book I was left wanting in both the biblical theology and the practical application of solutions.  Therefore, I think the book would have benefited from being split into three sections, adding a dedicated middle section to the biblical theology which shows how important this is.  Doing so would have allowed for more dedicated time to be spent both on the biblical background as well as the practical working out of solutions.  

Conclusion: 4 out of 5 stars.  Recommended.  This is a real problem and we need to be God's light and love in the midst of it.  

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