Archive for month: July, 2019

Parents have a multitude of concerns in today’s complicated culture. Is my child happy and healthy? Am I guiding him on the right path? Are we helping her become the best person she can be?

For Christian parents, these questions take on a biblical nature as well—or at least they should, says the American Pastors Network (APN).

APN President Sam Rohrer, host of the popular daily radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today,” heard on several hundred stations nationwide, recently explored the topic of “Raising Godly Children in America Today” over the airwaves.

Especially as Purposeful Parenting Month in July winds down, Rohrer says raising children in a godly way is one of the most important jobs of any Christ-follower.

“There is no substitute for Mom and Dad when it comes to raising children,” Rohrer said during the program. “Why? Because it’s God’s model. God says to mothers and fathers, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go.’ In the Old Testament, God made it very clear. Fathers primarily have the ultimate responsibility to give their children the precepts of God’s instruction—to do what God’s Word says, and to do it regularly. That means when they sit down, when they rise up, when they go to sleep.

“In other words,” Rohrer added, “a continual illustration of God’s Word should be made by Mom and Dad, and particularly by dads, on what it looks like to be a father. Who is the model? God in heaven, the Father. Additionally, government is not a substitute for parents, especially since the U.S. government through the Supreme Court removed the 10 Commandments and prayer from schools. Since then, God and God’s Word have increasingly been cleansed from the public schools, there cannot be any instruction in the way of God, God’s view of morality or God’s view of sexuality.

“We as Christian parents and grandparents must know what God’s Word says about respect and honor,” he continued. “Why? Because government has purged the educational system of all those things. If parents rely on government, they will be raising a government child, not a God-looking child.”

For the program about raising godly children, “Stand in the Gap Today” hosts were joined by Tim Schneider, who serves as APN’s Radio and Social Media Manager. Together, the APN leaders discussed tips to help parents seeking to raise godly children in modern-day America. Listen to the clips below on this topic:

• Parental Responsibility for Children: How are parents especially equipped to help society by being responsible for their children in a way that the government and church cannot?
• Danger in Public Education Dependency: How is there danger for parents in thinking that the school system is responsible for teaching their children how to function in society when God has given that role to parents?
• Ups and Downs of Growing up in a Single-Parent Home: Schneider shares his testimony of being raised in a single-parent home. He discusses the ups and downs experienced and his change of heart toward his father who was absent most of his life.
• A Father to the Fatherless: Schneider grew up in a home where his father wasn’t present. Many men and families at his church saw the need and stepped up to fill the void. He shares some advice to fathers and grandfathers about looking for and helping someone in a similar situation in their spheres of influence.
• Parental Advice: Children today are growing up in fatherless homes. What advice is there for single parents who are struggling to raise children?
• Marriage Advice What advice is there in a marriage for a spouse that has left or wronged the other?

To lisen to the entire program on raising godly children, click here; view the entire transcript from the program here.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

American Pastors Network President Sam Rohrer: When Church Attendees Feel Connected to the Pastor, They Are More Likely to Keep Attending and Engage in the Church

PHILADELPHIA—A new AP-NORC poll has discovered a surprising practice among regular churchgoers.

They rarely go to their pastors for advice.

The survey found that a large majority of Americans make important decisions without calling on their religious leaders, with three-quarters saying they rarely or never consult a clergy member or religious leader, while only about a quarter do so at least some of the time.

The American Pastors Network (APN) is looking at this study as perhaps a commentary on the American church.

APNPresident Sam Rohrer, host of the popular daily radio program, “Stand in the Gap Today,” heard on more than 425 stations nationwide, as well as the daily radio feature, “Stand in the Gap Minute,” says the relationship between pastors and people in the pews has changed over several decades.

“Churches are changing—that fact is undeniable,” Rohrer said. “Even as few as five or 10 years ago, most parishioners wouldn’t have thought twice about going to their pastor for counsel. These conversations in the offices of pastors were commonplace. Now, for a host of reasons, these times to talk about the issues that are on the hearts of church attendees aren’t as frequent—and that is unfortunate. One reason is that if church attendees feel connected to the pastor and leadership, they are more likely to not only keep attending on a regular basis, but also to become engaged in the life of the church. Secondly, in an age when technology drives much of what we do, personal connection is paramount. Face-to-face interaction, especially with our pastors, will keep us grounded in our faith and as a contributing member of the Body of Christ.”

One churchgoer interviewed by AP for coverage on the poll said being a part of a larger church and being relatively new attendees were reasons counsel was not sought from the senior pastor. This same lack of personal connection spills into other areas as well. This same churchgoer said, for example, that rather than calling someone to ask for help on a health insurance question, he spent an hour online searching for answers.

As for church attendance in general, the poll found that about a third of Americans say they attend church or other religious services at least twice a month; roughly a quarter never go. As expected, those who attend more often are more likely to consult with a religious leader.

“We hope and pray that pastors are doing everything they can to communicate that their office doors are open to their church attendees,” Rohrer said. “Even as churches grow and we find ways to get advice and answer questions online, there is no replacement for the interaction that God calls the members of His family to have.”