Dear pastors and fellow workers in Christ,
I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ.
For anyone who wants to drive their car on the road, they must first undergo rigorous training and obtain a driver's license. This is a necessary safety measure, not only to protect oneself, but also to protect the lives of others. However, for men to start a family, they usually do not undergo any training but naturally assume the role of fatherhood. Without proper preparation, they find themselves responsible for nurturing children, often relying on their own instincts or mirroring the ways of their own fathers as their only reference point. As the saying goes, "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." If the father had grown up in an unhealthy environment, his children will also be thus affected. If obtaining a driver's license is important for the safety of oneself and others' lives, then fatherhood training is even more crucial, because it involves shaping the character and lives of children.
The Education Committee has been emphasising the importance of fatherhood training since last year, leading to the establishment of the “Better Dad" workshops and teacher training sessions. We thank the Lord that last year, we successfully trained qualified teachers in various dioceses who are now able to teach fatherhood courses directly in their respective dioceses or churches. You can obtain the contact information of qualified teachers from the diocesan leaders or the Education Committee members for the purpose of organising fatherhood courses in your congregation in order to enhance the awareness and spirituality of fatherhood among the brothers in your church.
In order to continue promoting the importance of fatherhood awareness, the Education Committee will continue to promote the “Better Dad” ministry this year. We hope that pastors and church leaders will actively encourage their brothers to participate in this ministry within the church. Below are the details of this year's “Better Dad”- related ministry content and schedule:
1. Back to school with dad campaign
Date: 1/3~31/3 (Whole of March)
Target Audience: Brothers who are fathers
Format:
A. Write encouraging words on a card, or prepare a small gift as a surprise. (Please refer to the “Better Dad” card, or download and print card from https://www.back2schoolwithdad.com )
B. Secretly place it in the child's school bag, preferably with their lunch box. Let the child discover this unexpected surprise during break time.
C. Take a photo in advance and upload it to Facebook and Instagram; or take a photo with the child afterwards and upload it. Hashtag #back2schoolwithdad #lcm.my
D. Tag at least 3 fathers to join the initiative together, turning it into a movement.
2. “Better Dad” workshop
Date: 27th April 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: LCM HQ
Audience: Brothers within LCM who are fathers
Registration Deadline: 22nd April 2024 (Monday)
Format:
A. Receive instruction from qualified teachers to raise awareness about the importance of fatherhood.
B. Participate in group discussions and sharing sessions to learn from each other's experiences, and inspire one another to fulfill their roles as good fathers.
We sincerely hope that pastors and leaders will actively promote this event within the church and encourage your brothers to participate. Attached with this letter are the event posters, encouragement videos from the bishop and secretary, as well as promotional clips. Please ensure that these promotional materials are presented during church services. We deeply appreciate your support.
Here are the requested videos:
Bishop's Encouragement Video (English): http://tinyurl.com/
BDMEnglishIntro
Secretary's Encouragement Video (Chinese): http://tinyurl.com/
BDMChineseIntro
Promotional Video (C/E): http://tinyurl.com/BDMPromo1
Thank you, may God strengthen the work of your hands, and may your efforts be established by God!
Best regards,
Rev Myron Goh (Chairman of education department)
亲爱的主内牧者与同工们,我在耶稣基督里向你们问安。
每一个人要开车上路以前,都必须经过严格的训练并考取驾照才得在道路中行驶,这是必要的安全措施,不单是保护自己,也是重视他人的生命。然而,成立家庭的弟兄,却不在任何的训练之下,自然的就接受父职,成为了一名父亲。他人在还未接受装备之下,就必须教养孩子,各人按着自己以为对的方式,或参考父亲的方式来培育他们,因为这是他们唯一的参考对象。
所谓上梁不正下梁歪,若父亲在不健康的环境之下成长,其孩子也将受影响。如果考取驾照是为了自己和他人的生命安全,那么父职训练更不可忽视,因为这是关乎到孩子生命品格的建造!
教育组自去年开始,就看重父职训练的重要性,于是才有了“好爸爸”的工作坊和教师训练。感谢主,我们去年已经在各个教区训练了好爸爸的合格教师,他们已经能在各个教区或教会中直接教导父职课程。
您可以向教区长或教育组委员取得合格老师的联络方式,并在您的堂会举办父职课程,提升您堂会弟兄父职的意识和灵性。我们为了继续提升父职意识的重要性,今年教育组将继续推广好爸爸事工,希望牧者与教会领袖们,在教会积极鼓励你们的弟兄来参与。以下是今年好爸爸相关的事工内容和时间:
1. “ 与爸爸返校运动 ”
日期: 1/3~31/3(整个三月开学期)
对象: 拥有父职的弟兄们
形式:
A. 在纸卡上写鼓励的话,,或准备一份小礼物作为惊喜。
(请参考与爸爸返校纸卡,或下载列印卡片 https://www.back2schoolwithdad.com)
B.偷偷放在孩子的书包内,建议和餐盒一起。让孩子在休息期间发现这意外惊喜。
C.事先拍照并上传至 Facebook 和 Instragam;或事后与孩子一同拍照上传亦可。请标记 #back2schoolwithdad #lcm.my
D.标记至少 3 位父亲一起加入行动,让它成为一种运动。
2. “ 好爸爸工作坊 ”
日期:27/4/24(星期六)
时间:9a.m.~5p.m.
地点:信义会总会大楼
对象:全国信义会中父职的弟兄们
报名截止:22/4/24(星期一)
形式:
A. 接受合格老师的授课,意识父职的重要性。
B. 参与小组讨论与分享,彼此学习以获得经验,激发弟兄作好父职角色。
我们真诚的期盼牧者和领袖们积极地在教会中报告,并鼓励你们的弟兄们来参与活动。随函附上活动的海报内容、会督与秘书长的鼓励视频以及宣传短片,请各位务必在堂会播放宣传短片和报告。感激不尽。
会督鼓励短片(英文): http://tinyurl.com/BDMEnglishIntro
秘书长鼓励短片(中文): http://tinyurl.com/BDMChineseIntro
宣传短片(中英文): http://tinyurl.com/BDMPromo1
感恩,愿上帝坚立您手中所作的工,愿您所作的工蒙上帝建立!
吴辉宾牧师 (总会教育部主席)