Lipscomb hosts Championship Fathering to strengthen families

Janel Shoun | 

Currently, more than 27 million children -- 39% of all U.S. children -- now live apart from their father. In a typical year, well over one-third of these children won't even see their dad.

The National Center for Fathering is working to turn those statistics around. The Center has partnered with Lipscomb University to present the two-day seminar Championship Fathering on March 28 and 29 at Lipscomb’s Ezell Center in Nashville.

Building on the successful Father-Daughter Summits that drew more than 1,000 people in the past two years, Lipscomb and the Center for Fathering are offering an option this year that will bring enhanced parenting skills to all fathers (not just the fathers of daughters). In addition, fathers are encouraged to bring their wives to the 7 p.m., Friday session exploring “The Power of Parenting.”

The Championship Fathering seminar will inspire fathers to make a real difference in the lives of their children, provide easy-to-use parenting models, and discuss three essential keys to good fathering: love, coaching and modeling healthy living. The program will be geared for the faith community, exploring the spiritual foundations of fathering, the barriers to effective fathering and how to pass on faith to children.

Until March 13, tickets cost $30 for fathers to attend the entire two-day seminar and $15 for wives to attend the Friday session. After that, tickets cost $40 to attend the entire seminar and $20 for the Friday night session. Pre-registration is recommended, at www.fathers.com, but walk-ins will be accepted on the day of the event.

The Championship Fathering seminar will include an optional Saturday morning session for dads in challenging circumstances (step-fathers, single dads and divorced dads) at 6:30 a.m. The Saturday general session for men only, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., will discuss "The Fundamentals and Beyond."

The Championship Fathering seminar will feature presentations by:

  • Jim Moore, founder of Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students), a program of the national center. Watch D.O.G.S. works to promote positive fathering through the public schools of America. Moore has been called on to speak on behalf of the White House and the U.S. Department of Education on the subject of fathers’ involvement in children’s lives.
  • Carey Casey, CEO of the National Center for Fathering and father of four. Casey was a long-time staffer at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before coming to the center. He was also one of the high school athletes on the football team made famous in Remember the Titans.

The National Center for Fathering has been researching fathering for 18 years and the Championship Fathering seminar was developed based on that research. The Center is the only national organization focused on equipping men to be the involved fathers, grandfathers and father figures their children need.

To see statistics on the current state of fatherlessness in our country click here.

“The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and the family relations program in particular, have partnered with the National Center for Fathering a number of times in the past. We are excited to have them back on campus to present what is always an outstanding program,” said John Conger, director of the family relations program at Lipscomb.

For more details on the Championship Fathering seminar and speakers click here.