Hard-working dad, Peter Morison, admits that he has been "shaken up' by Bible-based workshops on how to be a better father run by his church, Springwood Anglican.
"It's shaken me up a bit to think about the time I spend with my kids," he says. "It was said that if you spend more than 60 hours away from your kids you are not really cutting it as a father,"
More than 50 men from Springwood and Winmalee Anglican churches attended this weekend's workshop where local fathers David Blanch and Rob Powell, spoke on "what do my kids need from me'.
This was the second of three fatherhood seminars being run over a six week period.
As a manager, Peter spends long hours away from my family, and says he is now trying to renegotiate his hours.
"It was very helpful to hear from one of the local dads, David Blanch, who does a Bible study with his kids after dinner ," Peter says. "I found it amazing how helpful that has been, not just how it has helped his children grow spiritually but how it has bonded them as a nuclear family."
"I'm now trying to get home for dinner with my kids and do what David does."
At the first seminar the Rev James Davidson from St Paul's Carlingford argued that there is a need to reclaim a biblical view of fatherhood radically different to that of our society.
The Bible, he says, does not regard child rearing as a "women's issue'.
Mr Davidson highlighted the Bible's view on the responsibility of fathers and gave some practical tips to help Christian fathers fulfil those responsibilities.
Men were encouraged to be teaching the Bible to their kids and not to think they could "sub-contract' away this responsibility to Sunday School teachers, or even to their wives.
A number of resources were made available to help fathers lead daily family devotions.
"The feedback suggests that the first workshop really got blokes thinking more intentionally about their role and responsibilities as fathers," says assistant minister, Craig Schafer, who organised the workshops.
"For some it was a bit of a wake up call that got them questioning their existing priorities. Many expressed a strong desire to think further about the "nuts and bolts' aspects, which is what we are picking up [at the current workshop] and at the third session."
"What Craig is doing is a fantastic initiative,' says Peter Morison. "It was encouraging to see that there are guys in the parish and beyond the parish who are really struggling with being a father."
Great outreach
Peter adds that the workshops have also been great as an outreach and to build friendships between the men.
"I am new to the congregation so it's been a great way to get to know the other guys," he says. "A number of guys who don't come regularly to church, so it was also a good opportunity for witness."
The men are being encouraged to read Tony Payne's book Fatherhood.
Mr Schafer said the workshops include "discussion time' which allows the dads to pick through the ideas in Tony's book.
A winning idea was starting the workshops with a BBQ and ending with dessert.
"They all liked the idea of starting and ending with food!" Mr Schafer said.
The final workshop is planned for August 11.
