Making an impact and changing lives!
Flight36 exists to provide fatherless boys with godly male role models whom they can grow with in healthy, affirming relationships while flying higher spiritually on their journey with God.
Although having fathers reengage in their homes is the best scenario for healthy development, this is not always an option. Most single moms would agree the next best thing would be godly men who have a heart to simply inspire their sons, encouraging them to grow in their masculinity and spirituality as God intended.
Fatherless homes account for:
* 90% of all homeless and runaway children
* 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
* 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers
* 70% of juveniles in state-operated detention centers
* 70% of all high school dropouts
* 65% of youth suicides
* 60% Poor grades or grades substantially below ability
* 63% Subjective psychological problem (defined as anxiety, moodiness, phobias, and depression)
While these staggering statistics are heartbreaking in the least, we at Flight36 believe they can be all together avoided through the proper channels.
While we will not, in anyway, replace missing fathers, we will engage in the activities that fathers and sons have enjoyed through the ages. We will build model rockets, attend baseball games, play sports and go biking together, just to name a few of those activities.
The boys will also learn to give back to God in love and gratitude through regular service projects and raising support for ministries within their home church. We will serve alongside other ministries to bless single moms, orphans and the elderly in our community.
Flight36 would not be complete without the discipleship aspect of the program. During the time enrolled in our program, the boys will go through a biblical training program. We will focus on foundational topics such as God’s love, being good stewards, forgiveness and understanding our purpose in life.
Our prayer is that the young boys we minister to will learn to love and trust their true Father who will “never leave them nor forsake them” through developing caring and encouraging relationships with men who honor and revere their Father, God.
We have a purpose and a plan!
The purpose of Flight36 seemed apparent when we discovered a pattern established in the lives of men that grew up in a father-absent home. We have outlined this pattern below. Though we cannot prove this to be true in all men, the men we discussed this cycle with found similar patterns in their own lives.
We believe God is using Flight36 to minimize the potential destruction of the cycle in the boys who participate in our program. By creating healthy, affirming relationships while relating life situation to Biblical principles, we can make a difference. The cycle contains four parts as shown in the diagram below. Each part playing a role of the next effected behavior.
If God is not the center of their lives, they will find someone or something to center their lives on which will ultimately lead to a chaotic and destructive lifestyle. These negative choices affect themselves and those around them.
Feeling of Abandonment
The result of the feeling of abandonment is the inability to feel love from others. People have tendency not to trust and build walls for protection.
Fear of Intimacy
The result of the fear of intimacy is the inability to develop authentic relationships. People have a tendency to be skeptical of others love or affection.
Sense of Independence
The result of having a sense of independence is the total reliance upon one’s own abilities to accomplish and complete tasks and meet goals. People have a tendency to feel alone and develop false expectations for those around them.
Lack of Positive Affirmation
People who lack affirmation from a positive source will eventually find it in other areas, usually unfulfilling and sometimes dangerous.
If God is not the center of their lives, they will find someone or something to center their lives on which will ultimately lead to a chaotic and destructive lifestyle. These negative choices affect themselves and those around them.
We are going to war!
Our mission is to combat the cycle that could potentially build up in the boys we serve before it is to late.
We will accomplish this mission by surrounding each boy with a fleet of men who will listen, support and encourage them as they learn about themselves and the plan God has marked out for them. The best way for Flight36 to impact the lives of these young boys is to spend as much quality time with them as possible.
We provide the boys in our program with over 40 opportunities (100+ hours) for mentoring and participation in the recreation events, group meetings, Bible studies and community service projects hosted by the Flight36 staff and our sponsors.
Specifically, the boys in our program may participate in the following:
- Recreation Events (Baseball games, biking, bowling, flag football, fishing, etc.)
- Small Group Bible Studies (Life application, round-table discussions and character development)
- Community Outreach and Service Projects
- Fundraising Events (Funds to benefit other ministries and organizations)
- Summer Camps and Workshops
- Family Day Retreats
Boys in our program receive the following:
- Enrollment into our three-year leadership academy
- Boys Flight Manual containing all study materials and resources required for our program
- 36 Round-Table Discussion Outlines for the mother/son weekly devotionals
- 36 Scripture Memorization Cards
- Boys Study Bible, Daily Devotions Book and Journal
- Flight36 logoed t-shirt for community outreach and service projects
- Flight36 logoed polo dress shirt for special occasions
- Military dog tags displaying name, rank, local chapter and emergency telephone numbers
By doing so, we can eliminate the feeling of abandonment. We can show them how to build healthy relationships and discuss how God has made each of us to love and work in community with one another. And finally, the men of Flight36 provide encouragement, positive affirmation and a witness as to where they can find their true significance and security in life. We can point to God, their true father who will never leave them nor forsake them.
If you would like further information or have questions regarding our philosophy, please contact the office.