Movie “Show Me the Father” Reflects Trail Life USA Mission to Demonstrate Roles of Godly Masculine Men
September 7, 2021
GREENVILLE, S.C.— No matter a person’s current relationship with their father, critics of “toxic masculinity” will have to agree that the bond (or lack thereof) between a father and child is crucial in the development of an individual. A father is meant to nuture, encourage, challenge, and inspire—a picture of God’s relationship with His children.
Society is currently trying to erase the idea of strong, traditional, biblical fatherhood. Certain national movements are condemning the masculinity of fatherhood, with messages designed to belittle traits that define biblical manliness, such as the love of adventure, challenges, and the great outdoors.
At Trail Life USA (TrailLifeUSA.com), however, biblical fatherhood and masculinity are molded and encouraged. Trail Life was founded on the idea that boys need spaces where they can just be boys—they can run around, climb a tree, and challenge themselves. A key aspect of Trail Life’s mission are relationships, both among the boys in the Troop as well as between the boy and his father or mentor. Many Trail Life Troopmasters are fathers, and Trail Life is proud to endorse the bond between a boy and his father.
“On the journey to manhood, boys need men who are involved, engaged, and intentional,” said Trail Life CEO Mark Hancock. “The reality is that boys need the examples and leadership of heroic men. Scripture, history, and personal experiences defy the untethered aims of culture and make clear the significant benefits of godly men who act as traditional masculine role models for boys.”
Hancock and other Trail Life leadership are not the only people attuned to the necessity of a good father figure. A new movie by the Kendrick brothers (creators of “War Room,” “Overcomer,” and “Courageous”) entitled “Show Me the Father,” documents the importance of fathers on an individuals’ life. The film has notable guest speakers and will dive into the comparison of an earthly father to the heavenly Father.
Recent studies have also shown that a manly father is good for children. A study published by Psychology of Men and Masculinities “…lists the stereotypical masculine characteristics—’competitive, daring, adventurous, dominant, aggressive, courageous and standing up to pressure’—as positive traits, and fathers who demonstrated these were ‘rated as showing good parenting behavior.’” These are the characteristics that help mold boys into godly young men and that fathers and other mentors involved in Trail Life can help to flourish.
“Boys will follow a man who dares to enter their world and helps them celebrate being a boy,” says Hancock. “Boys need men who are enthralled by their exuberance, acknowledge their abilities, pursue their passions, celebrate their strengths, and nurture their independence.
“Our society is plagued by absent or disengaged fathers. But willing men can make a difference!”
Trail Life USA is the premier national character development organization for young men, producing godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. Trail Life’s mission is to guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure. Troops exist in all 50 states and are growing as Trail Life USA expands around the country. Find a Troop for your son today, or Start a Troop in your area. Find out more at TrailLifeUSA.com.
Trail Life USA is a Church-Based, Christ-Centered, Boy-Focused mentoring and discipleship journey that speaks to the heart of a boy. Established on timeless values derived from the Bible and set in the context of outdoor adventure, boys from Kindergarten through 12th grade are engaged in a Troop setting by male mentors where they are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop practical leadership skills to carry out the mission for which they were created.
Since Trail Life USA launched on January 1, 2014, it has grown to over 30,000 members in over 850 Troops across the nation. The K-12 program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man’s skills. A robust awards program motivates young men to grow on a personal level to become role models and leaders among their peers. Living the Trail Life USA is a journey established on timeless values derived from the Bible.
Discover more about Trail Life USA at TrailLifeUSA.com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or Vimeo.
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To interview Mark Hancock from Trail Life USA, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.