Responses of adolescents regarding the indispensable role of the Christian father as mentor within the family: A qualitative study

Abstract

This empirical study explored and described the views about the Christian father as mentor within the family. An explorative, descriptive and interpretive qualitative design was followed in this research using purposive sampling. Respondents were selected by knowledge of the problem of father absence, mentoring, community involvement, leadership and prominence in society. Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews, and field notes were taken after each in-depth interview. Data analysis was conducted using open coding as well as an independent co-coder. The results of the empirical research in which respondents were involved, indicated that the Christian father as mentor is crucial and relevant in the current situation of families. Mentoring by the father is fundamental in the lives of children, and should be implemented and emphasised in the family context. As mentor, the father should nurture their souls and shape their character in order to become complete, whole and, by the grace of God, holy before him.

Negotiating nostalgia: A pastoral reflection on the notion of ‘home’ within the context of displacement on the African continent

“…It was later extended, amended and adapted from other studies on fatherhood, father absenteeism, uninvolved fathers and the fundamental task of a father in a family context (cf. Freeks 2013Freeks , 2016aFreeks , 2016bFreeks , 2017aFreeks , 2017bFreeks , 2017cFreeks , 2018aFreeks , 2018bFreeks, Greeff & Lotter 2015;Freeks & Lotter 2009Freeks, Strydom & Bartlett 2015). The fatherhood training and equipping programme has the potential to be expanded and make a positive impact on fathers to positively influence them against negative and destructive behaviour.…”

Views of mothers on the fundamental role of the Christian father as mentor in a nuclear family environment

“…The present study focused on mothers' views of the fundamental role the Christian father plays as mentor within a nuclear family environment. This study forms part of a previous article about the way adolescents respond to the indispensable role of the Christian father as mentor within the family (Freeks 2017).…”