In this episode of the Fathering Strong podcast, host Eli Williams speaks with Mike Mattes, leader of Kingdom Dads, about the importance of fatherhood, intentional parenting, and building strong family relationships. Mike shares personal stories from his own upbringing and fatherhood journey, emphasizing the significance of modeling behavior, reading with children, and affirming their worth. The conversation also delves into the challenges of being present as a father, the creation of Kingdom Dads to support fathers in their roles, and the vision for future generations of intentional dads.

Takeaways

- Modeling behavior is crucial for children.

- Reading with kids fosters a love for learning.

- Intentional one-on-one time strengthens parent-child relationships.

- Affirmation helps build children's self-worth.

- Family devotions create a rhythm of faith in the home.

- Dads should communicate openly with their spouses about parenting.

- Community support is vital for fathers.

- Small, consistent actions can lead to significant changes.

- Presence in the moment is essential for meaningful relationships

.- The future of fatherhood relies on intentionality and community.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Fatherhood and Personal Stories

04:35 - The Importance of Reading and Modeling Behavior

10:35 - Building Individual Relationships with Children

11:36 -Training Up Children in the Right Way

17:12 - Communication and Collaboration in Parenting

22:28 - The Challenge of Presence in Fatherhood

24:33 - Finding Joy in Fatherhood

26:00 - The Birth of Kingdom Dads

30:01 - Building Community Among Dads35:50 - The Future Vision for Kingdom Dads

41:03 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Dads

You can reach Mike Mattes at https://kingdomdads.org/ or email at mdmattes@kingdomdads.org.

For a full transcript of the podcast, go to https://www.urbanlight.org.

The podcast is recorded and produced by Bruce Stapleton, https://www.movementum.com