Who let the Dads out?

17 June 2009

A conversation with the mums at a church under-fives group has led to a thriving dads' movement, which has tapped into the huge potential for men's ministry in Cambridge.

Church Army Evangelist Alan Lowe and his wife Heather, who co-ordinates the under-fives work, led the setting up of 'Who let the Dads out?' over a year ago, at St Barnabas Church. The group enables dads and their under-fives to spend time in a combination of free play, chat, toast, bible stories and activities. Or, as this photo shows, being bandaged to illustrate the story of the Good Samaritan! Now, in this part of the world at least, 'Fathers' Day' is every first Saturday of the month!

'Who let the Dads out?' now has a team of Church Dads who make it all happen, supported by Alan and Heather. Alan and Heather help create the welcoming atmosphere as well as organising the much loved food break! The Church Dads hold their planning meetings in a local pub, and hope to use venues like that for ‘Dads and faith’ meetings, which are the next step in the development of their ministry. It has proved an easy way to build relationships with other men that can easily lead to faith sharing. They see the group as a ministry where they come to serve others and not only benefit themselves.

At 'Who let the Dads out?' it is the church men (without under-fives) who give up their time to make bacon sandwiches for the men rolling around on the floor with their children. Heather is the only female in attendance at this monthly men's group. In her words: "It’s a real privilege to meet the Dads, and thereby get to know the whole family. Most of the groups I run contain only women, with men attending very occasionally."

And what of the mums? Alan says they are pleased that the dads are no longer "left out of the picture", whilst also gaining precious time they can spend with older children or simply taking a well-earned break.