//// ABOUT US

Who are we?

Go the Distance Ministries Inc., is a non-profit umbrella organization for men's spiritual development and fatherhood initiatives in West Michigan. Distinctly helping men to grow in the image of Christ as a man, and helping dads to have a lifelong positive impact on their children, Go the Distance Ministries believes that the local church can influence the culture for positive change.

The Need for Go The Distance

66 Million men make no profession of Christ

102 Million men have no regular discipleship

93% of all incarcerated are men
(Stats from Man in the Mirror 2006)
US is the world leader in fatherless homes

40% of kids in the US haven't seen their dad in over a year

50% of kids will spend half their childhood without a father-figure
(Stats from National Center for Fathering Jan 2006)

The Current State of Manhood and Fatherhood in America

Fact: Men are confused about what it means to be a man.

Reason: Boys have been taught by the culture that to be a man you have to be athletic, have the right friends, and have financial success. This is a materialistic definition of manhood and it is wrong. Masculinity is more than all of these. It is about loving God and loving others.

Fact: Dads are giving up on their Responsibility as a father.

Reason: Generational. The father repeats what he has known growing up. The absent father is often due to the absence of a responsible, influential father as a boy is growing up. As he becomes a father, the positive influences needed to break the negative cycle are not tools he has. It is easier for him to give up on his responsibility by physically or emotionally leaving. He has not learned to go the distance for his family.

The results of a fatherless nation manifest themselves through higher crime rate, increased drug usage, lower performance in school, and higher instances of emotional problems. “Fatherlessness” can be defined as a physical absence, or as a father who is physically present, but does not provide the necessary emotional support a child in today's culture needs. This result is that Fatherlessness in America is the number one social issue we face today.

How Did We Get Here?

The Cultural Perspective: Part of the problem can be traced back to the early 1960's to early 1970's, when no-fault divorces were put into law. Additionally, this period was the height of six major social issues: Civil Rights, Feminism, Ecology, War protest, Sexual Revolution, and Drug experiences. The Baby Boom Generation (1946-1964) grew up with a divorce rate of 15%, while 40% of Generation X (1965-1981) children grew up in divorced homes. The current Millennial generation (1982-present) is experiencing a 50% divorce rate for their parents. From between 1961 to 1971, the divorce rate grew by 165%.

Generation X is the smallest of the three generations due to major sociological factors occurring in their lifetime: Roe vs. Wade, Feminist Movement, and the introduction of birth control. Women began to take more control over whether children would come into the world or not, and men could not stop them. Gen X is a strong female generation, while males seek male role identity because 40% of them have grown up in female dominated homes.

The Biblical Perspective: This is a result of the fall of Adam and Eve at the beginning of Genesis, and the choices we make to live or not live in the light of God's plan for salvation through Jesus Christ. Satan's attempt to thwart God's design of constant relationship with him has caused a ripple effect of social and cultural issues. Without intervention, generations to come will suffer.

What Is Needed?

Men and dads need other friends, mentors and positive role models to walk with them and provide encouragement. Go the Distance Ministries seeks to get to the root cause and break the cycles of negativity and come alongside men and dads to offer them (and their families) hope for a better future.