“One can easily judge a man’s character by how he treats those who can do nothing for him or to him”. Malcomb S. Forbes Dr. Ed Cole adds this to a man’s duty, “Men’s three-fold responsibility is to guide, guard and govern.” ~ Edwin Cole
Rescue 1 Global operates as a ministry dedicated to preventing human trafficking, rescuing victims, and facilitating the restoration of those who have experienced trafficking. The choice of the article title, “The Character of a Man and a Boy,” stems from a straightforward reasoning: if men embodied true honor and genuine masculinity, societal issues such as pornography, trafficking, prostitution, and abuse from husbands and boyfriends would cease to exist.
Throughout history, there have been instances of men falling short in their divine roles as leaders, husbands, and fathers. The repercussions of absentee fathers have been profound, leading to a significant number of children growing up without proper fatherly guidance and subsequently becoming societal “problems.”
According to the America First Policy Institute, 70% of long-term prison inmates come from fatherless homes.
71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
Children without fathers are 20 times more likely to end up incarcerated.
Children without fathers are 11 times more likely to exhibit violent behavior.
Children who grow up with absent fathers can suffer lasting damage.
Children raised without a father are five times more likely to commit crimes.
According to the US Department of Justice, daughters who don’t have biological fathers are 900% more likely to be victims of sexual abuse and rape. Fatherless children are also 14 times more likely to become rapists. 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. [US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census]
80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes.
[Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, pp. 403-26, 1978]
71% of pregnant teenagers lack a father.
[U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release, Friday, March 26, 1999]
63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.
[US D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census]
85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes.
[Center for Disease Control]
One can see easily how we are losing our youth. For the issue of heinous abuse of young women in sex trafficking, we also must address the prolific nature of pornography, which feeds this crime. Before you read the next statistics, these are not the general population, this is the church!
68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis.
Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76% actively search for porn.
59% of pastors said that married men seek their help for porn use.
33% of women aged 25 and under search for porn at least once per month.
Only 13% of self-identified Christian women say they never watch porn—
87% of Christian women have watched porn.
55% of married men and 25% of married women say they watch porn at least once a month.
57% of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation.
69% say porn has adversely impacted the church.
This must come to an end! Even when others may not be watching, it’s crucial to recognize that God is always observing. If we aim to restore our society, we cannot afford to be hypocrites – advocating for love and redemption while indulging in questionable activities like watching pornography at home. God’s scrutiny is unwavering.
It’s time for men to awaken and stand resolute for their families, especially fathers guiding their sons. Numerous studies emphasize that a child tends to imitate a father’s actions rather than merely heeding his words. To cultivate young men into leaders, protectors, and individuals of valor, fathers must exemplify these virtues. Equally important is the role of other male figures in boys’ lives, emphasizing the teaching of character through actions, not just words.
Reflecting on personal experiences, I had a boss during my college summer breaks in Texas while working on water and wastewater projects. He emphasized the importance of hard and smart work, promising fair compensation. However, he also prioritized spiritual matters. If someone needed to discuss God, Jesus, or sought prayer, he urged us to set aside our tools and invest time in those conversations. Despite potential financial setbacks, he practiced what he preached, ministering to others on the job.
This commitment to values is one of the reasons I’m proud to be part of The Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce board. It allows me to contribute to helping business leaders prioritize Jesus in their enterprises and lead by example.
Character is everything! Even the godless can have good character, but it is easier for those of us who are Christians because Jesus told us how and lived it for us to emulate.
Trafficking is a huge and very real problem right here in our city because men are becoming mindless wimps, only out to satisfy themselves. Why? That is a whole other topic with many reasons. Yes, we need a ministry like Rescue 1 Global, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t, and we had men of God who cherished others lives and protected rather than used and abused them?
Men, armor up, put God first, walk away from temptation, read the word, gather together and encourage each other and for the sake of our future, teach the boys about character, honor, truth, selflessness, loyalty, respect, integrity, courage. Help Rescue 1 Global with their ministry while this trafficking problem exists, go to https://rescue1global.org/ to give and/or volunteer.
Michael G. Carnes
