I preached a Father’s Day message at our worship services at Victory Makati yesterday. Afterward, I had dinner with all my children and grandchildren. We shared good food, lots of laughter, and heartfelt stories. Moments like that are precious. They remind me how blessed I am to be a father—and now a grandfather.

But even in the joy of that evening, something heavy stayed with me: the reality of fatherlessness in our country.

Did you know that 57% of children born today in the Philippines are born out of wedlock? According to a recent World Health Organization–supported survey, there are about 15 million single or solo parents in the Philippines, with around 95% of them being women. That’s more than just a stat—it’s a national wound. It represents millions of children growing up without a father in the home, without the steady presence, guidance, protection, and love that a godly father can give.

And the consequences are heartbreaking. Boys grow up without learning what real manhood looks like. Girls grow up craving affirmation they never received. Mothers carry the weight alone. And sadly, this often leads to a cycle that repeats itself—generation after generation.

The effects of fatherlessness ripple through every part of society: increased poverty, lower educational outcomes, higher incarceration rates, emotional trauma, and relational instability. When the home is unstable, the entire nation is at risk.

We don’t just need more men. We need biblical men. We need godly fathers.

The Bible calls men to something higher, something better—not power or prestige, but presence, purpose, and responsibility.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”
— 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, ESV

This is the kind of manhood we need to recover in our generation. The kind of manhood that says, “I may not have had the best example growing up, but by the grace of God, I will be the example now.” The kind that serves, leads, protects, provides, and disciples.

Let me speak to two groups here:

To the Fatherless:

If you grew up without a father, I want you to know this—you are not alone. You are not less than. You are not forgotten. Even if your earthly father failed you or left you, your Heavenly Father never will.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
— Psalm 68:5, ESV

God is near to the brokenhearted. He restores what was lost. He is the perfect Father—loving, gracious, faithful, and present. Run to Him. Trust Him. Let Him heal you and reframe your story. Your identity is not in your earthly father’s absence—it is in God’s presence.

To the Men Without Role Models:

I know many men today feel unequipped to be fathers or leaders because no one ever showed them how. If that’s you, let me tell you something important: you’re not disqualified.

You may not have had a godly example, but that doesn’t mean you can’t become one. That’s what discipleship is for. That’s why community matters.

Surround yourself with godly men. Join a small group. Get mentored. Walk with brothers who will sharpen you. You were never meant to walk this alone.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
— Proverbs 27:17, ESV

But more than mentorship or community, you need the gospel. Jesus is the model of true manhood—strength under control, compassion with courage, servant leadership, and sacrificial love. He came not to be served, but to serve. He gave His life to reconcile us to the Father.

You may not have had a perfect father, but you have a perfect Savior who brings you to a perfect Father.

We are in a fatherhood crisis, but I believe there is hope. Hope in the gospel. Hope in the church. Hope in every man who chooses to rise above excuses and walk in the calling God has for him.

To all the men reading this: you are called. You are needed. You are more than able—through Christ.

Let’s rebuild the family by reclaiming biblical manhood.
Let’s stop the cycle of absence by choosing presence.
Let’s disciple our children and raise the next generation with love, truth, and courage.

Because when men walk with God, families are restored—and nations can heal.