RWM Partners with Promising Youth Alliance

Rick Wallace Ministries Partners With Promising Youth Alliance

Rick Wallace Ministries is proud to announce that it will be partnering with the Promising Youth Alliance to address the multitudinous issues that face our inner-city youth in the City of Dallas. Initially the efforts will be focused on the youth that reside in the Rosalind Homes in the central part of the city near Downtown Dallas.

As the president of RWM, it gives me great joy to be able to be a part of the great work that PYA is doing in the Rosalind Homes. Taking the time to understand the challenges that our inner-city youth are facing and being prepared to engage the youth concerning these issues is paramount to providing these young people with viable options they will need in order to lead to a successful and productive life. PYA is doing just that.

The Rosalind Homes are inundated with at risk youth. Why are they at risk? First of all, there is no male presence. The Rosalind Homes has a 95% female head of household ratio. What this means is that there is no true male influence in the homes and community in general. Without a positive male presence there is no one to effectively establish identity or provide a positive example of manhood. This becomes an issue for both boys and girls. Girls gain their identity and self-worth from their fathers, and without a father’s present, these girls have no one to instill this value in them. It also robs young girls of true examples of manhood so that they will be able recognize it when they see.

When there is no male presence in the house, young boys suffer because they have no role model to help them develop into the young men they were designed to be. This leaves the mother in a position she was not designed to fill. Granted, single mothers have done a great job in filling the void left behind by men, but the truth is without men assuming their proper role, we leave young men to figure out so much on their own.

Second, the average household income falls below the poverty line, and this places added pressure on both the parents and children.

You can see the effects of poor paradigm development as the view of success has been skewed. These kids suffer from colorless dreams, dwarfed goals, tamed visions and restless despair.

Then there are other issues that emerge, such as poor healthcare, exposure to violence, etc.

When an organization such as PYA moves into a community like Rosalind Homes it says to the youth in that community that someone cares and that they are committed to helping them engage their struggles.  

PYA has partnered with proven programs such as Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, and Phoenix House to provide a comprehensive structured program that addresses the unique needs of these kids. From mentoring, tutoring, and drug prevention, these young people are provided with the resources that help to increase their chances for success in life.

The way that RWM will enhance what PYA is already doing is by introducing, implementing and administering our Kingdom Coaches program. Kingdom Coaches is a ministry that will focus on mentorship and leadership training. We understand that each person has individual gifts and talents and we will carefully evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. Beginning at age thirteen, we will begin preparing young men and women to be kingdom leaders in the Kingdom of God. Not only will this training prepare these young individuals for future leadership roles in the Kingdom, but it will also give them the necessary tools to adequately and appropriately deal with peer pressure. Instead of succumbing to the pressure from peers to take negative action, they will be able to stand up in their identity as children of God and be the example of exemplary living.

We will work to develop positive self-images within the individuals mentored. We understand that there has been a gulf created by the void left when men abdicated their God ordained positions in the home, community, and church. The depth and width of this gulf can only be diminished and ultimately eliminated by filling the void left behind, and proper training will prepare subsequent generations to do their part, while empowering them to overcome the obstacles that are before them.

We here at RWM understand the challenges that are before us and we know that it will not be easy. Yet, we are committed to the task at hand and failure is not an option. Each individual youth that we engage through this program has a life that is valued at priceless. It is our responsibility to reveal this truth to them and equip them to optimize that value.

I am personally asking each you to support this monumental endeavor as we all know, advancing in kingdom work is not accomplished without selfless sacrifice. This is your chance to impact the future of this nation in ways that can’t be quantified by statistics, but if we don’t get involved, the statistics that quantify our failure will be horrific. To support then monumental endeavor visit http://www.rickwallaceministries.bbnow.org .

Thank you in advance.

Best regards,

Dr. Rick Wallace

Founder & President

Rick Wallace Ministries

Fatherhood In America: What's a DAd to Do?

Fathering in America: What’s a Dad Supposed to Do?
By MARIE HARTWELL-WALKER, ED.D.

 Americans seem more confused than ever about the role of fathers in children’s lives. On the one hand, more and more fathers are absent for all or significant periods of time. According to the 2006 Census, 23 percent of children under 18 do not live with their biological father and the number is climbing. On the other hand, search “fatherhood” on the web and you’ll find dozens of websites dedicated to teaching, encouraging, and supporting men in becoming more nurturing and involved fathers. Meanwhile, many TV sitcoms and animated shows continue to portray dads as dolts or, at best, well-meaning but misguided large children whose wives have to mother them as well as their offspring. If an alien in another universe happens to tune in to The Simpsons, Everyone Loves Raymond, Family Guy, etc., he (it?) will come away with a rather skewed idea of how men function in American families.

I’ll leave it to the sociologists to explain the many and complicated variables of race, class, gender issues, social policy, employment issues, and governmental interventions that are at the root of the diverging trends and the pejorative TV scripts. It’s enough to note that there is a major rethinking of fathers’ roles and responsibilities going on within the context of lots of rethinking in America. We may be reconsidering how family should be defined. We may be confused about gender roles. We may be struggling with knowing how to parent well in a complicated time. But in the midst of all this confusion, there is a growing consensus that what kids need, at least, is clear. Kids need their fathers as well as their mothers. Regardless of whether the father lives with his children, active participation in raising those children is good for everyone. The kids become healthier adults. The fathers come to a fuller and more complex maturity. The mothers have a reliable co-parent to share the responsibilities and challenges as well as the accomplishments of parenting.

How does this idea of “involved father” translate to daily life? Current research points to the following practical guidelines for responsible fatherhood.

 What’s a Father To Do?

 Embrace your responsibility. Once you are a father, you are a father for life. The knowledge of fatherhood changes a man. It can be a source of pride and maturity or a source of shame and regret. Even if you have good reasons for not being actively involved, acknowledging your paternity is a minimal gift you can provide to your child. With it comes many legal, psychological, and financial benefits. If you want to be in your child’s life, it also protects your rights to have time with your child should you and the child’s mother have a falling out.

Be there. In study after study, kids consistently say they would like to have more time with their dads. Regardless of whether a dad shares a home with the children and their mother, the kids need dad time. Working together on a chore or simply hanging out can be as meaningful as attending events or having adventures. Kids want to know their fathers. Just as important, they want their fathers to know them. Be there throughout their childhoods. There is no time in a child’s life that doesn’t count. Research has shown that even infants know and respond to their fathers differently than they do to their mothers. The bond you make with a baby sets the foundation for a lifetime. As the kids get older, they’ll need you in different ways but they will always need you. Insistent toddler, curious preschooler, growing child, prickly adolescent: Each age and stage will have its challenges and rewards. Kids whose parents let them know that they are worth their parents’ time and attention are kids who grow up healthy and strong. Boys and girls who grow up with attention and approval from their dads as well as their moms tend to be more successful in life.

 Respond to the needs of the kids, not your relationship with their mother. Regardless of whether you are getting along with your girlfriend or wife (present or ex), your relationship with the kids is exactly that: your relationship with the kids. The kids need predictability. They need care. They need a loving relationship with you. They need whatever financial support you can provide. None of these things should depend on whether you’ve had a disagreement or fight with their mom. None of these things should ever be withheld as a way to get even with her.

 Be in a respectful and appreciative relationship with their mother. Being a good dad is certainly possible both inside and outside of marriage. Regardless of whether you and their mom can work out how to be a committed couple, you can support each other as parents. Kids grow best when their parents treat each other with respect and appreciation. The kids then don’t feel torn between the two people they love. Do your financial share. Kids need to be fed, clothed, housed, and cared for. Children whose parents provide for them live better lives, feel valued, and have better relationships with both their parents. They need the role model of a responsible male acting responsibly. Just as they need you to be present in their lives, regardless of whether you live with their mom, they also need you to live up to financial obligations to the very best of your ability.

 Balance discipline with fun. Some dads make the mistake of being only the disciplinarian. The kids grow up afraid of their dads and unable to see the man behind the rules. An equal and opposite mistake is being so focused on fun that you become one of the kids, leaving their mother always to be the heavy. Kids need to have fathers who know both how to set reasonable, firm limits and how to relax and have a good time. Give yourself and the kids the stability that comes with clear limits and the good memories that come with play.

 Be a role model of adult manhood. Both boys and girls need you as a role model for what it means to be an adult and male. Make no mistake: The kids are observing you every minute. They are taking in how you treat others, how you manage stress and frustrations, how you fulfill your obligations, and whether you carry yourself with dignity. Consciously or not, the boys will become like you. The girls will look for a man very much like you. Give them an idea of manhood (and relationships) you can be proud of.

 Beyond these considerations, there is little agreement about how an “ideal father” should behave. It doesn’t seem to matter (in terms of the mental health of children) whether fathers work out of the home or stay home with the kids. It doesn’t seem to matter what job a dad has or how much money a dad makes, as long as he is doing his best. It doesn’t seem to matter what his interests and skills are, as long as he shares them with his children. It doesn’t seem to matter whether a father is very physically affectionate or loves more quietly as long as the kids know that he most certainly cares about them. What matters is for fathers to be committed to their children and involved with them over time. When fathers take that responsibility seriously, their children are more likely to do well and the fathers have few regrets.