Understanding how Christian men lead their families and equipping them to shepherd their wives and children: A study at Lawndale Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC

The researcher chose to implement a project to equip the men at Lawndale Baptist Church (LBC), Greensboro, NC, to shepherd their families well. Current research shows what happens when a man neglects his responsibilities at home. When a father chooses physical or spiritual absence, devastating consequences typically ensue. The researcher began with an exegesis of the biblical text for a clear description of God's assignment for men. He then overviewed three men's movements: Promise Keepers, Stepping Up by FamilyLife, and Men's Fraternity. An evaluation of books related to family shepherding allowed further analysis.;The research led to the development of a six-session curriculum. The course content included five shepherding principles, five shepherding practices, and five leadership excuses. Through lecture and discussion, participants experienced the material. The focus group consisted of forty seven men who took the pretest and the posttest. From the focus group, thirty seven participants took a post posttest.;Testing proved helpful in learning about the men at LBC. The majority indicated their lack of intentionality in the spiritual development of the family. Most of the men had been Christians for more than nine years but struggled within themselves to lead. They had solid beliefs, but their actions need improvement. The test results revealed the participants grew in their understanding of what it meant to shepherd their families but had an unwillingness to move forward yet.;Paired samples tests gave measurements of two areas on all three tests. Of the five practices area, personal Bible reading increased dramatically; the other four practices proved more difficult for the men as defined in class and need more attention. The second area, leadership excuses, showed improvement from the pretest to the post posttest. Foundations have been laid to see men accept God's assignment of shepherding their families.