"Children growing up without fathers are five times more likely to be in poverty, are two to three times more likely to suffer from emotional and behavior problems and to drop out of school. They are more likely to commit crime, engage in early promiscuous behavior and commit suicide," according to Dr. Wade Horn, assistant secretary for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Livenews.com adds: "[We] need to increase the number of children who are growing up in healthy, married households. They do far better on every measure of child welfare when compared to children growing up in unmarried households" ( April 1, 2004).

What can those without fathers do? The best thing is to develop a close relationship with God. He promises in 2 Corinthians 6:18, "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."