This is part of the The Dad Toolbox series, providing tools and resources to be a great dad. Read more from the series!

There are certain things in life that are worth being passionate about.

One of those things is become an all star dad to my children. I believe that the calling to be, not just a dad, but a great dad is one of the top three calls God places in a man’s life, with only our calling to be God’s child and the call to be a great husband ranking higher in our list of priorities.

God’s design places us in families. Every one of us has a mother. Each of us has a father. God wired us to be a part of a family unit.

Certainly, there are people who aren’t part of a family. Maybe they’ve passed away. Maybe there is some relational estrangement. Or even abandonment. But the fact remains, God designed us to be in relationships with other people, and the pattern he created is the family unit.

God has placed us in these specific families for a purpose. We should receive the love and attention that we need relationally here. And we should give love and attention in return. Regardless of what our job or career may be, I think our first level of ministry is within the family atmosphere. And I think dads are a critical element to the successful family.

Sadly, many kids in our world today are growing up without any great family relationships, especially from their fathers. Their father may be gone, leaving them in a single parent home. Or maybe their father is there, but he’s disengaged from his children.

Either way, as a youth minister, this grieves me.

Let me give you an example. As I was writing this, my kids are playing out in the driveway, riding bikes and skateboards with the kids in the neighborhood. As I stepped outside to watch them for a moment, one of the boys from from around the corner asked me if I could fix the chain on his bike. He said his dad could do it, but he just didn’t have time. So I fixed it. It took all of five minutes, and got my fingers a little bit greasy.

Now I can’t judge this dad for his actions, or rather, lack of action. I’ve used the same excuse with my kids before. It’s easy to play the “I don’t have the time” card. But if our kids are going to grow up and be successful at life, it’s going to take some involvement on our part as dads.

And so I’ve been thinking: what can I do to help counter this in my corner of the world?

I’ve come up with an idea. I am creating an online ministry resource that will help dads become great dads. I want to see dads step up to the plate in the lives of their kids. I want to see dads become intentional and deliberate in becoming the best dad that they can be.

This resource will offer articles and resources that can help dads become better dads, to become great dads. I will share what I’ve found to be effective in my journey as a dad. I will review resources that have helped me, and provide links to purchase resources that I find to be excellent.

I can see this becoming very hands-on in my own community and church. I’ve already “polled” a few people, asking if they see a need for this. Just the other day, I struck up a conversation with the A/C repairman about my kids and his kids. I shared with him a few of my ideas as he worked on my air conditioner. He left excited about the possibilities and the tools that can help him be the dad he was created to be.

Another conversation happened at a Kiwanis meeting last Friday, with similar results.

That excites me! I see an opportunity to really help dads, both here in Florida and around the country, even the world, online.

The website is almost ready to launch. And when it is unveiled in the very near future, you will be the first to know.

And when it does, I would simply ask you to check it out. Let me know your thoughts. And pass it on. Share it with the dads you know, giving them access to a resource that will hopefully help them to become better at this dad thing.

As a result, this will be the last post in The Dad Toolbox here at JeffRandleman.com. All the content has already been duplicated to the new site, and more is being added all the time. My focus here will continue to be on matters of life, leadership and ministry, with the occasional book review thrown in.

I’m looking forward to the potential I see in the dads I encounter being realized!

What are the dads like in your life? Your dad? How are you (or your husband) as a dad to your kids? What is the greatest need you’ve seen in this area? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.