Raising Fatherless Kids – Details, episodes & analysis

Grief is like a workout—it is painful, exhausting, and requires endurance. But just like time in the gym builds strength, grief can lead to growth when we embrace the process.

As we navigate grief, let us trust that growth is happening, even when we cannot see it. Spring is coming, and with it, hope and renewal.

In this episode, Lori Apon shares key lessons from her gym experience that parallel the journey of grief. Through personal stories and biblical encouragement, she reminds us that while suffering is hard, it is not wasted. God is present, shaping us and our children through every season of pain.

Key Takeaways:

• Do not waste your time in the valley. God has treasures to reveal even in the darkest seasons.

• Pace yourself. Grief is exhausting—be gentle with yourself and your children.

• Perspective and focus matter. Avoid comparison and keep your eyes on God.

• Coaching and support are crucial. Surround yourself with those who understand and can offer encouragement.

Join the Conversation: Have you seen growth through your grief journey? Connect with us at Perspective Ministries.

Father loss—through death, divorce, or desertion—can lead children to struggle with fears of abandonment. The absence of a father can open the door to fears of rejection and insecurity, impacting children emotionally, spiritually, and even physically.

In this episode of Raising Fatherless Kids, Lori shares biblical encouragement that God promises to be a father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). 

• Understanding abandonment

• Signs of abandonment fear

• Practical ways moms can help their children navigate these emotions and fears

• The importance of speaking and praying biblical blessings over your child for wisdom, strength, protection, and peace

Encouragement for Moms:The enemy wants children to believe they are abandoned, but God’s truth says otherwise. He is near, faithful, and working all things for good. Look for Him, trust Him, and guide your children toward His unfailing love.

Other Resources:

The Importance of Mentors and How to Ask

Finding Male Role Models for My Fatherless Girl Podcast Episode 22

When You Feel Left Behind Podcast Episode 112

💛 Subscribe & Share – If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and share with others. May God bless you and your children with His peace and presence!

Key Takeaways:
For more information and helpful resources, check our website,PerspectiveMinistries.org& follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

We are all desperately longing for peace. You may be in a season of suffering but able to proclaim that you are experiencing a peace that surpasses understanding, or you may be crying out for peace amidst the turmoil. No matter where you find yourself today, you have access to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. 

The prophet Isaiah gives four titles for Jesus, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV).

In this episode, Lori talks about:

• What it means for Jesus to be the Prince of Peace
• Scripture about peace
• Prayer for those seeking the peace of God

Have you experienced Christ as your Prince of Peace? Listen in and be drawn closer to your savior. 

Other Resources

His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor Podcast Episode 88 with Lori Apon

He will be called Mighty God Podcast Episode 89 with Lori Apon

Knowing God as Everlasting Father Podcast Episode 90 with Lori Apon

Mom, you are not alone! 

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom 

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries. 

This is such a special episode because it's the first birthday of the Help! I’m Raising Fatherless Kids podcast! Moms, thank you for taking the time to listen when you have so much demanding your attention. 

One of the most important celebrations that I had with my children was the “Blessing Party” at the beginning of their teenage season. This is a time to guide your child in putting away childish things and transitioning them to adulthood. 

In this episode, Lori discusses the following:

• What is a “Blessing Party”

• The specific steps in planning one

• What to include in a letter of blessing

Other resources:

 The Blessing by John Trent, Gary Smalley, and Kari Trent Stageberg

The letter of blessing that was written and then spoken over my child at the Blessing Party included some of the following:

• A scripture verse God has used in a great way in their life

• A brief personal testimony of how God walked them through the teenage season and how that could encourage them

• A challenge, encouragement, or counsel            

• A promise of God

• A special memory I shared with my child 

Mom, you are not alone! 

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom 

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries or email  lori@perspectiveministries.org

As a mom, one of the greatest responsibilities and joys is telling her children the story of Jesus and the good news of the Gospel. 

In today’s episode, Lori talks about Easter including:

• The history and the familiar symbols and traditions of Easter

• Practical ideas for celebrating the true meaning of Easter with children

• The hope of Easter and how to invite Jesus Christ into your life

Other resources:

Advent: Count Down to the Coming of Christ 

Resurrection Eggs

Easter Music

Easter Song

The Old Rugged Cross

At the Cross

Christ the Lord is Risen Today 

He Lives

Because He Lives

Crown Him with Many Crowns

It is Finished

Arise My Love

Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Hebrews 9:12 

John 3:16 

Matthew 28:1-6 

Romans 3:23 

Romans 6:23 

1 John 1:9

Romans 10:9

Romans 10:13 

If you prayed with me the prayer of salvation, or have a prayer request, please email lori@perspectiveministries.org to share the good news!

Mom, you are not alone! 

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom 

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

God will often use mentors as a vessel for His fathering. One of the most important investments a single mom can make in the life of her children, especially her sons, is providing a mentor. A man who will come alongside to help navigate the path of a boy from childhood to manhood, from teaching simple skills of a handshake to pursuing a wife, and everything in between. 

Single moms will need to release a lot of their preconceived ideas of what family looks like and consider that it will take a village to help raise their children. A fatherless child is not likely to stay on the right path without the strong support of somebody guiding them along the way.

Eric Helms is the founder of Driven to Encourage Ministries and the territory servant leader for Atlanta Metro and travels to many locations sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. He does this through a variety of topics including his own radical testimony. He wants others to understand how much the Savior loves them, desires personal relationships with them, and how Jesus wants us to be obedient to Him. Eric and his wife, Michele, live in north Georgia.

Brandon Apon, the oldest son of Lori Apon, went to Liberty University where he graduated with a degree in Business Marketing. Upon walking on to the football team, Brandon earned team captain honors, a full scholarship, and was named a Hammer Strength All-American as well as 1st Team All-State and All-Conference. It was at Liberty where Brandon met his wife, Brittany. They moved to Atlanta after graduation and have enjoyed building both a family and a career in Georgia. Brandon started selling cars for the Hendrick Automotive Group as his first job after college. At 27, he was promoted to General Manager of Mall of Georgia Mazda in Buford, GA, one of the youngest in the organization.  He was recently named Automotive News 40 Under 40, highlighting the top leaders in the industry. Brandon and Brittany are celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary, and are blessed with two boys, Brantley (4) and Barrett (2).

In this episode, Eric and Brandon discuss the following:

• What the mentoring interaction looked like 

• Accountability for mother and child

• The eternal impact of a mentor

• The sustaining grace of God for a long-term mentoring commitment

Additional Resources:

The Importance of Mentors and How to Ask

The Importance of a Mentor Part One

The Value of a Mentor Part Two

The Impact of a Mentor 

Mom, you are not alone!

Last week our guest, Zach Garza, shared his fatherless journey and the impact mentors had on his life. As we continue the conversation, Zach shares insight and wisdom on what moms should anticipate as their children, especially boys, process the loss of an earthy father.

Zach Garza, the founder of Forerunner Mentoring and Vice President of Expansion for the Mentoring Alliance, which equips and encourages mentors to build relationships with kids who have experienced adverse circumstances.

In this episode, Zach talks about the five stages for processing dad loss:

• Curiosity
• Anger or apathy stage
• Desire
• Forgiveness
• Identity in Christ

Additional Resources:

The Importance of a Mentor Part One

The Importance of Mentors and How to Ask

The Mentoring Alliance

Forerunner Mentoring

You Can Mentor by Zach Garza

You Can Mentor Podcast with Zach Garza

Mom, you are not alone!

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

The loss of an earthly dad deeply impacts the life of a child, although it’s not always realized in childhood. Children can often grow into grief and not deal with dad loss until their adult years.

Many times a positive mentoring relationship is the tool that God will use to remove an infected emotional splinter and bring about healing.

Zach Garza, the founder of Forerunner Mentoring and Vice President of Expansion for the Mentoring Alliance, equips and encourages mentors to build relationships with kids who have experienced adverse circumstances.

In this episode Zach talks about:

• The pain of his loss at the start of his teenage years
• The power of mentoring over the course of his life
• Positive influences that provided healthy safeguards

Additional Resources:

The Mentoring Alliance

Forerunner Mentoring

You Can Mentor by Zach Garza

You Can Mentor Podcast with Zach Garza

The Importance of a Mentor Part One

The Importance of Mentors and How to Ask

Mom, you are not alone!

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Mentoring plays a valuable role in the life of a fatherless young man. A young man needs to be challenged in ways beyond what a mom can offer. When a boy does not have an earthly dad, he needs a mentor who will make a practical, emotional, and spiritual investment in his life.

Although this important relationship will look different for everyone, the benefits are often the same - God uses men as His vessel for fathering. Affirmation, guidance, and prayer join together with hands-on teaching of skills men need to learn in life. Mentors help boys turn into men.

Today’s guests, Dave Inabnit and Evan Apon, discuss the following:

• What mentoring looked like for them and its progression
• Trusting God when entrusting our sons to mentors
• The impact of mentorship on both the mentor and mentee
• Encouragement for moms

Additional Resources:

The Importance of a Mentor Part One

The Importance of Mentors and How to Ask

Mom, you are not alone!

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.

Inserting mentors into the lives of your children is crucial during those child-raising years even if there are two parents in the home but especially if you are raising children without a dad.

Mentoring for a fatherless family provides not only a vessel of God’s tangible fathering for children who do not have an earthly dad but also guidance for the single mom. Being intentional about asking men and women to mentor our family was one of the “Pillars of Grace” that God used in the life of my family.

In this episode Lori shares her experience with mentors discussing the following:

• What is a mentor
• The value of a mentor for both the mom and her child
• How the mentoring process worked

Additional Resources:

The Importance of Mentors and How to Ask

Mom, you are not alone!

Join our private Facebook group for more encouragement and community: https://bit.ly/widowmom

For more information and helpful resources, check our website: PerspectiveMinistries.org & follow us on Instagram @PerspectiveMinistries.