It's Father's Day and Dad's play an important role in their child's life. 

Joel Nedohin with his family.

A Men's Ministry Pastor in Steinbach has a desire to help men become better dads. Joel Nedohin, Men's Ministry Pastor at Southland Church in Steinbach, says he learned the important role dad's play in the life of their kids when he was a teenager, as he watched his own dad stick to his faith in a difficult time.

Nedohin says, “I get the importance of family because when I was about 13 my family separated, and one of the things that impacted me the most was how it changed my father's life. Watching him stick to his faith, even though it took me 12 years to come back to my own faith, that was the pillar I held on to, and that is what brought me back.”

One of Nedohin's highlight's from his role in the Men's Ministry, is giving dads opportunities to spend time with their families. They recently held a Man Camp experience at Bird River Bible Camp, where Father's had an opportunity to spend quality time with their sons that included a fishing derby. When he asked for feedback from those who attended the event, the most common thread he received was the father-son time which was distraction free, from the busyness of life. He adds these types of trips have sparked something in the men's relationships within their own families, that encourages them to take time for their children, whether it be through hunting, fishing, or a good sit-down dinner with the whole family at the table.

Nedohin says engaging with our children doesn't always come naturally. "I'm one of those dads that understand how hard it is to spend time with my kids, I don't naturally do that well, so I know for myself I have to be very intentional.” After doing some research, he found the average father will spend only 7.5 uninterrupted minutes per week with his children, but the same father will have spent 32 hours per week watching T.V.

As well, by the age of 6, the average child will have spent more time in front of a screen than he will have spent with his father combined in his entire life. Nedohin adds, “These statistics are staggering and that is why we have to be extremely intentional in how we spend our time and what becomes important in our life, and that's our family.”