Front Line Observer

A casualty report from the battle for the family

written by Mark Loftin, Youth Center Director, Dyersburg-Dyer County Union Mission

Do you ever wonder why so many of our society's kids are in trouble? Are you worried that so many of our kids are having babies or hurting themselves or others? Have you noticed how many kids act as if they have not been taught right from wrong or how many parents seem incapable of meeting the needs of their kids? Do you know that there are approximately half a million foster kids in America? Have you ever asked yourself, “Where are the parents?” when you hear about an out-of-control child? Have you ever wondered what we can do about all of the single moms and fatherless kids, how such “alternative lifestyles” affect children, or how you could help?

Debbie and Mark Loftin have been ministering to at-risk and foster children for 30 years, including 19 years as residential directors of the Mission's New Life Youth Home. During 24 years of residential work the Loftins shared their home with 300 children, serving as parents for those whose parents failed to meet the needs of their kids. From this unique experience comes Front Line Observer, which is a book of short stories and serious lessons learned from living with children who were hurting and who were often responding to their pain by making poor choices. In Front Line Observer, Mark identifies the common, destructive family background of the kids for whom he and Debbie were substitute parents. This all-too-common background is the lack of having a traditional family and the subsequent failure of the counterfeit family. Mark exposes “disappearing dads” as the common story in nearly all of the children they have served. This book describes how those who would destroy the family are hurting our kids and our country. Fathers who refuse to accept responsibility for their children and families are confronted and ideas are presented on how we can motivate these “missing in action” fathers to take responsibility for their children. Ideas are also presented for anyone who wants to help children who are hurting from an absent dad or who want to join the fight in the battle for the family.

Front Line Observer is not all seriousness, however. Some of the stories about or quotes from the kids or the families will make you laugh, some may make you cry, some will make you angry, some may give you hope, and some may encourage you to get involved in the struggle for our families. Front Line Observer is published by Authorhouse and is available for purchase at the Mission, at local Dyersburg bookstores, and can be ordered through many other bookstores or internet book sellers.