Luke 15:11-31, 1 Corinthians 4:15

Steve Gambill reflects on his experience of losing his son and God's heart for His lost sons.

Going back to the story of my lost son, when I could not find him, I began to search for those who could help me. I stopped random strangers of shoppers and asked store assistants for help. After a few minutes I realised that the shopping centre had security guards, so I sought out to quickly assemble every security guard in the premises. These guards and shoppers however were moving much too slow for my liking. So I explained that the task at hand was urgent. They were to be a rescue team that I would need to find my boy. With many urgent words I assigned each guard a section to search and I sent them off scurrying on their mission. Instantly, those who were previously strangers became united by the common purpose of rescuing a lost boy.

It is worth noting that the thought crossed my mind to search on my own rather than to admit my parental failure by asking for help. But the urgency of my lost child and my desperation to find him far outweighed my desire to protect my parental kudos.

At Meadowhall that day, the purpose of my new recruits was very specific. It was form a search team and to be commissioned to find the lost child and reunite him with his father.

Question, how about we commission spiritual fathers with that same purpose to rescue a generation? Did you know today that there are well over a million fathers who have no contact with their natural children?

According to the Centre for Social Justice, (a think tank established to help address the most challenging issues of our time), the number of single parent families is growing at the rate of 20,000 per year. This research proved that higher rates of teenage crime, addictions and violence is all linked to the increased absence of fathers. Furthermore;

• For every £1 spent to help families stay together, £6,000 is spent dealing with the causes of family breakdowns.


• There is a serious lack of positive male role models. 80% of schools have less then three male teachers.


• Family breakdown costs £46 billion each year and £1,541 for every taxpayer in the UK.

Literally millions of people have no connection with their spiritual Father God. It is essential therefore to organise and equip an army of spiritual fathers to bring God's love to those who are lost. Are we as leaders as bothered about those that are lost to the same degree that we would be about our losing our own natural children?

That day at Meadowhall, for 30 minutes our little army ran up and down crowded corridors shouting my son's name until finally at the centre of the atrium, standing all alone I spotted him, there was my boy!

I sprinted straight to him and scooped him up in my arms. Only then did he begin to cry. "Dad, Dad, Dad", he kept saying with tears running down his face, "Where have you been?" I was so grateful to have him in my arms. My son that was lost was now found.

"Dad", my son said, "I knew if I stood in an obvious place you would find me". 'What a smart kid!' I thought to myself!

After a few moments, here came the army. High fives, hugs and celebrations broke out among strangers. We were all so thrilled. Just a short time ago we were all strangers, but our common mission brought us together. Finally, I had my boy.

As we bring our time together to a close, I wonder how many other lost sons and daughters are waiting to be found by their spiritual Father that are in obvious places that surround us every day.

Would you be willing to form a spiritual army of fathers that will bring God's heart to a lost generation? Would you be willing to redouble your efforts to rescue more people? Would you be willing to feel as God feels, as though these were your own children that were lost?

My experience of 'temporarily losing' my son has helped to change the way I think, view and act toward those that are lost. Every lost person is someone's son, or someone's daughter. Let us pray that every lost son and daughter would be found.

Much love in Christ.