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When tragedy hit an Indianapolis family, little did they know what good could come from it. Bill Bissmeyer's teenage son died suddenly of a rare heart disease, leaving Bissmeyer searching for ways to bring families together. Having seen firsthand how uncertain anyone's amount of time on earth is, he began holding a monthly breakfast at a local restaurant, inviting fathers to bring their children along for a casual time of connecting with each other and with other dads and kids. That first breakfast included 15 fathers and their children. Now, a few years later, an estimated 1,100 fathers and children meet regularly across the Indianapolis area for what is known as "Dad's Day."

New Dad's Day groups have recently begun in Nashville, Atlanta, and Tampa. Each group holds a monthly breakfast complete with guest speakers and prizes. A highlight is the introduction time when participants share what they appreciate about their family members. The breakfast concludes as the fathers leave to drop off their children at school.

Dad's Day groups have proven to be a simple yet highly effective way for fathers to spend time with their children while also getting support and encouragement from other dads. All–Pro Dad, a nonprofit organization headed up by Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy, is committed to excellent fatherhood, and has information available on its website regarding Dad's Day groups. For more details on starting or finding a group, visit www.allprodad.com.

—Christy Stortz

Copyright © 2004 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Parenting Today magazine.Click here for reprint information on Christian Parenting Today.

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