founders message

Our journey began in DeKalb, Illinois, with a clear and urgent call from God: to equip, encourage, and uplift fathers through faith, fairness, and the hope of restoration. As a father who has personally endured the pain of separation from my children, I founded Fathers of Faith Inc.™ to stand in the very gap I once faced alone—offering the guidance, resources, and community I desperately needed but could not find.

What started as a vision has grown into a movement. Together with committed partners, volunteers, and community leaders, we have:

• Launched Diapers for Dads™, meeting the practical needs of underserved fathers with essential diaper relief packs while building relationships that open the door for deeper support.
   
• Piloted Project D.A.D.™ (Dads Against Depression), a faith-centered initiative addressing the emotional and spiritual battles fathers face in isolation, with a six-week series tackling identity, resilience, and hope.
   
• Expanded into the Project D.A.D.™ Court Referral Program, a faith-led, court-recognized pathway for fathers to demonstrate growth, stability, and good faith in custody and parenting time cases.
   
• Introduced Fathers Forward Walks, uniting fathers in physical activity, open conversation, and faith-filled encouragement to promote both emotional and physical wellness.
   
• Launched the Project D.A.D.™ Healing Series, a dedicated sequence of workshops and group sessions offering fathers tools to process grief, overcome rejection, and step into their God-given purpose.
   
• Developed and released the Custody Advocacy Toolkit, giving fathers step-by-step resources to navigate complex legal systems with clarity and confidence.
   
• Forged strategic partnerships with churches, nonprofits, and civic organizations—uniting the body of Christ and the community to meet fathers at their point of need.
   
• Laid the groundwork for the Fathers Forward Empowerment Campus™, a future national headquarters dedicated to training, advocacy, and holistic family restoration.
   

Through each milestone, one truth remains unshaken: this mission is rooted in lived experience and driven by Kingdom purpose. We believe that when a father is restored, a family is rebuilt; and when families are rebuilt, communities are renewed.

We are pressing forward—one father, one home, one community at a time—until we see the fullness of God’s Kingdom advancing in the lives of men and their children.

— Marshall Hendricks —
Founder | Chief Visionary Officer | Executive Director