Wow, what a topic!! As a single Mom with two boys I would have to say, yes it is possible for a woman to raise boys into men. But, not without some sort of support system. There are just some things that a boy needs a man for. I do as much as I can but without my support system we would be in trouble. I love my boys and would do anything for them. But, I would do them more harm than good by trying to Super Woman while trying to prove I can do this on my own. The honest truth is they will be better men by having some kind of positive male influence. The key is positive. You have to surround them with God fearing men. We have to surround them with the men we want them to be. I can teach them how to be productive people but I can’t teach them how to be men.
 

I too am a single mother raising two black men. I didn't plan for it to be that way, but they are a gift from God and I will appreciate them as such. There are things that I am sure will come up as they get older that I as a woman can not tell them and then I will have to find a man to help them when needed. I am their mother and I am going to have to do my best to play both roles. With the help of God and the positive men I do surround them with I am sure they will not be like some men who grew up with two parents that are still not responsible.
 

This is an excellent topic that needs a lot of correction. I believe all things are possible through Christ Jesus; therefore, a woman can raise a boy into a man. True, there are things that a woman will never be able to experience from a man's point of view; however, throught the Power of the Holy Spirit, God can give a woman wisdom to understand and the ability to deal with whatever situation that may arise. A woman raising a boy cannot do it effectively without God being the head of her life. Women, don't allow the world to say that you can't raise a boy into a man because you are not a man; Jesus was not a woman, a theft, a prostitute, or a tex collector, but He ministered change and spoke life into their situations. I do also believe that there must be a strong male support system to assist women trying times.
 

I addition to my first comment, we must understand that God did not design the home to be the way that it is today; however, things happen and people make bad decisions. But please understand that God is able to heal and correct the bad decisions that we have made.
 

Well - you have all, so far, spoke of the support system that needs to be in place, but the question is, "What does that support system look like? What type of support and what should the source of that support be? In my eyes, the church often fails at providing the proper support for young boys and for men in general. What are your thoughts on that and how should we change this?
 

I'm not sure that as a church we can change the support we can give. We could implement programs like big brother/big sister, however there is just something about knowing fully who you are and where you came from that makes a difference in your life. I mean honestly other than God who could possibly do the things that your Father is supposed to and there still not be some kind of void.
 

Do you think that the majority of churches are giving all the support that they can is really the key question. There are some churches that are doing all they can do - others that say they are doing all they can (but really they are not) - and yet other churches that are not doing very much at all (if anything). I think we wait on the other social agencies to do our work for us!
 

Definetely, I agree with WOF. Many churches don't do anything because they are to lazy to seek God continuelly so that he can guide their youth and they lean on other churches to build up their youth rather than putting in the work themselves. True,we are to work together but sometimes I feel there is way too much "piggy-backing" in the body.