When Matt Hammitt first started a band with his friends as a teenager in 1996, he never imagined it would turn into a 20-year journey with Sanctus Real. Those years were full of writing music, recording, and touring. But they were also marked by a growing tension between his career and his calling at home.
As his family grew, so did the questions in his heart:
“If I’m not there for 200 days out of the year, how can I be a good dad and husband?
“Am I going to excel at my work or as a father and husband?”
In 2016, Hammitt made a life-changing decision: to step back from his music career and fully embrace his role as a father.
“Looking back, it was the best decision that I ever made,” says Hammitt. It was this passion for family and fatherhood that eventually led Matt Hammitt to partner with Save the Storks and create the “Dare to Be a Dad” devotional.
About Dare to Be a Dad
Matt Hammitt’s most famous song, “Lead Me”, was written during a time when he felt he needed to be led by God, not just as a Christian, but as a husband and father. The song struck a chord with countless dads across the country, many of whom reached out to Hammitt. It was then that Matt Hammitt realized his call from the Lord to “Not just be a musician or communicator,” he says, “but to walk with other dads through this journey.”
In 2017, while touring the country with his family in an RV, Hammitt encountered Save the Storks at an event. There, he shared a deeply personal part of his story: when his son Bowen was diagnosed with a severe heart condition before birth, doctors told him the most “loving” choice would be to end the pregnancy.
“I was shocked,” Hammitt recalls, “I gained empathy and compassion for moms and dads who sit in that seat and have to make the choice for life.”
That moment marked the beginning of Hammitt’s passionate advocacy for life and the start of a powerful partnership with Save the Storks.
The Gap in Life-Affirming Support for Fathers
After advocating for life on roughly 200 stages, Hammitt began to notice a gap in the pro-life movement. While most of the support was geared toward women, Hammitt began to ask himself: Where are the resources for dads?
“There was nothing that would speak to a father’s heart in a relational way,” says Hammitt of his experience advocating for preborn babies.
Hammitt was in search of something that didn’t yet exist. So, he decided to share his heart with Save the Storks, and together we created the Dare to Be a Dad devotional.
“Something that says: You were born for this. You were made for this. Don’t run from it—embrace it,” Hammitt says.
Dare to Be a Dad is a movement that encourages and equips men to step into their role as fathers with confidence, faith, and purpose. “Fathers can rise to the occasion and be the men God has called them to be. That’s the heart behind Dare to Be a Dad,” says Hammitt.
You can find the Dare to be a Dad booklet and full resource here: https://savethestorks.com/dare-to-be-a-dad/
Part Two: The 30-Day Challenge
“Other dads speaking to each other’s hearts through a phone is a simple format,” says Hammitt of the new 30-day challenge launching this month in honor of Father’s Day.
Simple but powerful. How often do dads sit down and encourage each other in fatherhood?
The Dare to Be a Dad 30-Day Challenge features voices like Mike Donehey of Tenth Avenue North, Major League Baseball Player James McCann, and other inspiring dads who offer honest, heart-level encouragement. Matt Hammit’s prayer is that this challenge has an enduring impact on fathers. He hopes it will spark an ongoing ripple effect—that fathers will continue to share it and build a community of support that lasts far beyond 30 days.
Father’s Day and Legacy
In honor of Father’s Day, Matt Hammit’s message to other dads is simple:
“Your kids just want you: your time, your attention, your love. Our vulnerability to be willing to say I don’t have it all together, but I’m willing to grow with you and learn to be the best dad I can be,” he says.
This 30-day challenge reminds men that being a father is a daily opportunity for growth; it’s not about perfection.
“It’s one step at a time toward a big goal. It’s a big job, but I know dads can do it,” says Matt Hammitt.
Share this challenge with dads you know.
The Dare to Be a Dad 30-Day Challenge is designed to encourage men to grow in intentionality, connection, and leadership as fathers. For 30 days, participants receive daily encouragement, Bible-based wisdom, and simple, meaningful challenges delivered straight to their phone.
Do you know a dad who could use this kind of support? Share the challenge.
To sign up for the 30-Day Dare to be a Dad Challenge, text DAD to 60543.
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