When I first heard Bill Russell’s words, “There’s no such thing as other people’s children,” it felt like someone had finally captured what had been in my heart all along. Bill, an iconic Boston Celtics player and the founding board member of the organization MENTOR, dedicated his life to advocating for the transformative power of mentoring young people. His unwavering commitment to this cause was a call to action that resonated deeply with me. From the early days of my adulthood, I’ve been passionate about working with youth and their families. This passion naturally shaped my belief that we all hold the potential to make a profound impact on a young person’s life. “There is no such thing as other people’s children” has become a guiding principle in my life. It underscores the collective responsibility we share as a community to engage with the youth around us. For parents, it’s a reminder to welcome caring and trusted adults into our children’s lives, to build the village that nurtures and supports the next generation as we were always meant to.
Pastor Mark was part of my village. When I was seventeen, my family and I started to attend a local church. Up until that point, we had never really made church and God a regular part of our lives, so when I decided to attend youth group on Wednesday nights, it was foreign to me at first. After attending church for a few months, I was invited to attend a youth retreat, where I would hear the gospel message and make the decision to follow Jesus Christ. Yes, it was the best decision I ever made. No, I did not fully understand what it all meant. Insert Pastor Mark, youth pastor, and soon-to-be mentor. Over the next year, Pastor Mark would encourage me in my faith, draw out my leadership skills, allow opportunities for me to serve, and eventually be the most influential voice in my life when I decided to go to Bible college and study youth ministry. Had it not been for a caring, consistent, and faith-filled mentor I found in Pastor Mark, I truly do not know where I would be. Friends, there is an “Ericka” in your life that needs a “Pastor Mark.” You do not need to be a pastor to be a mentor or a caring adult; you just need to be willing.
This generation of young people is the most educated, socially minded, tech-savvy, and diverse generation. They are also the most isolated, depressed, and anxious. They deeply value a sense of belonging, and they need to be seen and heard by the community around them. If you’re not convinced yet, here are some compelling reasons why getting involved in a young person’s life really matters:
Improves confidence and self-esteem.
Youth who can connect with a mentor are likely to experience a boost in confidence and self-esteem. Mentors provide a listening ear, support, and an encouraging environment to help their mentees realize their full potential. As a result, young people will feel more empowered to take charge of their lives and make positive decisions that benefit themselves and their communities.
Increases social engagement and participation.
Mentoring can also help youth to become more socially engaged and participate more actively in their communities. By providing young people a safe space to explore their interests and passions, mentors can help them nurture their skills and passions and create opportunities to get involved in community activities, advocacy, and leadership roles. This can lead to positive social change as young people become more involved in issues important to them and their communities.
Creates positive relationships and networks.
Another important benefit of youth mentorship is the development of positive relationships and networks. Mentors and mentees will likely form strong bonds beyond the mentoring relationship. Mentors provide young people with valuable relationships and connections that help them to navigate various aspects of their lives, including education, career, and personal development. As a result, young people have access to more opportunities, resources, knowledge, and support, which can help them reach their full potential.
It helps develop essential life skills.
Mentoring allows young people to learn and develop essential life skills. This includes communication, problem-solving, decision-making, time management, and many other skills critical for success. Through the guidance and support of their mentors, young people can gain valuable experience and build confidence in their abilities to tackle challenges and achieve their goals.
Mentoring benefits everyone involved.
Finally, it must be noted that mentoring benefits not only the mentee but also the mentor and the community. Mentors derive satisfaction from seeing their mentees grow and thrive, and they, too can develop new skills and perspectives through the relationship. The community benefits from having more engaged and empowered young people who are more likely to create positive change and contribute to the community’s well-being.
So here is my call to action to you (you knew it was coming, right?):
- Ask God how He might want to involve you in a young person’s life. It could be someone already within your sphere of influence, or it could be someone new He brings into your life. He may lead you to volunteer at your local church or sign up as a mentor or tutor within your organization or community. Mentoring and community are God’s ideas, and He will lead you. Be open to His leading, and, if you sense the Spirit leading you to be a mentor, be prepared to say “YES!”
- In whatever way God leads you, remember to see young people with an “asset-based” mindset—focused on the assets (gifts and resources) of those you mentor. Yes, you want to support and guide them, but they too have gifts, talents, and ideas worth listening to and learning from. Your role is not to “save” them, but to walk alongside them as a caring adult.
- Mentoring a youth also involves being connected to their family. As a member of a young person’s village, you get the amazing privilege of partnering with families to ensure their child has what they need to thrive, grow, and pursue their God-given purpose.
- There are TONS of resources available on becoming an effective mentor, so you do not have to go at it alone! One meaningful way you could get involved in a young person’s life might be to check out the Mentor Connector, an online tool provided by the MENTOR organization. This helpful tool will allow you to find a mentoring opportunity that works for you, that is supported by mentoring professionals, ultimately resulting in major impacts for a young person.
Think back on your own life . . . who mentored you? If no one was there, you now have an incredible opportunity to be for someone else what you needed. If you had a mentor, you now have the incredible opportunity to pay it forward. Either way, you have an incredible opportunity to engage in a young person’s life today!
—Written by Ericka Porter. Used by permission from the author.
One Response
It reminds me of the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child”. I think it’s especially true when now we are bombarded with the daily message to look down on others and told to be angry at others, we need to follow Jesus and instead help lift up. That to me starts with our children.