Every young person needs a mentor. In some cases, the mother or father will serve as the positive role model in their life. But, in many cases children and teens do not have this vital relationship. We see this with the children and teens in the neighborhood we minister in. Many of them have mothers who have raised them, but because they are single, they carry a huge weight and often don't give the nurturing care that young people need. Or if the mother is on drugs or drinks a lot, the mother is present in body, but not with her emotions. And the majority of the young people do not have a father in their life.

Because of these situations, our kids are growing up without positive role models in their lives, as orphans so to speak. The majority of role models our kids are surrounded by, are either
emotionally disconnected, intoxicated, abusive or running the streets. They desperately need mentors.

Even though we cannot individually mentor all of them, as we volunteer during the Friday Night Teen Program, we play that role as mentors in those few hours we are with them. It is our goal as we simply spend time with them that they would begin to have a different view of adults. That they would feel love from an adult and eventually grow to trust us.

Definition of a Mentor:

Do you have someone in your life who needs a mentor?

If so, begin asking God how you can pour into their life and be that spiritual mother or father to them. If you don't have a lot of time but there is someone on your heart, you can pray for them regularly. Someone once told me, "Prayer is the best gift you can give someone."