Christian Mentoring Ministry Rationale

We all have a picture in our mind of the type of child that Christian Youth Mentoring works with. We see them in the news and hanging out on street corners. We call them "troubled teens" or "at risk kids." However, many other children who are common to Christian Youth Mentoring are unseen, unnoticed, withdrawn and too often friendless. God sees all these children and calls them "Mine."

A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling.
(Psalm 68:5)

God loves these at risk kids and is concerned about them. He is sending His people to go to them, to express His love and to show them the way out of multi-generational bondage.

God spoke to Moses from a bush. "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them… I am sending you."
(Exodus 3: 7 & 9)

Children growing up in very difficult circumstances need to experience love that is expressed over time. Our mentors spend 2-4 hours with these children each week. The consistency of this commitment speaks loudly. It says, "You are valuable. What you think about and the things that bother you are important." It also gives the mentor the ability to interact with the child in circumstances that cannot be planned into a curriculum. "Why did you let that driver in? Why didn't you honk and curse him out?" You cannot schedule quality time or teachable moments. However, when kids receive a few hours with a consistent mentor on a weekly basis, these moments show up unannounced.

Paul said, "We love you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
(I Thessalonians 2:8)

The beginning of the Good News is always an understanding that we were made by a God who loved us enough to send a messenger. Until that message is received, the words of the gospel don't make sense. Therefore, a mentor is available for the long term, offering first his or her life, and then the truth that leads to new life. This is an important statement to understand, if you are to grasp this ministry.