My name is Sal, who is currently (Fall of 2004) helping start a local program called Stevens County Mentoring Program. Below is my personal story/background on how I got into this life-changing experience/opportunity.
Many people (children, teenagers, college age, etc...) are looking for positive role models out there in the world. Whether it's through sports athletes, entertainers, musicians, or someone close as a family member or relative. Yes, there are no perfect people out there, but there is need of people to direct the one who is-Jesus!
What Would Jesus do?
Jesus was a cool role model when he walked on the Earth! He spoke to thousands and showed them signs and wonders of His miraculous loving power. Whether it was through healing the sick, feeding the poor, or teaching them life messages to have eternal life in Heaven and in Earth. Instead of trying to reaching everybody in the world directly, he spent his energy and time individually whith a few. He spend his short-time He had on earth with 12 adults. He focussed on to mentor and disciple to continue the teachings in life before He left-it's all contained in the 4 Books-Gospels in the New Testament: Bible.
My Local Church Mentoring Story
There are many people who needs that personal individual attention to help them grown in their faith. I was fortunate to have individuals from my now local church to build a relationship with me to help grow after my new found personal relationship see story) with Jesus my first year in college. During the end of my 2 years at UMM, I met with my then pastor once a week at the campus eating area. He would give me a one and one basic Biblical foundational teachings (see discipleship). Also, it was a personal time to share what God is doing in my life through my academics or social life. Now, I want to help others to do the same-especially the need of getting to know your local church to wanting to be more involved.
-Steps in Mentoring
1. Clarify their salvation
2. Baptism criteria
a. must be born-again
b. give an outward testimony
-Relationship Characteristics in Mentoring: Paul->Timothy
2 Timothy 1:3 1) prayers
2 Timothy 1:6 2)laying of hands
2 Timohty 1:8 3)join in sufferings
2 Timothy 1:8 4) Father to Son relationship
5)?
6) pattern in sound teaching
7) Guard what mentor said/taught
Story of New Friendship with a Youth
God sent me a particular teenager (Cory) in my path one Sunday after coming out of my local church service in the summer of 2001. After hearing about the need of mentoring/befriending a youth, I was obedient to do this with this particular teenager. I invited him to play video games in my apartment sometime. After showing him where I lived, he came over the next day. We played with my "old school" Nintendo system and chatted. Sometime later, he invited me to "hang out" at his house. I then went over to his house and met his family (dad and brother).
My relationship with Cory and his family grew overtime. I was asked by his dad one day if I would be interested in "getting paid" to work with him through a local service program. I never heard of such a thing, I then told him "yes". From then on, I've been working with him-along with another friend my age. We have taken him to baseball games, concerts (e.g. "See You At the Party", Big Foot, and all sorts of activities to expand his perspective in life-positively as possible!
Discipling Children
Below are some resources that I found so far that focusses on the need of mentoring or discipling:
Who? Big Friend/Little Friend
Where?
When?
Contact: Caroly McCannon of Campus Compact-UMM's Student Center: Student Activities
Other: One and One discipleship/mentoring/bigbrother&little sister
Stevens County Mentoring Program
Articles
"...By caring for children who need mentors, and for addicted men and women who need treatment, we are building a more welcoming society..." (from 2003 speech)
Bible
Part 1: The Call of a disciple of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah
The second hardest speech of my life, the hardest was the next day. Posting soon
Ministries
Movies
Resources
Teachings
Lifestyle of a Disciple
Youth Focus
Teachings
Discipleship Training DTI Lesson 1-7 Spiritual Development
Youth Focus
If you are looking for someone (older Christian, who has walked the talked longer than you to somewhat "shepherd" you) to mentor or be mentored, just ask God! After asking, keep your spiritual eyes open for His answer:
"Heavenly Father, I'm looking for someone to make a difference for you. There are many people who are looking for someone to show them about how to live their life. First show me how I can be more Christ-like everyday, so I can be your light to them. Then they'll go to you! In Jesus' name-Amen!"
OR
"Heavenly Father, I'm looking for someone to show me your ways! Give me wisdom and understanding on how through your "personal love letter"-Bible! I want to grow in my personal relationship with you! As I look for fellowship opportunities with your children-family of believers-bring me an individual to spend time with me to grow! In Jesus' name.Amen!"
Thanks Neil for your commitment to devote your time 1:1 with me and the many other people (college students, faculty, and others) you continue to this day with. Your time at UMM's Student Center and Food Service with me has been a time of continuous growth. I enjoy your wisdom you share from the Bible and life overall. May you see the "fruits" of your labor of the "seeds" you plan in many lives through discpling and mentoring over these years and in the future!
Neil continues to meet 1:1 with college students and others at UMM's Turtle Mountain Cafe. Also, he has been spending a lot of time on the road and overseas as part of Outfitters Adventure's mission of planting churches. Please continue to keep in prayer for him and the people God sends him to encourage.
Below is a verse that God layed in my heart after last evenings (Tuesday, December 2nd 2003) end of the semester supper with the people he discples/mentors. One of the mentees shared how we'll missed one another as many of us will go different paths after our years in Morris.
(est Fall of 2004)
-still in the rough draft stages and is looking for support (financial, wisdom, ideas, volunteers, young participants, etc...). Already getting support by Bremer Foundation.
Mission: adult mentors to be paired up according to interests, hobbies, etc... of local high school students
Contact: 'Elaine Simonds-Jaradat'"
"....All of us -- parents, schools, government -- must work together to counter the negative influence of the culture, and to send the right messages to our children....In the past, we have worked together to bring mentors to the children of prisoners, and provide treatment for the addicted, and help for the homeless." (from 2004 speech)
"Today a Hebrew-speaking Jewish Rabbi named Yeshua is walking through your life, summoning you to join his cause and enlist in his army. This is the call of discipleship, and the call to greatness."
"From: NothingToLoseVideo | Feb 28, 2011 | 1,033 views
This was my speech to ViSalus the day before I gave the ulogy at my stepfather's funeral. If you want to know the heart and intention behind our company (ViSalus) look no further. "
*see his personal story (former gang-member) & GoodnewsEverybody.com Ministry: Affirming, Complimenting, Encouraging, Motivate, etc..
Related Sites:
Nothing to Lose Author Ryan Blair on Fox News
help sponsor a friend, Prince, who is a representative in the Moorhead area. For more info, click=>sponosorship
the blind side - trailer hd
"A poor, undereducated 344-pound African-American teenager in Memphis, whose father was murdered and whose mother was a crack addict, is shuffled through the public school system, despite his low grade point average and absenteeism. But his tremendous size and quickness attracts the interest of a wealthy white couple who take him in and groom him both athletically and academically to become one of the top high school football prospects in the country.
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Tim McGraw, Ray McKinnon"
Blind Side, from wikipedia
".. is a 2009 American drama–sports film written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and based on the 2006 book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis.[2][3] The storyline features Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. The film follows Oher from his impoverished upbringing, through his years at Wingate Christian School (a fictional representation of Briarcrest Christian School in the suburbs of Memphis, Tennessee[4]), his adoption by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, and on to his position as one of the most highly coveted prospects in college football. For her performance, Sandra Bullock won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role and an Academy Award for Best Actress. The film itself also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
The film stars: Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher; Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy, Oher's adoptive parents; and Kathy Bates as Miss Sue, Oher's tutor.[2] The movie also features appearances by several current and former NCAA coaches, including SEC coaches Houston Nutt and Ed Orgeron (Oher's coaches in college, though Nutt represented Arkansas at the time and therefore does so in the film) and Nick Saban (who was at LSU at the time and represents them in the film), former coaches Lou Holtz, Tommy Tuberville, Phillip Fulmer, as well as recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.[5]...
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Sports -Football Outreach
"But what about the apparent age difference between more mature mentors and mentees? Is this an obstacle or an opportunity? Sometimes the mentor can be slightly older than the mentee's parents."
Example: "Family feedback: The program should also be in contact with the mentee and parents, especially in the early stages of the relationship. The family may be more willing to share a concern with the staff person than with the volunteer, and the program can mediate their concerns."
"Becoming a disciple is a lifelong process even though made up of a series of individual steps. The good news is that God never gives up on us and there is always more to learn."
MENTOR: "Yeager, senior in elementary education, said he became a mentor because he wanted to get in touch with the issues adolescents face today. He also wanted to share his values and beliefs with them in hopes of steering them in a better path."
"It breaks up the monotony of college life," he said. "I've become more human since I started mentoring. I understand things better than I ever thought possible."
MENTEE: "I've learned a lot from my mentors, like how to be more responsible," he said. "I've also been able to see how college kids organize their life, and what I need to do to get into college someday."
"The students' self-esteem also improves when they spend time with their mentors, Perz said. Khris Ried, an eighth-grader at Eisenhower Middle School, said his mentor is more than just a mentor - he's a friend."
"Discipler Training International is a non-denominational discipleship ministry providing free discipleship lessons for spiritual growth, discipling others, and training disciplers. This is one video in a series that provides an overview of the Phase 1 curriculum that is part of, A Tool For Personal Discipleship, the foundation of DTI. Our desire is that God will make you into an effective spiritual parent and that your life will be multiplied many times over. Enjoy!"
Thank you for visiting GoodnewsEverybody.com! Please feel free to e-mail me (Sal) at ummalpha@yahoo.com on any comments, suggestions (e.g. any new websites),complaints, or anytype of feedback to improve this website or leave a comment on my blog
*"...Seek and You'll Find..."-
Matthew 7:7