Why You Should Be a Mentor

Religion

Teenagers need help. This isn’t a new phenomenon, the pages of scripture are full of exhortations for adults to pass down knowledge and wisdom to the next generation.This is a more pressing phenomenon in our generation because fewer and fewer adults take this responsibility seriously. Consider Titus 2:1-8, a clear call for older men and women to train younger men and women. Paul is telling the minister, Titus, to remind the lay people in his church that this was their responsibility. No Christian is off the hook.

The need for mentors in the lives of students is greater today than at any time in United States history. This generation of parents has the dubious distinction of being the first that is largely unconcerned with bringing its young to maturity. Consider the following:

– Over one third of Gilmer County’s children will go to bed tonight without a father in their home.
– The National Research Council has conservatively estimated that nearly half of our young people are at risk of leading unproductive lives.
– The majority of young people ages 16-29 have a negative view of the church and its impact on the world. Less than 1 in 5 young people in this age bracket will be in church in Gilmer County this Sunday.
– Young people have embraced moral relativism, the majority (even of those who claim to be Christian) seeing nothing wrong with premarital sex, drug use, cheating to get ahead, etc.
– Nearly half of the young people in Ellijay have been abused physically, sexually or both.
– Nearly half of the young people in Ellijay have had suicidal thoughts.
– Nearly half of the young people in Ellijay have experimented with tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.
– Half of the young women in Ellijay have hurt themselves physically at least once.
– Young people overwhelming express apprehension at growing up and making significant life decisions, the age of “adolescence” now reaching 30 years old.
– They are what Sean McDowell calls the “loneliest generation” because their relationships are largely surface level and mediated through technology.

This fall the ministry I serve, the Gilmer Christian Learning Center, will begin a Gospel centered mentoring program. We desire to show love and support for students and provide a Godly role model who will listen, encourage, and advocate for these young men and women. Mentoring students is a natural part of the discipleship process that will build stronger individuals, families, churches, and communities. If you are interested and would like more information about this program, please contact me (Caleb) or Pam at the CLC office for a Potential Mentor packet. If you don’t want to work with us, find a young person in your church or neighborhood and commit to invest in his or her life in a real and meaningful way.

Caleb Land is the director of the Gilmer Christian Learning Center. You can find out more about the CLC and the mentoring program by visiting www.gilmerclc.org.

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