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You Can Mentor is a network that equips and encourages mentors and mentoring leaders through resources and relationships to love God, love others, and make disciples in their own community. We want to see Christian mentors thrive.
We want to hear from you! Send any mentoring questions to hello@youcanmentor.com, and we'll answer them on our podcast. We want to help you become the best possible mentor you can be. Also, if you are a mentoring organization, church, or non-profit, connect with us to join our mentoring network or to be spotlighted on our show.
Please find out more at www.youcanmentor.com or find us on social media. You will find more resources on our website to help equip and encourage mentors. We have downloadable resources, cohort opportunities, and an opportunity to build relationships with other Christian mentoring leaders.
You can mentor is a podcast about the power of building relationships with different marketplaces and unique features. Every episode will help you overcome our mutual options and give you the confidence you need to invest in your life's experience. Find out more at youthmentoring.com or find us at Youth Mentoring. Yo. Yo.
Speaker 1:Yo. Can you believe that fall is almost here? And with the new season comes new offerings from Youth Mentor. Hey. Go to our website, youthmentor.com, and check out what we have planned for the fall.
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Speaker 1:This is an online sprint. It's a four to six week cohort where you get in-depth kind of training on mentoring. You get to meet other mentoring leaders. We've got one on mentoring one zero one, and we've got one on leading yourself and empowering others. Check out our new and improved website or find out more on social media.
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Speaker 1:Go check it out. And remember, you can mentor. Welcome to the You Can Mentor Podcast. This is your favorite mentoring friend, Zach, and I'm here with Meredith Murray from Allies and Youth Development. Meredith, say hello.
Speaker 2:Hello. Hello. How are you?
Speaker 1:Oh, I'm doing great. It's just fine and dandy today on this Wednesday afternoon. Man, so I met Meredith. I think she reached out to me. Was it via LinkedIn?
Speaker 1:Is that right?
Speaker 2:We did connect on LinkedIn. I think I found you I I think I emailed you first. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's it. You emailed me. Uh-huh. Oh, man. Just Yep.
Speaker 1:Taken some initiative, Meredith. That's fantastic. Yeah. So Meredith is with Allies in Youth Development. They are an international Christian ministry that equips local mentors to serve vulnerable children and orphans in their own communities.
Speaker 1:They started out with a commitment to Christ centered mentoring, and they have grown all across the world. They're now in 92 countries serving more than 27,000 kids. Their hope is to train up local believers to build consistent relationships, teach life skills, and share the hope of Jesus. It really is a super cool deal. So, Meredith, thanks so much for hopping on and just Yeah.
Speaker 1:Talking about what it is that you guys do in the world.
Speaker 2:Yes. Well, thanks for having me, and thanks for what you're doing. And, yeah, I love our aligned missions and passions for mentorship. So excited for the conversation.
Speaker 1:For sure. Yeah. So just like start us off by telling us about who you are and how you kinda got into this space and working with allies in youth development.
Speaker 2:Yeah. For sure. So who I am and I guess, you know, thinking about like me professionally, you know, my career hasn't been this total linear path. It kind of sometimes feels like it's all over the place, but you know, there's definite themes that are woven throughout that I can see now. So, you know, I spent my first ten years out of school in education and then probably my best job yet was as a stay at home mom for seven years and then led my own real estate business for seven years and got seems like that makes me like a 100 now, but I've been in the nonprofit space for now three years and I think so through all of that kind of two themes kind of rise to the surface and and one of those is just my passion for walking alongside other people and and and I that came from several different places.
Speaker 2:It came from my dad who was very much an empower and walked through addiction himself and then his life mission was to walk with others through their recovery journey. And so just watching his example definitely instilled that in me and then through my own life experience, you know, having people walk with me and then being able to do that with others. I just really believe in the power of of not doing this life by yourself. And then the other thing I think is a theme of mine or a passion of mine is just that our stories are powerful and that what, you know, have in you is not just for you whether that is, you know, your pain your experiences your your gifts. All of it is really powerful and is meant to be shared and and I think when we share our stories it just gives people permission to kind of borrow off of that same faithfulness and see what God is doing in their own life.
Speaker 2:And so so what led me to allies really it's kind of this natural extension of both of those things, you know, allies is all about the power of walking alongside other people and the power of mentorship, which is so close to my heart and then specifically my role at allies is I was hired to launch the podcast which is really just a place for people to tell their God stories and to tell how they're using their life to impact the lives of other people and and that too is just my heart is share people's stories and to let someone's story then empower you to go on and to live a life of purpose and impact. So so yeah, that's you know, I definitely feel like I was kind of made for what I'm getting to do right now and doesn't feel like work. It it definitely feels like a calling for sure.
Speaker 1:Man, I just think it's so crazy how, like, there truly is so much power in our testimony and how everything today, in some ways, wants to suppress that. Right?
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:But then there's kind of this this other side of the coin that's like, hey. Share share all of the wins and share all of the cool stuff, but let's don't talk about let's don't talk about the hard stuff.
Speaker 2:You know? Yeah. Right.
Speaker 1:But how just like God truly can just use these stories and testimonies of, hey. Like, here's how my life was transformed, and here's who spoken to me. And Mhmm. I mean, it can be so encouraging and inspirational. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And, you know, it can it can truly give courage to people who are trying to step out in faith.
Speaker 2:Yes. Absolutely. I'd say that's like kind of the theme of every person I've been able to to have on my podcast is just that there's always been someone who walked alongside them someone who poured into them who kind of helped them to feel like they weren't alone and that that's kind of what gave them the courage to do the things that they're doing now. So, yeah. Love it.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's for sure not good for men to be alone. And I think that that is just shown over and over and over again. So, yeah. So why don't you just tell us a tad bit about allies for people who might not know?
Speaker 1:Tell us kinda what you do, how you guys got started, how you expanded. You guys are in, like, so many countries serving a ton of kids. Just share with us kinda that whole story.
Speaker 2:Yeah. For sure. So Allies is it's a nonprofit. We exist to to empower and to transform the lives of orphans and vulnerable youth around the world and we do that through our mentoring program. So we've been around for fifteen years.
Speaker 2:Started It with our youth pastor who took a mission trip to Russia. He went with a professor at UTA here in Arlington was teaching Russia Russian. She was Russian herself. And so they partnered together and took some youth out to Russia for a missions trip and that really opened their eyes to the orphan crisis and what they saw was, you know, kids in that area would age out the orphanage at 15. The life expectancy at that time was 30 due to substance abuse suicide and trafficking.
Speaker 2:These were institutions that were just basically providing basic needs, but there was nothing beyond that. They weren't set up for success and living full independent lives. And so they thought what can we do? We're here in America. How can we really make an impact?
Speaker 2:So they really took advantage of the relationships that they had in the universities there and started bringing college kids, university students into the orphanages to mentor the kids and to just build relationships with them and provide that human connection and celebrate their birthdays and just basic things and saw the transformation that was taking place just by meeting that human need of relationship. And so that's where it started was in orphanages in Russia. And so yeah, we are now in 92 countries. We have over 27,000 kids in our program. It's not just for true orphans.
Speaker 2:It's social orphans as well. So just kids who are growing up in pretty dire situations that they may have a parent, but aren't able to really provide the, you know, life skills and the relationships that they need. And so, yeah, our mentors, a huge part of our mentoring program is teaching life skills. So that looks very different based on the needs of the area. It's not like a cookie cutter approach.
Speaker 2:You know, whatever the need is. That's what will develop a program over to teach that so that could be, you know, basic hygiene skills or first aid or how to the importance of clean water, you know, basic needs like that all the way up to how to recognize the dangers of human traffic king and recognize false job opportunities and things like that as they get a little bit older. We also have a tutoring program for kids who want to go to college in many areas around the world, like in Russia especially, orphans are able to go to college free of cost, but they have to pass the college entrance exam similar to like an SAT, and they get one shot at taking this test. And so there's so many gaps academically that they have that they would struggle, you know, being able to get into college. And so our mentoring program basically just walks alongside them until we know that they're ready for that test and so far a 100% of the kids who've entered our tutoring program have been able to go on to college.
Speaker 2:And so that's a big win for the kids as well. And then we do, you know, summer camps all around the world where we're sharing the gospel and giving them opportunities to accept Christ and be baptized. So that's kind of in a in a very brief summary what we do. But I think the secret sauce of allies is our mentors and I'm sure you understand this too. That's where the transformation happens.
Speaker 2:So our mentors are in country Mentors. So these are people who live in the country. They know the language. They are personally invested in the success of this community. And so I think that is really the beauty of allies is that, you know, we're not trying to come in and be the hero.
Speaker 2:We are equipping and empowering local people who care to rise up and to invest in in the community where they live.
Speaker 1:Man, I just think that that's so amazing because so so often we, as mentors, we kinda wanna come in and just for the lack of a better term, it's, you know, save. Like, I wanna save a kid. Like, I just I wanna make sure that they're good here, here, here. Yeah. But what I love about your model is, like, you guys are going in and you're finding people who know the context.
Speaker 1:They know the language. They know the history. They know what day in and day out these kids are facing. Yeah. And I just can't help but think that that's so much more impactful and and effective.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, like, tell me how do you find these mentors? Is it partnering with churches? And how do you ensure that they're that they have what it takes to mentor, they're safe, and Mhmm. All of, you know Yeah.
Speaker 1:All of all of that stuff.
Speaker 2:Right. So, honestly, I would, I mean the foundation of allies is prayer. That is our strategy and we commit everything we do to the Lord and into covering it in prayer. So I will first of all the how is him that's he gets all the glory for it and there's no other explanation beyond that. How does he do it?
Speaker 2:I mean first of all lots of networking and so we actually have people come to us. Have orphan orphanage directors that are coming to us because they hear about how Allies is in other orphanages and the impact it's having. And so are a lot of community members are coming to us because they're seeing the impact. It's word-of-mouth is is being spread and they want to be a part of it. I can't tell you how many stories we've heard of people who've said like this is exactly what I've been looking for.
Speaker 2:I want to pour into kids. I want to invest in others, but I just didn't know how and we provide the how for them. You know, so yes, there's lots of local churches. We work with missionaries who, you know, have a network of other missionaries who, you know, have been able to bring more people into the fold. Honestly, we have not ever hurt for finding the Mentors ironically.
Speaker 2:Like, it is when we're talking about such impoverished areas and the need is so great that when you have people who are compassionate and care like they they are knocking on the door wanting to do something to help. And so that's been such a blessing and then they tell their friends and then they tell their friends. So that's kind of how it's grown. And and the other thing is that we are really we're not just all about the kids. We're also all about the Mentors.
Speaker 2:And so we really pour into them and want them to succeed just as much as we want the kids to succeed. We are we care about their families. We care about what they're going through. Take care of them and and not just to get what we want out of them. It's like and we see the trickle down effect that comes from that that that then causes them to take ownership in the in the program and to be personally invested because now it's blessing them.
Speaker 2:It's blessing their families and their lives. And so I think that's also a huge part of our success is that it's a blessing for the mentors to be a part of the program because of the way that they're empowered and equipped, I guess.
Speaker 1:It sounds like that second Timothy two two. You know, like, you guys are investing into the mentors. The mentors are investing into the kiddo. Yeah. It's just like everyone wins.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay. There's a couple things here that I wanna ask. Mhmm. Like, I'm I'm super curious, Meredith, about you said everything starts with prayer. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:And, obviously, like, we're all faith based. We all are doing what we're doing in the name of Jesus. I personally, you know, I'm I'm a I'm I just really like to get stuff done. And, yeah, I might, like, say a prayer, you know, and ask god to put his hand on it. But more times than not, it's kind of an afterthought.
Speaker 2:And Mhmm.
Speaker 1:That sounds terrible, but these orgs that I see that have just, like, had this tremendous impact in this and they've kinda, you know, experienced fast growth. And for sure, it's not all about growth and all of the numbers, but, like, when you say it's all because of prayer, can you double click on that and just, like, what does that tangibly actually look like for you guys as an org? Like, do you spend an hour every day? Like Mhmm. Tell me some more about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's a great question. So actually, we we're a pretty small staff for the size that we are, but one staff person's role is prayer. She leads our prayer engagement for the organization and so she is super intentional at keeping prayer at the Forefront. And so every year we kind of start the year with like a prayer gathering just with our staff where we, you know, really just kind of tune down all the to do's that we have and just really focus on in on scripture and seek the Lord and we share what's the Lord saying to you then we'll have time of reflection and just really spend several hours and as a result of that, then we kind of have this like brainstorming list of all the things that we feel that the Lord has kind of put on our heart for the year ahead.
Speaker 2:And so we keep that list at the forefront of every meeting. Remind ourselves the things that he showed us in that in that time. We start every meeting in prayer. We we say it is not it's not something we do. It's it's our strategy, but but we're all human like what you said, Zachary.
Speaker 2:Like, I struggle with that too. I'm a I'm a let's get it done. I love checking things off. But it's funny. I've actually started having my quiet time here at my office and I when I leave every day I open my Bible up.
Speaker 2:So it's open on my desk. So when I come in before I start opening my emails and before I do anything, I'm in the word and seeking God. What is it you want for me to do today because I'll do the same thing. I'll just start going and you know, and it's so easy to think that we're responsible for the fruits of this ministry, especially when we know that what we're doing is so close to his heart that we're like, okay, let's run with this. Like I'm gonna make this happen, but we know that the power comes in letting him lead and so it's not easy.
Speaker 2:It's something that we have to be really strategic about. But yeah, I'd say we start every meeting in prayer. We continually look back at what he showed us in that and we try to we try to ask for big like if it's a small ask that we know that we can do with our own human efforts, then it's not big enough Like we want it to be like really scary and to where we know that like there's only one way that we did this and it wasn't it wasn't from us. I'm grateful that he's put other people other prayer warriors on the team that can kinda, you know, hold our arms up when we feel weary. I think being surrounded by people like that definitely helps.
Speaker 1:It truly is this, like, more than I can ask or imagine. Like
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:If I really believe that, then the sky's the limit. Like, there's no telling what God can do, and there's this verse, I think it's in Habakkuk, I think.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:I could be wrong with that. But it's like, write the vision on the tablet so that he who runs may or so that he who reads it may run.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:And I'm just like, Lord, give us a big vision. Like Yeah. Give us something that, you know, if you don't show up, then we're in big time trouble. Yeah. And yeah.
Speaker 1:But so so do you have, like, a story about, like, hey. Like, felt like we should ask for this and it was something that only God could do and it happened or anything? Anything
Speaker 2:like that? Yeah. There's many. I think the first one that comes to mind, it's actually not even my story. It's the our CEO's story, but I'll share it because it's a cool one.
Speaker 2:So we he had at one point a list of kids that were on the waiting list. These are orphanages and centers that are wanting our program, but we just at the time didn't have the funds to open up a new program for them. And so they were on our waiting list and one of his mentors when he heard about the waiting list. He really challenged him and he was like, where where is the faith in that? If this these kids God has brought these kids to you then then you know, it's go time.
Speaker 2:It's in and we don't have to know the how we trust him to show the way and so Chris Bergen is our CEO. He said, are you telling me to take these kids off the waiting list? He was like, yeah, I am and you need to just trust God and and so he did and it was a big leap of faith because now you're committing to these kids to be in our program and we're like, okay Lord you're going to have to provide and and it was honestly just this very unexpected phone call that he then gets of a donor who was like, hey, I have this house this property that you know, we we really don't need it anymore and we're thinking about selling it. So how about I'm thinking we're just going to gift it to you guys and then y'all can sell the house and keep the proceeds and it literally covered all of the kids that were on that waiting list, you know, and these are the sort of things that it's only God right like only God can do something like that and but it took step of obedience. It took a mentor.
Speaker 2:I love that to kind of challenge him and be like, hey, where's your faith in this? Like that's what good mentors do right is kind of ask some hard questions sometimes. So that's the first one that comes to mind, but there are many many over the last fifteen years for sure.
Speaker 1:And I think that that's great. I mean, first off, that's just an amazing story to hear how god works. And Mhmm. I'm I'm always just struck by this tension of, like, good stewardship. You know?
Speaker 1:Like, oh, I need to make sure that we're good financially, and we need to, you know, not not take big risks and, you know, all all of that's good. Yeah. But this then there's this other side of, no. Like, dream big, take take risks, and see what god does. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:And I think the answer here is just, like, you have to do what the holy spirit
Speaker 2:is Prompting you.
Speaker 1:Yep. Prompting us to do. And I think it's so cool that your CEO has a mentor. And because, like we were saying at the very beginning, you know, like, there's no such things as self made man, no such things as self made woman. Like, we all need help.
Speaker 1:We all need people who are asking the hard kinds of questions, who are giving us that kind of challenge, and Mhmm. That doesn't matter if you're six or 60. Yeah. Those can be super helpful.
Speaker 2:Yeah. For sure.
Speaker 1:Okay. Well, cool. Well so so, like, tell me just if if you can what are oh, yeah. Here is the here is the kinda question that I was gonna ask you. Since y'all mentor overseas and in different kinds of countries Mhmm.
Speaker 1:Is there a different perspective, or how do people view Mentoring over there compared to here?
Speaker 2:That is a really good question. You know, I've had an opportunity to travel with allies twice now. I went to Peru and then I just recently went to Africa and both of those trips, you know, we they're really I would say the number one goal of these trips is to just encourage the Mentors and to just pat them on the back and cheer them on and tell them how grateful we are for them and for the impact that they're having and my first time going to Peru, you know, I felt like this giant question mark just hovering over my head like not knowing what to expect and what this was going to be all about and I got off the plane and you know, I'm you're like surrounded by the Andes Mountains like we're walking out into the parking lot and mountains all around us and all of sudden you hear this music and this cheering and I look ahead and there are probably 30 allies mentors who have met us at the airport and they are all in their Peruvian like outfits and they have musicians and there's posters and balloons and they're singing and they're dancing and they're hugging and I'm like, what?
Speaker 2:Like, it was the most overwhelming experience. We danced in the parking lot with these people for like thirty minutes at least and the sun was going down. I was like, okay. I guess we need to move on. And they were all the allies mentors and the my first feeling is like I haven't done anything like I didn't feel like I deserved all this like honor that they were giving us but I realized that after some time and reflection and talking to others that reaction that I was getting from them was because allies has changed their life and impacted their life as Mentors and this was their way of like saying thank you to allies for what it how it's impacted them.
Speaker 2:So that was the first kind of moment. But the second thing I remember thinking is, like, surely this energy, like, I'm gonna be here for twelve days. Like, this isn't gonna continue. This is just, like, the Allies welcome party and then I'll get to see what they're really like, you know boots on the ground when we go to the to the mentoring program and honestly that energy and that passion was consistent the entire time every time I saw them. Were that just on fire for what they're doing and I don't that was somewhat surprising to me, I guess because these are most of them are, you know, in their young 20s mid mid 20s.
Speaker 2:A lot of them are in in college at the time some late 20s. They're not doing what they're doing because they you know, need Community Service hours or it's like a part of their degree plan like it honestly is out of their heart many of them were orphans many of them grew up in very dire situations. So they just they feel it in their bones like this is who they are and what they want for these kids because it's what changed their life. And so, you know, I haven't I haven't met a whole lot of 20, you know, or young adults that here that have that same kind of commitment and passion and I'm not saying they don't exist, but I would love for some of that to just rub off on all of all of us here to just really have that much passion and energy for the next generation. So I is I'm sure that a lot of it is similar but I think that was kind of the one thing and I don't know if I'm answering your question or not.
Speaker 2:But as far as how does it compare to maybe you can tell me how does that compare to Mentors that you're that you're working with or that you see here. Do they share that same passion and energy for the work that they're doing?
Speaker 1:That's a great question. Look at you asking me a question.
Speaker 2:Turn the turn the mic.
Speaker 1:It's almost like you have your own podcast. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, one thing that I'm consistently fascinated by, Meredith, is just this, like, the Lord can take your pain and turn it into your passion.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And so, I mean, that's my own personal story. I mean, I'm super passionate about mentoring because
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:Mentoring changed my life. And so and I think if you really get down to the why behind not all mentors, but, you know, there's a there's a good chunk of us. It's because we wanna be the kind of person that we wish we had whenever we were kinda younger. And so and that that really can create just a fire and just a passion and just a Mhmm. Resilience that I'm not sure you can get any other way.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And so, you know, there's that. I think mentors can be motivated by their faith and Mhmm. Just like I I think God can stir up someone's heart just to just to really have a passion for a kid and for their story. Yeah.
Speaker 1:I think one thing that you said also is just like this joy, this celebration, this encouragement, like, all mentors need to be encouraged because the work that we're doing is not easy. I mean, we are going into these kids' lives and who have experienced just some really, really hard things, and we are are fighting so much. You know? We're fighting society. We're fighting their generational stuff.
Speaker 1:Mhmm. And just, like, to enter in as light and be the hands and feet of Jesus, like
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:You better believe that the enemy is not going to just lay down and be like, oh, yeah. Sure. You guys can have your way.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And so, I mean, it's a big deal. Like, I I I wish and I wish that more people just understood the power of mentoring, of entering into someone's life, of this opportunity to build relationship that could lead to discipleship, that could lead to generational change. And from my perspective, I mean, it is just so Jesus. Like, it is just so like, what did Jesus do? He went into these spots, and he found the people that no one loved.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And he entered in, and he healed, and he listened, and he was with them, and he made them feel worth, made them feel just a bunch of value. Yeah. And that is what changed lives.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1:And so so yeah. So that's that's kinda how I would answer
Speaker 2:you, I feel like it is very similar then, and and the the idea of your pain fueling your purpose, and I think that's definitely what we're seeing and just the the joy that comes from being a mentor and the healing that comes, you know, One story in particular that comes to mind was a leader in Peru. Her name is Liz and she was actually working in an orphanage mentoring girls who had who were survivors of human trafficking and just, you know, navigating a very painful difficult season that they were in and and just trying to be a sense of encouragement to them and what she realized through that experience is that she had personally never dealt with some abuse that she had endured as a child and she kind of had this almost like impostor syndrome going on where she's like encouraging these girls to that you have a voice and that you know, just instilling that dignity in them and hearing them out, but she realized that she didn't ever use her voice and that she didn't ever stand up and tell anyone about what had happened to her. And so through this experience what the Lord did in her is really just empowered her to to speak after years of suffering abuse herself and ended up filing criminal charges and took him to court and got Justice and and so just thinking about the healing work that the Lord did in her as a mentor, I think we see that.
Speaker 2:You know, we see how God is restoring individuals, but he's also another story that comes to mind. This just happened in Africa. Our allies mentor there noticed he had a couple of young mentor young men that were newly married and they were struggling in their marriages And so him and his wife said, you know what? We're going to start a Bible study our Mentors and their wives and just start pouring into them. Called it.
Speaker 2:What did they call it? Couples Camp is what they called it. And so all these mentors that worked under him at allies them and their wives would come and they would just start investing in their marriages and, you know, fast forward now there's four couples that husband and wife both are leading allies mentoring programs together. They're serving together. And so that's the kind of thing that like you said, you want people to understand the beauty and the power behind mentorship that that those mentors lives were changed and impacted as a result of the work that they're doing.
Speaker 2:Their families lives have been changed. It's not just the kid that benefits from these types of relationships. And I love that that's what you're seeing here, and that's what we're seeing all around the world too.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Like, it it for sure doesn't make sense because, I mean, we're all so busy. We got so many things going on. We got work and kids and sports and church and da da da. And it's just like, when am I gonna have time to mentor?
Speaker 1:Like, when am I gonna But it really is better to give than to receive. Yeah. And just, like, amazing things happen when you can have the faith to lay down your own agenda. Mhmm. It's like, no, Lord.
Speaker 1:Like, you know, I feel like this is of you. I feel like this is a call. You know, this is something that and he more times than not, he just shows up.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And, you know, when he shows up, things change.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And It's true. It's good.
Speaker 1:It is. Mhmm. Well, cool. Hey. Well, so this will be the last kinda question Mhmm.
Speaker 1:That I have for you. But so, like, we talk a ton about just, like, the power of, like, finding mentors who have the same kind of story as our kiddos and just how there's so much power in that.
Speaker 2:But Yeah.
Speaker 1:But my question would be for the mentor who maybe doesn't have that story. So if someone's coming in and they don't understand this kid's culture and they don't understand where they come from and they don't understand, you know, maybe anything about this kiddo
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:What encouragement would you give to them as they enter into just this kind of super scary role of, I'm gonna mentor this kid?
Speaker 2:Yeah. No. That's such a good question, and I think that is potentially a lie that the enemy might use to keep people from doing it. It's like, you know what? I I had Mentors or I had, you know, I didn't suffer some of the same challenges that they are so, you know, they're not going to learn from me or whatever and I definitely think that that is that is a lie and I think that number one what these kids need is your presence more than they need you to have all the answers or to you know, even have the right words or the experience.
Speaker 2:They just need your presence more than anything else. I had one guy on the show and he's actually a chaplain for a lot of different sports teams and he says I'm in the presence Ministry and I'm like tell me what you do. What is that? And he's like, you know, I just I just show up. Just consist consistently show up for the guys and what will happen is, you know, several weeks in one of the guys will be like, hey, can I talk to you about something, you know, and and they just need to share and and all he did was just be present?
Speaker 2:And so that is something that all of us can do all of us can listen. I think that is what a lot of kids need and and ask good questions, you know, help them to dream help them to kind of think outside the box and I don't think you have to have the same life experience in order to do those things and I think that's I think that's the beauty of the body of Christ, right? Like we don't all have the same story and so there's something gold inside each one of us that somebody else needs and and so and it's maybe not the exact same thing of what they're going through, but I think God still uses it for sure. So I would just encourage people to, you know, you think about like who did Jesus use, you know, he didn't he just called normal everyday people and said hey, you know, he didn't ask him to go change the world, you know, it was like invest in who's right in front of you, you know, and and I think that's the same call that we have today is is to just use whatever God has given you to invest in the people that he brings into your life and and to yeah to realize that what's in you isn't just for you that it does have power to change someone else's life and I love that you're seeing it.
Speaker 2:We're seeing it and that's my passion too is to get more people to recognize the beauty of mentorship and how it it changes lives and that it can be you you can Mentor. Right? It can be anyone
Speaker 1:you can Mentor. That's it. So I want you have a book about that. Yeah. Super fun.
Speaker 1:Okay. So tell us about your podcast and tell us how to find out more about allies in youth development.
Speaker 2:Yeah. For sure. So the podcast is called Empowered Life Podcast. So we're on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, all the things. If you go to empoweredlifepodcast.org, that's where you can find all the episodes and but more important than that you can see the mission of allies and and ways to get involved who we are what we do.
Speaker 2:So that's kind of the easiest way to point you to both that'll show you what allies is all about and also how to find the podcast and and I think for the Mentors who are listening. I think the podcast would really be an encouragement to them. These are these are Mentors who have I mean, they're not all Mentors, but just people who have stories of transformation people who are using their life to impact the lives of other people. And so, yeah, I think it's a great resource, a great way to hear the stories of other people who are doing it, and that just kind of gives us the fuel and the courage we need to to do it as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah. For sure. I mean, kinda like how we started, there's so much power in our testimony. Yeah. And I just love, love, love that just your what you talked about about prayer.
Speaker 1:Like, that's super inspiring to me. That convicts me some, and I'm just very, thankful for y'all. So thank you for everything that you guys do. Thanks for hopping on the podcast.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And if you're tuning in, then, share this with a mentoring friend, share it with your staff, your volunteers. Go check out allies. And remember, you can mentor. Thanks for tuning in to the You Can Mentor Podcast. Our vision is to raise up and invest in mentoring leaders who will launch and grow thriving mentoring ministries.
Speaker 1:We do that by equipping and encouraging faith based leaders through relational connection, Christ centered resources, and collaborative gatherings. Check out our books, come to the National Christian Mentoring Gathering, and engage with our network and cohorts. You can find all this at ukmentoring.com or on social media. Please share this episode with a mentoring friend and leave us that five star review. Thank you.
Speaker 1:You can mentor.