In Titus 2:1-8, the Apostle Paul says, You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
As a youth worker, I’ve seen teenagers active in the youth fellowship and church but then fall out when they leave school. And more times than not, it’s because the youth have basically been segregated from the rest of the church. They are seen as “the church of the future” instead of the “the church of today”. So when they graduate school, they graduate the church as well.
One of a few ways to prevent this is for teenagers and young adults to build godly relationships with older men and women in the congregation. Mature, Christian adults teaching youth and young adults sound doctrine, sober-mindedness, self control, faith, love, what it means to be a godly husband or wife or parent or friend. Saying “no” to ungodliness and “yes” to purity because of what God has done for us in redeeming us through Christ.
I’ve spoken with a number of people, both teenagers and adults, who are intrigued if not excited by the idea of mentoring or being mentored. It is very, very simple. A mentor meets with one or two mentees once or twice per month or more if desired. Sharing a meal, prayer, Scripture, joys, struggles, etc. And it goes both ways, not the older person just listening to the younger person and helping them with their problems. Both lives need to be shared.
Now, I realize this is already taking place in many peoples’ lives — you are meeting regularly with one or two others who are praying with you, challenging you, helping you wrestle with sin … and if that’s the case, amen, by all means continue to do what you are already doing.
But I’m sure there are many who have been interested in this but didn’t know where to start or even some who have never heard of something like this but are interested. If that’s you, contact me if you would like to be paired as a mentor or a mentee. We will work hard to be effective in matching people up. And, while I will be coordinating this, I am not looking for it to turn into another church program that needs to be maintained. I want to this to eventually be a natural part of peoples’ lives. I truly hope this is something you feel is worth investing your life in.
Thanks,
Ethan Smith
Youth Worker
