Be a Mentor {Mandela Day} 32 / 67 ways to change the world

OK so I took a little break from it, but as promised on Mandela Day 2013 (19.07.13), this is part of my series on their 67 suggested ways of changing the world. This one comes under the category of 'Become an Educator':

32. Mentor a school leaver or student in your field of expertise.


In my church (regenerationchurch.co.uk) we have a discipleship structure where there are mentoring and accountability partnerships in place for anyone who is serving regularly, in a position of leadership or in an upfront role. To me, this was a bit of a shock and a new way of doing things that I had not encountered in previous churches. At first I was not too happy about it, as I use to be a very private person, but now I fully see the value and necessity of it! 

I started off as a mentee (unaware that I was in desperate need of guidance!). After some time, I was asked if I would be interested in mentoring some of the younger girls. I was terrified and said NO because I was sure I was not equipped to deal do it, but my pastor/mentor reminded me that it is God that equips us to do what He calls us to! 

So now I am a mentor as well, which can be scary as it is a huge responsibility, but at the same time can be extremely rewarding! If I think back to many of the major crossroads in my life where I clearly made the wrong choice, I see a common denominator that is not having had someone older/more experienced that I felt I could fully trust or go to for advice. 

I feel blessed and grateful to have my mentor that I can go to for advice and wisdom, and my accountability partner who always seems to be going through similar things to me and is an incredible support! I am also blessed to have a couple of mentees who are teaching me just as much as I am supporting them. 

Kids and youth often don't have positive role models at home or stable adults that they can go and talk to when they need support and advice, so if you can fill that gap, then please consider doing so! If you are part of a church with a mentoring programme, GREAT! Get involved! Otherwise, you can search for Christian or secular organisations that look for mentors for children and young people. Think of the role models in your life- if they were lacking/non-existent, just think how much you have longed for stable/constant ones. If they were solid role models, be grateful and be realistic about where you would be without them! Now, imagine being able to be that rock for a child or a young person... and then imagine how much easier it would be for them to understand when you start telling them about the love of God and how He is ALWAYS there for them and will NEVER leave or disappoint them..? You see what I mean..? :)

Mentoring can be personal, spiritual, academic, career-orientated, skills-based, whatever! Find out what the need is and see if you can meet it.

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: http://www.nhslocal.nhs.uk/story/coaching-and-mentoring-guidance} 

{OneL!fe} // Pete Wynter

Tonight, Pete Wynter (a founder of {OneL!fe}) came to speak at re:generation church's Life Skills about his work at {OneL!fe} and about the value and principles behind mentoring. I was fully inspired by his talk and really appreciated the input. I have been in mentoring myself for close to 2 years now and I have been a mentor for over a year. I remember the serious feelings of inadequacy when I was approached about mentoring, but God fully worked it for my good (and fortunately the good of my mentees!). Pete's passion really encouraged me to keep going and to push on with mentoring, even when I feel particularly inept! 

Below is some more information about {OneL!fe} and about Pete's story:

How do we do this? We tour the UK running Conferences for young people to explore and grow in their leadership; Learning Communities for those who want to go deeper in their discipleship as a leader and Learning Communities for Youth Leaders to evaluate, sharpen and review strategies for their own youth ministries... and lots more!

Who can get involved? Onelife works mainly with 14 to 21 year olds, and with their youth leaders. We want to establish a family of godly leaders, earthed in local churches, who will be defined by biblical principals, deep character and the presence of God in all they do.

Every year {OneL!fe} takes on a fundraising event called 'The Challenge'. This year, The Challenge was for young people all over the UK to do a sponsored run, bike ride or walk for Onelife so that together we could cover the distance of the entire way around the UK - 4,500 km! 

Support Pete as he does a 28km bike ride (with 6 others) on July 1st from where he lives in Chorleywood to the Ugandan embassy in London. Donate here.

Blessings!

Ronell x

Volunteer with TimeBank

TimeBank is a national volunteering charity that is passionate about volunteering and believes that good quality volunteering can make a positive impact on our society. They run their own volunteering projects, which are designed to tackle social issues. They focus on mentoring and youth-led volunteering tackling big issues head on. From social exclusion to digital inclusion, TimeBank shows the difference volunteers can make and use this to influence others – policy makers, charities and businesses.

At TimeBank they live and breathe volunteering. TimeBank staff volunteer and all their Trustees are also volunteers. They try to encourage everyone to find rewarding volunteering, whether you’re an individual, a big corporation or a small business. They also design their own projects, mainly around mentoring and youth-led volunteering.

They do four main things:

·      Mentoring programmes

·      Employee Volunteering

·      Youth programmes

·      We volunteer too

If you are passionate about volunteering and want to support TimeBank, you can get involved in the following ways:

·      Be a funder

·      Be a partner

·      Spread the word

·      Donate

Personally, I am a big advocate of mentoring programmes. At my church (re:generation) we have a great mentoring programme, where the aim is for all the active members of the church to be in an accountability partnership, to be mentored by someone and to possibly mentor others. I personally have an accountability partner and a mentor and I also mentor others. I have seen tremendous progress in my own faith and in the faith of those who I am accountable with and to. This is a really valuable programme to have, whether it is spiritual, practical or a combination of the two.

So get involved however you can and invest in the lives of others.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.” {Isaiah 58v7}