“Mentoring America’s Fatherless”

John Sowers, The Mentoring Project

The Mentoring Project is an advocacy and training organization that serves as a liaison between faith communities and matching agencies to provide mentors for fatherless youth.

Fatherless youth are the engine that is driving a lot of society’s problems (gang violence, teenage pregnancy, etc.). We must see the bigger picture of fatherlessness. And we need to open our eyes to the orphans that are in our communities.

How do we respond to a culture crying out to need the love and acceptance of our fathers?

We have to hear it. We need to mourn with those who mourn. We must see the burden and the opportunity.

Mentoring can mean so many things. For The Mentoring Project, it is about reaching the fatherless youth. They focus on boys because that is where the largest need is. They believe in building relational capital.  They partner with churches for implementation.

Base mentoring on 3 Biblical principles:

  1. Love – What does it mean to love a kid that you have just met? Rejection is the central defining characteristic of the fatherless generation. They know rejection more than they know love. Acceptance and presence is the remedy to that. Love is as simple as showing up. This is also central to Christianity. “I will be with you.” We know God’s love because we know He is with us.
  2. Model – We model Christ with integrity and sincerity. Integrity can be intimidating. Sincerity feels attainable. Sincerity makes you vulnerable and approachable.
  3. Coach – Coach with grace and truth. Speaking words of truth and changing their destinies.

We are an Esau generation longing for the blessing of our father. But our fathers are gone.

How do you define mentoring?

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Lindsey has a sincere love for her precious dogs Molly and Maisy, a good red wine and the Delta Sky Club.

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