When you think of ways to unselfishly serve others, what comes to mind?

There are so many ways to serve others, that sometimes it can seem overwhelming. One that I rarely think of, but which has been on my mind often lately is mentorship. I was surprised to discover just how important purposeful intergenerational relationships and mentoring are to building and maintaining a teenagers faith. I recently read an article encourage a 5:1 ratio of adults to teens for building strong youth. That's a ratio of five adults willing to invest in one teenager's life!

"The highest form of worship is the act of unselfish Christian service. The greatest form of praise is the sound of consecrated feet seeking out the lost and helpless." Billy Graham

This week I sat down with a mentor couple that is living out their Christian faith through a mentor relationship established through the LARC Initiative. They have seen real growth in their mentee, Maya, a member of the Gateway Woods Residential Program. This family is able to model Christ-like behavior to Maya very naturally, and she can see what she is learning about in the Residential Program displayed in regular life. 

I asked this mentor couple if they felt that other couples should consider mentoring. Their response has really stuck with me. "There are so many kids that could benefit from a mentor family, and there are a lot of kids that still need families. It's definitely something that people should consider. Not everyone can be houseparents, but it's a pretty natural fit for many people to mentor. And you can really make a difference in someone's life."