MORE THAN SHAPING YOUNG MINDS

When our community, Haverim, gathered and discussed where we thought God was leading us, it was interesting and exciting to learn that though we are all SO different, it was unanimous that our marriages, our families as a unit and our kids were all number one priority! One of the ways we decided as a group to place higher focus on our children was to mentor each others children. When I have told people outside our “immediate” community about this they always think it is so cool. Having been a mentor before, I understand the benefits and necessity of kids having a Godly role model OTHER than their parents in their lives, but as I have pondered what we have undertaken here I cannot help but just praise God for this unique opportunity!

Being a mentor to a child through a church or a non-Christian based program has so many wonderful things to offer kids, especially kids who have a difficult home life. The value of these programs is, truthfully, priceless! However, as I have been thinking about our situation, talking to the people active in our Haverim community and seeking God’s face on how to guide this endeavor, I am completely blown away by the “uniqueness” and the incredible opportunity to have SIGNIFICANT impact on people’s lives.

Unlike the many church and community programs out there, we have greater potential to grow deeper, richer and more transparent relationships not only with the child we mentor, but with their family. The higher potential in that lies in the commitment we have made to each other as a group. Regardless of our individual issues, the baggage we carry and all the little annoying habits we have, we have vowed to stick with each other through thick and thin. Some of us may be “higher maintenance” than others, but that is ok because we genuinely LOVE each other and are learning to look beyond the issues and love the child of God that each of us is! The coolest part of this is that this love carries over into every single member of this community, regardless of age. We have the potential to develop ties that are as tight, or for some of us, tighter than blood!

With this potential in mind and the fact that our Haverim community has taken such great strides in building deep, honest and unconditional love bonds for each other, the vision I see for our kids is truly astounding! Not only will our children learn by example and participation about how to develop meaningful relationships with good, solid communication, but they are being embraced by a whole community of people who care deeply about every aspect of their lives AND their families lives. Our children will get the amazing benefits of having a mentor, but as a bonus, they are getting an entire community of people who want to see each one of them grow into confident, bold followers of Christ and amazing human beings. You cannot put a price tag on that!

I don’t know exactly where God is taking this Haverim community or how mentoring each others children will actually work out, but the POTENTAL is endless. I, personally, am excited about what God has dropped in our laps. I am eager to pour everything I have to offer into my own children, my mentee (Amanda) and ALL the children who make up our Haverim community. We are growing this new generation in a unique way; at least in a way I have never heard of before! I think if we continue to seek God’s face, continue to be fully dedicated to our families and each other, we are going to see God move in this community; both adults and kids! Thank you Lord!