Mentorship refers to a relationship where guidance is given to someone, often by someone who is advanced in education, profession, or experience. Mentorship is effective in helping to shape the life of an individual by creating an environment for positive and influential growth, which results in confident individuals, stronger families, better communities, and overall, a more sociable world.
In this article, we take a look at ‘MEN’torship in the context of fatherhood. Whether in the family, the church, or the community, the benefits of a positive male role model are undeniable. At First Assembly of God church, mentorship is intentionally leveraged to influence and develop youth and men. The overarching goal? To impact lives and affect change, in the family, the community, and the nation. This article spotlights the perspectives of Executive Pastor, Dr Wilbert Lee, Elder Wesley Adams, and Brother Martin Watson on this topic of mentorship. They are integrally involved in the following ministries that offer youth mentorship.
Royal Rangers is a scouts-like club managed by men who are outstanding members of the church. The goal of the ministry is to aid the spiritual development of the male child while teaching them survival skills for the world today.
Nulli Secundus, translated ‘Second to None’, is a youth group that provides tailored mentorship for each member. It operates on a volunteer basis with mentors from within the assembly in various professions and academic distinctions. Some mentors act as stand-in parents for members with absent or less-present parents.
Sunday School and Children’s Church caters to spiritual leadership and moral instruction from the Word of God. In these settings, the contact with students is short but can be effective if consistent attendance is maintained.
Dr Lee, the Youth Pastor, underscored that mentorship is undertaken in keeping with the church’s vision statement, which essentially is to see all with whom we come into contact live purpose-driven lives. All three men agree that mentorship is the vehicle which carries a person along the path of self-discovery where they uncover God-given talents and skills and are taught how to use them for the benefit of themselves and others.
They agree that the template of mentorship can be replicated throughout the nation, using the Boys’ and Girls’ Scouts Associations as examples of organisations that could impact the lives of young individuals. However, they are not naive to the challenges such as unequal access which is inherent in the structure. Brother Martin asserts that the membership of the Scouts’ Association tends to be exclusive to the middle and upper class, given that the organisation is managed by contributions from members. He advocates for wider access.
Elder Adams draws a parallel between people falling away from the church and boys losing their way as they advance in age. “We need to implement programmes that aid youth’s smooth transition from one stage to another,” he said. Mentors and leaders must be sensitive to the challenges faced by our boys, especially those with absent fathers or positive role models. This, he is certain, will require a multi-faceted approach, and input from the wider society. Dr Lee spoke of the work of Nulli Secundus in mentoring youth in other regions. The group undertakes annual expeditions to hinterland communities performing community service and youth engagement. In addition to preaching the Word of God, they teach peers in underserved regions how to hone their gifting to survive and thrive.
Nulli Secundus received a National Youth Award for Volunteerism in 2019 in recognition for its work in skills training and community engagement among other activities in Regions Seven, Eight and Nine over a period of three years. The group is based on the coast which is at a comparable socio-economic advantage. In this regard, mentorship can bridge certain resource gaps that exist. For Dr Lee, the principal mentor of ‘Nulli’, “Young people are not only our future but they have something we need to capture. They have the skills and enthusiasm needed for the furtherance and development of this country. There are too many young people falling through the cracks. They all can’t be lawyers and doctors. Some of them have great skills and adults need to recognise the potential, develop the skills and incorporate them into society…”. He is emphatic that Youth groups like Nulli Secundus be replicated throughout the country.
He further added that the impact of their work is already evident among Youth in Aishalton and Rupertee, Region Nine. Nulli Secundus’ hosted an online talent Extravaganza in 2021 featuring participants from the region. This youth group engages progressive young men and women and encourages them to coach their peers in the Christian and secular communities.
It is often said that mentorship is a mutually beneficial relationship and Brother Martin confirms, sharing that being a part of the Royal Rangers and Nulli Secundus has been instrumental to his own growth and development, especially in the areas of confidence and social skill set. It goes beyond teaching one a vocation or discovering a gift but teaching emotional intelligence among other psychological keys to navigate life.
Mentorship is especially important to displaced children because it creates networking opportunities and gives them a sense of community. Mentorship is a perpetual cycle, as old as our existence and if effectively engaged, can be a powerful tool to pass along values and teach techniques to advance growth. Martin described this as “the brothers changing but the brotherhood remaining the same. The general structure – morals, mission, and objectives – which makes the group what it is, remains intact.”
Elder Adams said that it is important to note the cultural contrast between two different regions. However, the mentorship structure would prepare an individual sufficiently to adjust and maximise the opportunities that are presented.
We urge you to consider mentoring a child. For information on how you can sign up to become a mentor to youth, please contact the leaders of the above-mentioned groups.
