At NELA Youth we have multiple programs, but our most effective program is our Family Outings/Mentoring. These are times we spend time per family by outings to parks, fishing, trail walks, indoor recreational places, lunch chats, cookouts, Sunday church services, volunteer opportunities, and special local events. These are opportunities to get them out of their surroundings and show them there is more! These are powerful times where we can truly mentor and disciple these children, as well as being able to step in and teach them the fruit of the Spirit when we see negative and reactive behaviors.
Our focus is on mentoring them through knowing their identity in Christ which is best accomplished through personal relationships. Think about going to a large church. You learn on Sunday, but it’s the small groups where you connect and grow. Look at Jesus…he taught large groups, but the deeper relationships were with the disciples.
Matthew 28:16–20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
May these children will catch fire they can not contain and spread that throughout their family, community, city, state and the nations!
