Agape Training School
Becoming a Mentor
In March of 2013, Agape Ministries kicked off a new outreach project that we’re calling “Mentorship.”
The main thrust of this project is quite simple: to find Mentors, people who will take responsibility for one orphan child, being a friend, a teacher and advisor who will faithfully walk with them as they grow up and move on into adult life.
This project is made up of several steps: first, we present the idea in churches, we hold meetings to fully inform anyone who is interested in the details; secondly, we have potential mentors fill out applications and conduct individual interviews with them; and finally, we proceed to train them for this vital ministry.
On Saturday, December 7th, Agape held a training seminar for 14 people who had expressed a desire to commit themselves to the ministry of mentoring. These folks received sound teaching on a wide range of psychological factors that are vital to building relationships with orphan children as well as helping them become healthy, whole individuals.
After all, someone taking on an orphan child to mentor faces quite a challenge: she has to help them rebuild a healthy, trusting attitude to the world around them, something that has long been missing from their lives as a result of their being deprived of healthy relationships essential to development at an early age.
Therefore, an acquaintance with psychology, with phases of childhood development, and with the facts of how an absence of healthy family relationships has formed the orphan child’s heart and mind is vital for someone who wants to become a mentor. Everyone present received thorough answers to the many questions that arise as one considers giving his life to train and guide a needy child.
Some comments from those who attended this seminar:
“I already knew that working with children from an orphanage would be a great challenge, but I had no idea of how difficult it truly will be.” Sergei Turkach
“What I learned here about the psychological development of a child was simply a shock to my system. Thank you for giving us this information and time of training. Now I will be better equipped, knowing how to begin building a relationship with a child, how to help and support him in many different situations.”
“The time just flew by! Praise God that He has worked to open the hearts of believers to the needs of orphans, children who have been rejected by this world. I believe that through this ministry of mentoring, God will bring these children to Himself. May He be forever praised!”
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