Help Wanted: Mom Seeks Mentor for Son

Mentorship plays a crucial role in our children’s lives, whether it is the presence or absence of a godly mentor, and moms can play a significant role in finding a mentor for their sons.

Even though I try my best to disciple each of our children, we have still sought out others who are willing and able to back us up and speak into our children’s lives as mentors. It is a huge blessing to have other godly men and women our kids look up to, reinforcing the principles we are trying to instill in them.

Often, they have more credibility with our kids because they are way cooler than mom and dad anyway – right?

I’ve spoken at MOPS groups and other such ministries through the years, and I’ve heard from many moms who face unique challenges when it comes to finding someone willing to invest in mentoring and discipling their sons. There are single moms who do not have a willing partner, and there are some moms who are married but have an inactive or unwilling spouse. Tragically, some moms have even lost a spouse.

Don’t lose heart.

Look at one of the most prominent examples of a mentee in the Bible, Timothy. We don’t know much about Timothy’s father. But we do know that Timothy was raised in sincere faith, primarily thanks to his grandmother and his mother.

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” 2 Timothy 1:5

We also know that Paul became a spiritual father to Timothy.

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 Timothy 1:2

Like Lois and Eunice, you can pass on your sincere faith to your sons that will dwell in them just like it did Timothy. And while I am not saying to look for the next Paul, let me encourage you, there are men out there who are willing and wanting to mentor boys and young men.

But how do you find them?

One way to start is to seek godly environments. If you find a church that prioritizes discipleship, you find an environment with potential mentors. I’m reminded of the story we shared of Nate Carr in Suffolk, VA, who became passionate about men’s ministry. Out of that, the women’s ministry became involved and created opportunities for single dads. It all began because of encouragement from his pastor, and now the whole church has a culture of discipleship.

Putting yourself and your children in a godly environment creates opportunities to find godly mentors. It may take time, but it’s worth finding.

Another great way to find mentors is to seek out godly programs, such as Kids Outdoor Zone (KOZ) or Christian Service Brigade. KOZ has information just for moms, and you can watch some impactful testimonies from moms and their sons who share their experiences.

You can find information about these and other resources by receiving our monthly communication just for ladies, For the Love of Noble Men – Encouragement for Ladies.

At first, it might seem strange that a men’s ministry guy like me would speak to various moms’ groups, but what I always hope to bring to the table is perspective. We’re wired differently, and our sons are wired differently than our daughters. That perspective is helpful for me in loving my wife and daughter well, and that perspective is what I hope will be beneficial when sharing about guys with women. It’s why we created our course Loving Your Man’s Adventurous Heart, where we capture a little of that for those of you navigating relationships with the guys in your life.