Lara’s Story: Sharing Your Faith

The first day I met with my mentee, I was a totally blank page. I didn’t take anything with me and didn’t have any kind of plan. In my mind, I was picturing sitting down with a little fifth grader that would just talk to me for an hour about their problems and expect me to fix them. I could see them getting a bit emotional and me being there to comfort them and tell them everything would be alright.

After meeting with my mentee, Emily, three times now, I realize that what I had planned is certainly not the case. These kids aren’t looking for someone to tell them they are living their life wrong; they aren’t looking for someone to look down on or baby sit them; they are looking for a friend.

Although they may not be expecting it or even have to know it, most importantly, we should be faithful in prayer for our friend. These kids may or may not know God and bringing it up could be touchy or difficult. I asked Emily if she goes to church and she said she knows what it is, but that her family does not attend on a regular basis. I proceeded to invite her to my church that is only about five minutes from the school and past that I was stumped on what to do. How do you tell a fifth grader about God? I thought way back to the days when I was a pre-teen, elementary student and how my children’s minister was able to reach me. I think the best way to tell a child about the Lord is to not tell them at all; show them. Show them through your actions: be kind, flexible, loving and generous. Show them through your attitude: be genuinely excited to see them, love them, speak positively about everything and make them feel important, because they are.

They might not come from the same background that you do, but they are still children of God, whether or not they know it yet. If your friend asks you about Christianity, you could start of by talking about your own testimony. Talk about what it has done for your life and what it means to you. I would always have a Bible with you and maybe even have some good verses bookmarked to read for references. You might not be ready to give it to them yet, but I suggest picking up a pre-teen, commentated Bible for them. When the right time comes, you can give it to them and let them know the significance of it and what it means. From this point, you could have a Bible verse each week that you both learn and recite it the following week and maybe even have a reward for correct memorization, but make sure that they aren’t doing it solely for the prize. Talk to them about prayer; show them examples in the Bible of the power of prayer. Take time every day to pray for your mentee; pray that they would be able to see the Lord.