Mentoring Strategy

Mentoring (or discipling) is the foundation of what we do at Mercy Street.

We place mentors with the children in the public schools in West Dallas, starting in the 4th grade. Believing that we need to capture the hearts and minds of the children early, we make all of our "matches" in elementary school and ask the mentor to walk with the student through high school.

Jesus established the mentoring model with his disciples and they in turn replicated it. The apostle Paul took to heart the call to invest himself in others as evidences particularly through his relationship with Timothy. Here is Paul's mentoring plan for the church in Thessalonica:

But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.   (I Thes. 2:7-8, 11-12)

So this is the plan we follow to make Christ's name known in West Dallas and hopefully to see a lasting transformation occur. 

In addition to the mentoring relationship, we also provide many other activities to supplement the relationship. We do weekly Bible Clubs. We run sports leagues. We take the kids to summer camps around the country.

To apply to be a mentor, complete the Mercy Street Mentoring Application.