Why Faith-­based Mentors are Vital to High School Students

Mentors are important in many areas of life, but especially to adolescents. They can function as inspiration or guidance and can help people find the right way in life. In faith, a mentor can be there to answer questions that a younger person may have about their faith or a specific path in life.

It has been shown that the most important things in the life of an adolescent (including faith and identity formation) happen best in the context of consistent, long-term relationships with adults. But remember that not all mentor relationships are the almost stereotypical, formal one-on-one experiences that are probably brought to mind at the mention of the word.

A mentorship can be highly informal and more of a friendship, and youth may certainly have more than one role model that they look up to and seek out for guidance.

What is important in a mentorship, however, is that the content of the conversations includes applying faith concretely to everyday life. Faith is sometimes a difficult topic to grasp without concrete examples and guidance through real life issues. And in the end, is that not the situation where we need faith the most?

Specifically, during the formative high school years, a mentor can be highly beneficial to a student. During this period of life, adolescents are often reluctant to speak with their parents about certain issues they are having – and getting to speak with another adult can be very rewarding and offer the correct guidance.

Maranatha High School’s Mentoring Program connects each student with a mature believer who is personally invested in the spiritual formation of the student and provides clear, Biblical, and healthy spiritual direction. Their vision is to see every student at Maranatha follow Jesus with increasing maturity, determination, and grace.

“Follow my example as I follow Christ” – 1 Corinthians 11:1.

For more information on Maranatha High School you can visit www.maranathahighschool.org. They are located at 169 South Saint John Avenue in Pasadena and can be reached at (626) ­817-­4000.