Student Mentors: Barbara’s Story

A few months back, the ROCKHARBOR community was asked to look over, pray about and sign a covenant declaring what we believed to be true as a community. This was a time to consider what the Lord might be asking of us in the upcoming year, and how we could begin to reorient our lives to serving him in and through the local church.

Barbara was sitting in a seat during the 11 AM Central campus service and knew that God was calling her to something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. As she prayed over the components of the covenant card, it became increasingly clear to her that God was asking her to step out and serve as part of the team that was going into the local middle schools and mentoring teenagers one afternoon a week after school.

For Barbara, this was not something that came easily. Although she had raised her own children, she had no experience with students, mentoring, or education in the slightest. She argued with God as she continued to pray, but knew that this was something that she was absolutely supposed to take part in.

After a few months of serving on this team, Barbara has story after story of how the Lord is moving though her relationship with 8 middle-school girls at Tewinkle Middle School in Costa Mesa. Although she does not have the freedom to directly share Christ with the girls because of the public school system—she has been able to have authentic conversations with each of the girls about life and problems they might be facing. During these talks, she is able to share her experiences with Christ in a natural and open way—nothing prepared or fabricated. It’s just a genuine outpouring of the Holy Spirit on their conversation.

In December, the girls created a handwritten “Thank-You” card for Barbara, and some of the messages from the girls acknowledged the fact that they truly feel that God brought them all together. Whether or not Barbara is able to evangelize in a direct manner with these girls, it is undeniably clear she is making an impact in their lives, just by spending time with them on a regular basis.

For girls that often have little stability and extremely tough home lives, this is huge. Even if Barbara’s girls are sick and stay home from school, or have other commitments, they always make it a priority to show up to these gatherings, because for them it’s so much more than a woman coming to hang out with them out of obligation—it is community that is unlike anything else.

Barbara’s story is incredible because it shows what happens when we step out in faith and obedience to the calls that God puts on our lives. He isn’t concerned with our experience or qualifications. He will equip us through his Holy Spirit if we open our hearts and agendas to what he is doing. It’s not so much about us being the ones who are doing the “ministry” but rather us stepping into the ministry that is already going on.

There are tons of opportunities for us as a church community to step out in faith and service in the upcoming year. Maybe like Barbara, you are feeling a call on your life to mentor teenagers in your community. Maybe you are called to join the Greeting team or start working with Families Ministry on Sunday mornings.

Whatever it is—feel confident in the calling placed upon your life. Feel confident in the amazing promise that God will equip and empower you in the perfect way as he uses you in places his Holy Spirit is already moving.