Today, my friend Stephanie Shott shares her “clueless” motherhood story and how we can help today’s young moms.
I caught a glimpse of her as she walked across the parking lot. She looked to be about sixteen. Young in years, but great with child.
Reflecting on my own teen pregnancy, I couldn’t help but wonder if she was ready for the journey ahead. Did she grasp the greatness of her newfound role and how everything she had ever known was about to change? Would someone walk with through her motherhood or would she have to go it alone?
I Needed a Mentor!
I was eighteen when my son was born and had no idea what it meant to be a mom. Oh, I thought the whole mom thing was going to be a breeze, but it didn’t take long to learn that my dream of motherhood was very different from my reality.
I wanted to be the mom who did all the right things, never had to count to three, and baked her own bread.
But instead, I was a single mom, without Christ, without a mentor, and without a clue.
As the years passed, I married, and not long after that I became a Christian. Everything changed except that I still didn’t have a mentor and I barely had a clue.
That was twenty-seven years ago, and as I reflect on the way I muddled through motherhood, I can’t help but wonder where all the mentors were. I remember looking up to several women in the church, yet for some reason I was never able to wiggle my way under their wing.
But it shouldn’t have been that hard, and no mom should have to go it alone. After all, mentoring should be woven into the fabric of the church. Right?
The Power of Mentoring
Mentoring moms has the power to change the world. It’s not only a God-given way in which we can leave a legacy of faith, but it’s also an amazing tool to help us reach our communities and this culture for Jesus.
Two years ago I started The M.O.M. Initiative—a ministry devoted to helping the church make mentoring missional. Evangelistic in nature, the mission is to begin M.O.M. Groups that not only minister to moms who know Christ but also reach those who don’t.
Ultimately, our goal is to reach a MILLION MOMS for Christ. And if only 3 women in 1/2 of the churches in the United States would mentor just 3 other moms, that would translate into reaching a MILLION MOMS for Christ and impacting over 2.5 MILLION CHILDREN as a result.
A Mentoring Resource was “Birthed”
Sitting in the parking lot, a ministry was born and a book was conceived. I wrote The Making of a Mom to be a unique dual-purpose resource. A book to help lay a solid biblical foundations for real moms who are in the trenches of motherhood…to help answer the deep questions of a mom’s heart and to help each mom embrace the significance of her role as a mother. I want moms to know they are deeply loved and profoundly influential.
I also wrote The Making of a Mom to provide a discipleship and outreach resource for the church. As a discipleship resource, this book will help the body of Christ weave mentoring into the fabric of the local church. As an outreach tool, The Making of a Mom equips local churches reach their communities by mentoring moms in urban areas, in low-income apartment complexes, neighborhoods, prisons, homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, the mission field and wherever young moms can be found.
You see, if we reach the moms of this generation, we’ll reach the heart of the next generation. Today, you and I have an opportunity to change the world one mom at a time through the power and beauty of mentoring.
If you’re a young mom, you don’t have to go it alone. If you’re an “experienced” mom, you can impact the young moms of your church and community.
If you’re a young mom do you have a mentor? If you’re a more “experienced” mom, do you mentor any younger moms?
Stephanie Shott is the founder of The M.O.M. Initiative, a ministry devoted to making mentoring intentionally missional. She is an author and a popular speaker who helps women live full, fearless and faithful lives. To invite Stephanie to speak at your next event, visit her website at www.stephanieshott.com. To find out more about The M.O.M. Initiative or to begin a M.O.M. Mentor Group, visit www.themominitiative.com.
Great article Kathy as always…stop by and see mine today too. We’re definitely getting the word out about this great book! I endorsed it and can’t wait to get a copy. See you soon at the MOM Initiative Conference July 31-Aug 2 in Jacksonville, FL. Hope some of your readers join us there!