263. Building Community and Breaking Barriers in Mentoring with Grant Skeldon

263. Building Community and Breaking Barriers in Mentoring with Grant Skeldon

Author: Zach Garza & You Can Mentor: Faith-Based Mentoring for Churches, Non-Profits, Youth Ministers, and Teachers March 13, 2025 Duration: 56:15

In this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zachary Garza and Grant Skeldon dive into the significance of mentorship and discipleship, especially for young people who have faced tough challenges. They share personal stories, insights on starting a new church in Nashville, and the essential role of community in building meaningful connections. The conversation highlights the importance of creating lasting memories in mentorship and overcoming common obstacles that hinder individuals from engaging in these relationships. Zachary and Grant discuss the challenges and rewards of discipleship, touching on barriers like time constraints and feelings of inadequacy. They stress the power of sharing personal testimonies and stories as key mentoring tools. The conversation also explores the stages of discipleship, from being a learner to becoming a multiplier, while underscoring the value of hospitality and warmth in relationship-building. Ultimately, they reflect on the hard work of discipleship and its rewarding potential to make a lasting impact.


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Takeaways: 

  • Mentorship can significantly impact young people's lives.
  • Creating a safe environment is crucial for trust in mentorship.
  • Community is essential for effective discipleship.
  • People are more open to the gospel during transitions.
  • Connection is more important than content for the next generation.
  • Core memories enhance the mentoring experience.
  • It's important to connect mentees with caring adults.
  • Showing up consistently builds strong relationships.
  • Overcoming feelings of inadequacy is key to mentoring.
  • Discipleship should focus on building relationships, not just teaching. Many people feel they don't have time for discipleship.
  • Feeling unqualified is a common barrier to mentoring.
  • Discipleship can happen in everyday life, not just formal settings.
  • Your testimony can be a powerful tool for discipleship.
  • Sharing failures can create deeper connections than sharing successes.
  • Hospitality is key in building relationships with the next generation.
  • Discipleship involves multiple stages: learner, leader, disciple maker, multiplier.
  • It's important to invest in others, not just for their sake but for the sake of future generations.
  • Discipleship is hard work, but it is worth the effort.
  • Building relationships at the table can lead to transformative experiences.

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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

02:00 The Impact of Mentorship and Discipleship

04:33 Mentoring Kids from Difficult Backgrounds

07:01 Starting a New Church: Way Church in Nashville

11:53 The Importance of Community in Discipleship

17:14 Creating Core Memories in Mentorship

23:00 Overcoming Roadblocks in Mentorship

24:20 Overcoming Barriers to Discipleship

41:09 The Stages of Discipleship

46:37 The Hard Work of Discipleship


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Also, check out our National Christian Mentoring Gathering, which is April 16-18, 2025 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 
Learn more about all we do at www.youcanmentor.com


Hosted by Zach Garza, You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast is a conversation for anyone guiding young people within a faith context. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical resource built for the real challenges faced by youth ministers, church volunteers, teachers, and parents. Each episode focuses on the tangible aspects of building relationships that matter, offering grounded advice on how to listen, encourage, and walk alongside the next generation. The core of this podcast is a shared belief that effective mentoring flows from a foundation of loving God and loving others, aiming to make disciples right where you live. We delve into the questions you actually have, because your input directly shapes the discussions. Many episodes are crafted from real questions submitted by listeners, making the content immediately relevant to your own mentoring relationships. Whether you're navigating a difficult conversation, seeking creative ways to connect, or looking to sustain your own spiritual health while pouring into others, this space is designed to equip and encourage you. The goal is to see Christian mentors not just manage, but truly thrive in their vital roles. Tune in for honest stories, actionable strategies, and a sense of community, all aimed at helping you cultivate a more meaningful and impactful mentoring practice.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast
Podcast Episodes
232: IPC: Introduction // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:36
“IPC”-IPC is a tool to help us understand our mentee (and ourselves)-Identity, Purpose, and Community are three things we are presented with about King David in 2 Samuel 8. -Identity: 2 Samuel tells us David was a mighty…
231. What Does a Christian Look Like? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:43
This Mentoring Minute deals with a really good question you can ask your mentee to start some high-quality conversation. Back in youth group, we would trace out somebody’s silhouette on a piece of butcher paper and have…
230. What is Mentoring? What is a Mentor? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:19
All of us are here today because of our relationship with “that person”. You know, the one who made a profound impact on your life. For me, a few men made me who I am today. It was a man named Bob who invested into me wh…
229. Words Matter // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:44
We’ve all done it. We have said something like “Wow, Brian is the best. He is such a good kid.” You may think there’s not a thing wrong with that statement. But what about this one, “Geez. Brian is the worst. He is such…
228. The Rule of Three // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:58
Safety is the name of the game when it comes to mentoring. You always want to have safety on the mind when you are hanging out with your mentee. First priority is always to keep the child safe, but another aspect of safe…
227. Are You Sure? // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:43
In my line of work, I hear these three little words all the time. They come after I give something to someone usually or offer to help someone do something. My nonproof is based on Jesus’s words to his disciples: “Freely…
226. First "You", Then "Them" // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:47
I hate to fly. I hate everything about it. Getting up 72 hours before your flight so you can drive to a crowded airport with terrible parking. I hate the 19 lines you wait in to do all the things. Take your shoes off. Pu…
225. Find Your Tribe // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:39
If you’ve ever hiked up a mountain, it is no easy endeavor. There are easy parts and there are hard parts. Storms can pop up from time to time. Times of fun and times where you are challenged. But if you stick it out, th…
224. Giving Gifts // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
Giving GiftsGiving gifts or purchasing things for your mentee is one of the more complicated topics you will face as a mentor. You want to be able to show your care and affection for your mentee through giving gifts, but…
223. Mentoring is Baseball // Mentoring Minute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:34
Mentoring is BaseballDid you know that the average of every baseball player in the hall of fame is a combined .303. That means if you hit the ball 303 out of 1,000 times, you are considered one of the greatest baseball p…