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 was 18 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.

For me, motherhood was like a messy experiment and my kids were the guinea pigs. [Tweet “For me, motherhood was like a messy experiment and my kids were the guinea pigs. #parenting”]

That was twenty-seven years ago and as I reflect on the way I muddled my way 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?

Mentoring moms is powerful. It’s how you and I can change the world. It’s not only a God-given way in which we can leave a legacy of faith, but it’s also a powerful tool to help us reach our communities and this culture for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Two years ago I started The M.O.M. Initiative – a ministry devoted to helping the body of Christ make mentoring missional. Evangelistic in nature, the goal is to begin M.O.M. Groups that not only mentor moms within the four walls of the church, but also equip the body of Christ to mentor moms in low income apartment complexes, neighborhoods, prisons, homeless shelters, crisis pregnancy centers 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. but if we don’t, I’m afraid we’ll lose them all.

In July, The M.O.M. Initiative’s premier book, The Making of a Mom will be released and will equip the church with a uniquely designed resource for mentors and small group leaders, making mentoring moms easy and relevant.

And on 7/31-8/2, we will hold our first conference, BETTER TOGETHER for MOMS, MENTORS, and MINISTRY LEADERS. A conference for women of ALL ages and in ALL seasons! (Hope you’ll come! 😉 )

Today, you and I have an opportunity to change the world one mom at a time through the power and beauty of mentoring.

I didn’t have a mentor…and I don’t know if that young girl at the gas station will have one either. But no mom should have to go it alone. So, let’s step into our Titus 2 shoes and begin impacting our community and this culture for the Lord Jesus Christ.

We’ll have forever to be glad we did.

About Stephanie: 

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 has lead women live full, fearless and faithful lives for over 25 years. 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, BETTER TOGETHER, or to begin a M.O.M. Mentor Group, visit www.themominitiative.com.