Our Story
The Mentoring Project was born out of the realization that the infrastructure already exists to answer the fatherlessness crisis in America. Hundreds of thousands of buildings are already in place complete with gymnasiums, classrooms, computers and playgrounds. Not only are the buildings in place, but millions of capable, big-hearted volunteers are ready and waiting for a kid they can pour themselves into. What is this massive infrastructure? It’s neither schools nor any other government institution, it’s the incredible network of Christian churches that exist from coast to coast in America.
While the initial ambition of The Mentoring Project is to create 1,000 mentoring programs that will equip and support 10,000 mentors, we believe this is only the initial phase of development. Our hope is to see crime rates reduced, teen pregnancies decrease and, eventually, divorce rates turn back toward a rate more indicative of the sanctity of marriage. This will be accomplished as we work to pair millions of fatherless young men with a role model and an affirming, positive community at their church down the street.
As ambitious as this vision sounds, for me, it was a reality. My father left when I was a toddler, and right about the time I was breaking into houses, a man at my church invited me to a morning book study and took me under his wing. He befriended me. His role was simple. He played catch with me, invited me over to eat with his family, and even gave me a shot at writing for a local newsletter. That one affirming voice in my life, I believe, kept me out of jail. I created The Mentoring Project as a thank-you to my mentor growing up. And I know there are millions of men like him who simply need an official program they can sign up with in order to mentor a young man in a situation similar to my own.
Thank you for your interest in The Mentoring Project. I truly believe that, together, the hope we will provide America will turn the tide.
Best,
Donald Miller
