You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast Podcast By Zach Garza & You Can Mentor: Faith-Based Mentoring for Churches Non-Profits Youth Ministers and Teachers cover art

You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast

You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast

By: Zach Garza & You Can Mentor: Faith-Based Mentoring for Churches Non-Profits Youth Ministers and Teachers
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About this listen

You Can Mentor is a network that equips and encourages mentors and mentoring leaders through resources and relationships to love God, love others, and make disciples in their own community. We want to see Christian mentors thrive. We want to hear from you! Send any mentoring questions to hello@youcanmentor.com, and we'll answer them on our podcast. We want to help you become the best possible mentor you can be. Also, if you are a mentoring organization, church, or non-profit, connect with us to join our mentoring network or to be spotlighted on our show. Please find out more at www.youcanmentor.com or find us on social media. You will find more resources on our website to help equip and encourage mentors. We have downloadable resources, cohort opportunities, and an opportunity to build relationships with other Christian mentoring leaders.© 2025 Zach Garza & You Can Mentor: Faith-Based Mentoring for Churches, Non-Profits, Youth Ministers, and Teachers Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • 271. Mentoring with Parents in Mind: Building Bridges to the Home with Chad Higgins of Lifeway
    Jun 26 2025

    In this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zachary Garza and Chad Higgins of Lifeway Christian Resources explore the essential role parents play in mentoring and discipling their children. Chad shares his background in parent ministry and emphasizes the need to empower parents as the primary spiritual leaders in their homes. They discuss how mentors can build trust with parents, engage those who may be distant from faith, and remain faithful in their mentoring journey. The episode offers practical ways mentors can support families and create meaningful, transformative relationships for both parents and kids.

    Check out Chad's book, Define the Relationship: Growing a Parent Ministry that Brings Families and Churches Together, here. To learn more about Lifeway Christian Resources, visit https://www.lifeway.com/.

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    Takeaways:

    • Parents are crucial in the discipleship of their children.
    • Building trust with parents starts with knowing their names.
    • Mentorship extends beyond the child to the family.
    • Faithfulness in mentorship is essential for long-term impact.
    • Engaging parents can lead to exponential growth in mentorship.
    • The gospel is best communicated through relationships.
    • Understanding parents' needs is key to effective ministry.
    • Every interaction with a family can plant seeds for faith.
    • Transformation in a child's life can influence their parents.
    • Mentors should model healthy adult interactions for kids.

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    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to Mentorship and Family Dynamics
    02:42 The Journey into Parent Ministry
    14:40 Understanding Parental Roles in Discipleship
    20:24 Building Trust with Parents
    28:01 Engaging Parents Who Are Uninterested in Faith
    36:24 The Importance of Faithfulness in Mentorship

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    It would mean the WORLD to us if you would leave a 5 star rating on our pod so we can reach more people! Scroll down to the bottom the You Can Mentor page on Apple Podcasts and click "Write Review." On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the admin wheel, and hit "Rate Show." Thank you!

    Learn more about all we do at www.youcanmentor.com

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    38 mins
  • 270. Walking The Path: Authentic Mentorship Through Identity and Grace with Benjamin Crawshaw and Brittany Sawrey-Coulson of TrueFace
    Jun 12 2025

    In this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zachary Garza talks with Brittany Sawrey-Coulson and Benjamin Crawshaw from True Face about the power of authenticity in mentorship and discipleship. They challenge performance-based models of discipleship, emphasizing identity in Christ and the value of genuine, trust-filled relationships. The conversation covers how mentors can create safe spaces for youth through authentic connection, meaningful dialogue, and shared experiences. They also discuss the role of food, curiosity, and presence in building trust, as well as the impact of social media and technology on mentorship. The episode wraps up with practical resources to help mentors guide deeper, more impactful conversations with their mentees.

    Check out Brittany and Benjamin's book, The Path: What if the Way of Jesus is Different Than You Thought? on Amazon here. You can also download a sneak peek of the book or learn more at https://www.trueface.org/thepath.

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    Takeaways:

    • TrueFace helps Christians find peace through identity-based discipleship.
    • Authenticity and humility are key to connecting with today’s youth.
    • Mentoring starts with trust, not performance.
    • The next generation craves real relationships and self-understanding.
    • Safe, grace-filled environments foster growth and transformation.
    • Shared meals and genuine curiosity deepen connection.
    • Face-to-face, experiential learning is powerful in a digital age.
    • Mentors must be secure in their identity to lead well.
    • The Path Experience Guide provides practical tools for mentors.
    • Social media brings both challenges and chances for deeper engagement.

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    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to Mentorship and True Face
    01:53 The Journey of True Face and Its Impact
    06:12 Authenticity in Mentorship and Discipleship
    08:55 Shifting from Performance to Identity
    15:07 Building Relationships in Mentorship
    21:07 The Role of Humility in Mentorship
    23:01 Creating Safe Environments for Change
    36:00 Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Mentoring
    44:03 Resources for Effective Mentoring Conversations

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    It would mean the WORLD to us if you would leave a 5 star rating on our pod so we can reach more people! Scroll down to the bottom the You Can Mentor page on Apple Podcasts and click "Write Review." On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the admin wheel, and hit "Rate Show." Thank you!

    Learn more about all we do at www.youcanmentor.com

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    48 mins
  • 269. Compassion Before Comprehension: Laying the Foundation for Mentoring Success with Susie Gallo of Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance
    May 29 2025

    In this episode of the You Can Mentor podcast, Zach Garza talks with Susie Gallo of Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance about the life-changing impact of mentorship. They explore the value of compassion, curiosity, and authentic connections with mentees. Susie offers practical advice on supporting mentors, creative approaches to recruitment, and the importance of patience in building meaningful relationships. The episode emphasizes how small, everyday experiences can shape young lives and calls for greater community involvement in mentoring efforts.


    https://sonomamentoring.org/

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    Takeaways:

    • Mentoring is about building authentic relationships.
    • Compassion should come before comprehension in mentoring.
    • Curiosity helps mentors understand their mentees better.
    • Simple experiences can create lasting memories for kids.
    • Setting mentors up for success is crucial for effective mentoring.
    • Community engagement is essential for recruiting mentors.
    • Patience is key in the mentoring journey.
    • Kids often face challenges that mentors may not see.
    • Mentors should be aware of their mentee's family dynamics.
    • Creating a supportive environment is vital for mentoring success.

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    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction to Mentoring and Connection
    07:12 The Importance of Compassion in Mentoring
    15:42 Building Authentic Relationships in Mentoring
    23:40 Setting Up Mentors for Success
    30:11 Innovative Approaches to Mentor Recruitment
    37:33 The Journey of Mentoring: Patience and Growth

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    It would mean the WORLD to us if you would leave a 5 star rating on our pod so we can reach more people! Scroll down to the bottom the You Can Mentor page on Apple Podcasts and click "Write Review." On Spotify, go to our page, click the three dots next to the admin wheel, and hit "Rate Show." Thank you!

    Learn more about all we do at www.youcanmentor.com

    Show more Show less
    47 mins
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