Three years ago, now 14-year-old Emily Bonebrake started going to her best friend’s neighbor’s house. It became a pattern: every Wednesday Sofia and Emily would arrive at Brad and Bella Kauffman’s house for dinner and then would head to the youth group that Bella led.
“I never really grew up having a best friend group,” Emily explains, “so Bella was like a good friend to talk to, whether it be about school, Jesus or whatever is happening in my life.”
Emily’s two older sisters were in Joy El’s 4.12 Leadership Training Program and both had recruited the same Barnabas mentor. When Emily joined the program about a year into hanging out with Bella weekly, Bella was the natural person for her to ask to mentor her. “She was the perfect fit,” Emily states.
Bella and Emily are now in their second year of the mentoring program and are seeing tremendous growth. In fact, seeing this type of growth is one of the biggest motivating factors for Bella in mentoring others. “Watching my mentees grow in their faith is a huge benefit,” Bella says. “Specifically seeing where Em is in her faith now compared with starting the program a year and a half ago is amazing.”
Emily agrees with the remarkable work God has done in her. “I used to be terrified to talk with people,” Emily shares. “Now I’m not only talking with people more, but I’m even able to share the Gospel with people without fear.”
Emily demonstrated that during a recent camping trip with her family. She made friends with other teens at the campground and talked freely about her faith with them.
Bella affirms that Emily has developed sound theology and a mature perspective on sharing the Gospel with others. “For her 4.12 level project she had to answer questions, including providing supporting Scripture, about why we share the Gospel with others,” Bella explains. “Her answers were so impressive! I’ve actually seen in relationships how much more confident she is in sharing what she believes with others too.”
Campers at Joy El Camps and Retreats are among those who get to hear about Emily’s relationship with Jesus. “I see myself as investing in the campers whether I’m a junior counselor or a server in the dining hall,” Emily says.
Emily also gets to see Bella when she serves at Joy El, because Bella is now on Joy El staff as a missionary. “I don’t go to her house as much now, but I can stop by her office and I see her at church,” Emily celebrates.
If you know a teen who would benefit from the 4.12 Leadership Training Program, reach out to [email protected] for more information.
“The faces of Spiritual Multiplication” is a 7-part series encouraging others to see the impacts of mentorship.
Faces Of Spiritual Multiplication
