Our hope and desire is to see high school students in Philadelphia transformed by Jesus Christ (especially those from at-risk and disadvantaged backgrounds). To connect students to local churches and intentional discipleship. To partner with needed resources to help students thrive. And to empower young leaders who pour into their communities with the light and hope of Jesus.
What do we do?
There are four pillars to our ministry, each which support one another.
The first pillar is sport. We strategically use sport as a way to serve the city, build relationship with students, and develop character. Currently we partner with sports teams in the Philadelphia School District, but our goal is to build recreational sport programs for high school students to provide off-season training to students.
The second pillar of our ministry is mentorship. In our mentorship program, we develop partnerships with local churches, and then train up active church members through those churches to be mentors. We then connect high school students that we have developed relationship with through sport and live in the areas of our partner churches, to a mentor. These trained mentors are provided on-going support, training, and accountability and walk with their mentee through the Bible weekly over a whole calendar year.
The third pillar our ministry is local churches. Every student that passes through our mentorship program, we want to be connected to a local church. That is why we strategically build partnership with local churches, and train up mentors within those churches to pour into these high school students. Part of our mentor’s goals for the calendar year is to integrate their mentees into the life of their local church.
The fourth pillar is resources. We desire to partner with resources throughout the city to be able to support our students and also churches, with needed resources to help our students thrive. These resources include, but are not limited to Christian counseling services and financial literacy classes.
Why mentorship?
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, “The research is clear: Relationships play a powerful role in youth development and success. Young people need stable, caring relationships with adults in order to thrive, and mentors can provide this crucial support. In light of the alarming national youth mental health crisis, mentoring is poised to be a key part of the solution to this public health problem. Studies have found that mentoring during childhood can strengthen mental health.” (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2024).
However, according to their research the prevalence of mentorship is actually declining and is significantly less accessible in lower-income areas. Mentorship is a huge need in Philadelphia, and is a powerful and strategic way to invest in the next generation of our city.
PUYC has developed a mentorship program, in which we train up mentors within local church bodies to mentor high school and college students. Our mentors are provided on-going support, training, and accountability. They meet with their mentees weekly, and go through a Bible study or Biblical resource with them, pray over their lives, and challenge them to grow. Our goal is that every student that passes through our mentorship program is connected to a local church, and becomes integrated into the life of that body.
And this idea of mentorship…. well it isn’t a new concept. We see it throughout the Bible, and beautifully displayed through Jesus’ example in the Gospels. We also see it in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 which says “Then Jesus came to them (the disciples) and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” This Great Commission commands us not to just to tell people about Christ and have them say the sinner’s prayer…. but rather to make disciples, baptize them, and then teach them to obey everything He has commanded us. We desire to see the next generation in Philadelphia not just know about Christ, but rather grow into Kingdom-driven leaders who thrive in their God-given purposes as disciples of Christ who are called into this Great Commission.
References:
The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2024, January 24). Spotlight on Youth Mentoring: Trends, Impacts and Recommendations. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. https://www.aecf.org/blog/spotlight-on-youth-mentoring