Community enCompass got its start when Bethany Housing Ministries and Sacred Suds merged in 2008. Since its inception in 1995, Bethany Housing Ministries had a mission to care for Muskegon area residents’ housing needs. That continues to this day.  Community enCompass has 22 units of supportive housing that are available to people who are homeless, or at risk of being homelessness.

Community enCompass’ Bethany Housing Program is in need of mentors for our transitional housing families. If you are interested in walking alongside a family in transition, please call us at 728-3117. Training is provided. Mary Whitlow, one of the graduates of the Bethany Housing Program has written a beautiful article on mentoring entitled, “Let’s Do Life Together.” It was written to all of the housing residents:

Let’s do Life Together

by Mary Whitlow

Mentoring is one of those ideas people consider a great thing, but not everyone really understands. It is something we at Community En Compass have been talking about quite a bit and want to see as a major part of the transitional housing program.

Simply stated, mentoring is doing life together. Generally, in a mentoring relationship, one person has had some life experiences and gained some wisdom that they can, and are willing to, pass on to someone else. This does not mean that mentoring is a one-sided relationship, with a giver and a taker. Instead, it is a give and take, back and forth exchange of daily life.

Time is a key element, though consistency is more important than amount. Which means one hour once a week would be plenty for a start. Neither does mentoring need to be labor intensive, with all sorts of structure and to do lists. Just sitting on the porch and talking about life, or taking a walk around the neighborhood and discussing dreams, is a wonderful way to form a lasting relationship that enriches both lives. Having someone who would take a walk or bike ride for an hour every week with me would certainly help motivate me to reach some fitness goals!

Mentoring does require commitment. Both people must commit to meeting regularly, and making sure that time is kept sacred on their calendars so that the other person knows the relationship is valued. It also requires openness and honesty, a willingness to get down and dirty with the garbage in all of our lives. Doing life together is messy, so you have to be in it for the long haul, exercising a whole lot of grace, patience, and mercy. Both people, but especially the one being mentored, must be willing to change. To paraphrase an old joke, “How many mentors does it take to change a light bulb? Just one, but the light bulb has to really want to change.”

So, are you ready? Kimi has called all of us on the committee to step up and each be mentors for one of you. Are you willing to meet us, not halfway, but wholeheartedly? Now that summer is here and it’s nice outside I could sure use that walking buddy!