Bethel Football Mentors

Entering the Unknown

Not knowing how they would be received, both guys went in with a bit of trepidation. Michael said, “Going in the first time, I didn’t try to relate because I can’t. I don’t know what it’s like to live in the inner city. I wanted to just listen. I felt awkward and out of place, and I didn’t try to impress them or be cool.” 

Phil understood the culture, but he didn’t want to come across as better than the high school guys either. “I knew I would have a connection right away but didn’t want the connection to be that I made it out or that I think I’m above them or am just there temporarily. I wanted them to know I was in it for the long haul.”  

Phil was in a unique position to help his teammates understand what to do – and what not to do – when serving as mentors to urban youth.” Phil told the other guys, “Look, you guys aren’t of color. These guys will deny you right away because they haven’t had good experiences with people who aren’t black. Don’t take it to heart or let it affect you because the more you show up, the more they will trust you. Just be persistent and show them you are there and not just for the moment.”

And that is exactly how it went. At first, the high school football players were skeptical. They were accustomed to people coming in to try to help, but they were also accustomed to the same people coming once and leaving. It took time for them for the Bethel guys to prove they were committed.  

Doing Life Together

Kyle Fox is another FCA Area Representative who serves with Jordan in urban ministry. Kyle and Jordan have learned that the greatest work is accomplished when people do “life-on-life” together. Life-on-life relationships are about modeling to young people what it looks like to be men of God, not just during an FCA program once a week but in homes, running errands, playing ball, attending games, enjoying a family cookout, or studying the Bible together. They are literally doing life together. It is how Jesus walked with his disciples in the day-to-day moments of life. This is true discipleship.

Michael and Phil saw this play out with the guys from Minneapolis. Sometimes Bible Study wouldn’t go well, but then they would go to Taco Bell afterwards, and suddenly one of the guys is sharing about his childhood trauma. Or on the ride to an event, another may open up about something he is struggling with. 

It was during a retreat that Jordan and Kyle organized that the Minneapolis students shared many of the deeper things in their hearts. And it wasn’t during planned discussion times but during what Phil calls the Deep Time Hours. 

“They happen past a certain time in the night where it goes from laughter and fun to deep conversations. The laughter covers the awkward moments of silence, and then it instantly but naturally switches to deep conversation.”

Heart Change

It took a strong commitment to these Minneapolis football players, but there was a deep connection between them and the Bethel football players that led to changed hearts. Phil talked about a guy named Tay at North High School. He said, “I could tell he was the goofy one like I was, but I was like that because of what happened with me. At the retreat, we hit those late-night hours and we would talk deeply about life. Tay went from being goofy to a leader. He always wanted to get better.” 

Michael remembers Tray at Patrick Henry High School. Whenever Tray sees Jordan, he wants to know where Michael is. Tray has learned that Michael will show up time and time again, and it has made a significant impact on his heart. Now this white guy from the suburbs and black guy from urban Minneapolis are growing together in relationship with Christ and their understanding of others not like them. 

The Impact on those who Serve

As is often the case, it is not only those being served that are affected. For the Bethel football players who walked into a different world and initially experienced discomfort, God grew a deep love in them for these high school students from Minneapolis and opened their eyes to things they never understood about race or growing up with childhood trauma. 

There is more to this story, but God is doing something wonderful in urban ministry. The need is great, but the success of the mentorship program between a local Christian college and inner-city youth could be replicated with more FCA staff and additional resources. Jesus told His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-8). 

Please be praying for this ministry to reach the lost in our urban areas and that God would raise up more staff and financial resources to come alongside Jordan, Kyle, and the Bethel football players.