In Tennessee, Craig Thompson, a father of six, has turned the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” into reality with his project called “52 Godly Mentors.” One night, unable to sleep, Thompson had a sudden inspiration. As he pondered his eldest son David’s upcoming 13th birthday – a significant milestone symbolizing the transition from childhood to adulthood in many cultures – he thought about finding godly mentors to guide his children.
Thompson shared in an interview with The Epoch Times, “I wanted to give my son a birthday gift, the opportunity to meet individuals of noble character from various walks of life. These individuals would not only discuss business, money, or investments with him but also impart wisdom about life itself.”
Thompson began jotting down the names of potential mentors for his son David and proposed they spend a day with him, teaching him skills or life lessons. As they started responding, he began scheduling one mentor per week starting from David’s 13th birthday week. His goal was to arrange 52 mentors within a year so his son could receive guidance for a full year.
Thompson succeeded. Fourteen years later, he has continued this tradition with his other three children and is preparing a mentoring program for his fifth child, who will turn 13 this January.
In the process of selecting mentors for each child, Thompson puts a lot of thought and effort into considering the significance of becoming a man or woman, as he knows finding good mentors is crucial in helping children grow into adults leading a godly life.
He revealed, “So, when I look for a mentor, my primary concern is whether regardless of their income, life circumstances, or other factors, they are striving to serve God.”
Thompson often asks himself another question, what can these mentors teach his children about life, faith, and work? He seeks diversity so that the mentors he selects have a wide range of knowledge, experience, and suitable age.
“I try to find company executives, retirees, employees, housewives, teachers, business experts, writers, and people from various backgrounds. Mentors from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds who can wholeheartedly love God provide my children with life lessons that we as parents may have overlooked or forgotten,” Thompson said.
Thompson admitted that sometimes his children establish lasting connections with mentors, while other times they do not. He said this is all part of the experience and that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be successful.
“One easily overlooked benefit children derive from spending time with mentors is discovering what they definitely don’t want to do in the future. One of my daughters spent a day at the office with an administrative assistant, and we still laugh about it. She found the job incredibly boring, but it left a lasting impression on her, and she never wants to engage in that type of work.”
On the other hand, Thompson said these mentors and experiences also help his children discover their strengths.
Thompson’s son David had a mentor who worked as an editor in a newspaper, thinking giving a child the opportunity to be an editor would be an interesting experience.
“When he genuinely began to spot spelling and grammar mistakes, their eyes widened because the print deadline was approaching, and they had missed the errors. David said it was the first time he realized he could be rewarded for something he excelled at and enjoyed. He later served as an editor for a regional publication and edited several books for me and other organizations,” Thompson shared.
Reflecting on his family and the families he has guided through mentoring programs, Thompson said, “As parents, we are delighted to know our children are receiving a world-class education, understanding principles about life, business, family, relationships, and many other aspects.”
Thompson believes mentoring provides young people with a new perspective and direction in life. “In essence, we see each child who has gone through the mentorship program becoming more mature. Unlike many other teenagers aged 13 to 14, children who have gone through this mentoring program start thinking about life and the future in a new way.”
With his another daughter approaching her 13th birthday, Thompson hopes her mentors will provide her with experiences to help her grow into a woman who can unleash her potential. He wishes for his daughter to build lifelong connections with mentors and understand she doesn’t have to be a replica of her mother but can become a kind, devout woman.
Since initiating the first mentoring program, Thompson has authored several books and guided many parents to find good mentors for their children.
Thompson said, “Seeking guidance for your children is an act of humility. I reached out to both men and women because I realized that in serving God, enriching life, running a business, and even being a husband and father, I didn’t have all the answers. If you’re willing to admit that, you can start finding mentors for your children more freely.”
He acknowledged it is a challenging task but well worth the effort.
Thompson believes if you don’t intentionally seek godly men and women to mentor your children, the world system will provide plenty of mentors to corrupt your children. Take positive action and strive to set a precedent in your own family.