Impact Mentoring Update
by Frida Rangel
As we stepped into a new season of mentoring, I’ve had the opportunity to witness our community grow in some really meaningful ways. This year, we have 26 mentor–mentee pairs, 11 of which are new, including eight sibling groups. Along the way, it’s become clear that mentoring is about more than scheduled check-ins or planned activities. It’s about relationships built through consistency, shared moments, and simply showing up. In this space, mentoring feels less like a program and more like family. Every Monday night is filled with laughter and connection as kids grow closer not only to their mentors, but to each other and the adults around them. From making slime and baking treats to celebrating monthly birthdays, these nights have become something everyone looks forward to.
Stepping into this role as the new mentoring program director came with moments ofuncertainty, but watching these relationships take shape has been a steady reminder of God’s faithfulness. What once felt like a new beginning now feels grounded and full of purpose.
One of our newest mentoring pairs is a man in his 80s and a 9-year-old boy from Clemente Martinez Elementary, a school we’ve been building a relationship with over the past few years. Though they are in very different stages of life, mentoring has created space for a genuine connection to form. On Monday nights at Impact, they spend time reading, checking in, and playing pick-up sticks. Simple moments like these show how powerful it can be when people commit to showing up for one another. The kids have truly made this space their own, filling it with joy and a strong sense of belonging.
What started as a season of change has become something deeply meaningful, a place where relationships are forming, faith is lived out, and family is created in unexpected ways. I’m grateful to be part of a ministry that continues to grow, not just in numbers, but in love and connection.
