Mentoring That Lasts: A Conversation on Faith, Leadership, and Long-Term Impact

Mentoring rarely begins with a formal program or a carefully written plan. More often, it starts with presence—someone choosing to show up, listen, and invest in another person’s life.

That theme sits at the heart of a recent conversation featuring MentorKids USA Executive Director Aaron Parrott on the You Can Mentor podcast, hosted by Zach Garza. In this thoughtful episode, Aaron reflects on the experiences and mentors that shaped his leadership journey—and how those lessons continue to guide the work of MentorKids today.

A Story That Shaped a Leader

Aaron shares a formative moment from his childhood as a missionary kid living in Argentina. At just eleven years old, he found himself alone in a hospital after an emergency appendectomy—far from home, culture, and familiarity. A man from his church, someone who barely knew him, showed up simply to sit with him.

There was no agenda. No title. No recognition.

That simple act of presence left a lasting impression. It became a lived example of what mentoring truly is: recognizing someone’s worth and choosing to invest time, care, and consistency—especially when nothing is gained in return.

From Personal Story to Organizational Vision

Throughout the episode, Aaron connects those early experiences to the evolution of MentorKids USA. He discusses the organization’s shift from short-term, one-to-one mentoring toward its long-term Promise Neighborhood model—an approach rooted in sustainability, community partnership, and generational impact.

The conversation explores:

• Why humility and obedience matter in leadership

• The importance of long-term commitment to specific neighborhoods

• How MentorKids measures impact across academics, spiritual growth, and leadership development

• What it truly means to build leaders who build leaders

Aaron also speaks candidly about leadership challenges, learning from mentors, and the discipline of staying faithful to foundational practices—especially when growth feels slow or unseen.

Why This Conversation Matters

For anyone involved in mentoring, nonprofit leadership, or faith-based community work, this episode offers more than strategy. It offers perspective: a reminder that meaningful change is often built quietly, through consistency, humility, and trust.

Mentoring done well isn’t flashy—but it lasts.

Listen to the Episode

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-can-mentor-a-christian-youth-mentoring-podcast/id1474640776

🎧 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3moZSnCB9HjDBgMeOPLJo7?si=fe9dc87ab24a469e

To learn more about MentorKids USA and the work happening in our Promise Neighborhoods, visit www.mentorkidsusa.org.

We’re grateful for opportunities like this to share the heart behind the work—and for the mentors, partners, and supporters who make long-term impact possible.