Today we’re talking about mentoring and the kind of impact it can have on all of us, especially for young people who are in need of steady, meaningful relationships in their lives.
You’ll hear the story of Zach Garza, who as a young man had a professor step into his life when he needed it most. Years later, Zach paid it forward with one of his own students. Today, he’s empowering leaders nationwide to build youth mentorship ministries in their own communities.
Meaningful mentorship doesn't have to be complicated or intimidating. It's not about having all the right answers. Most of the time, it's simply about opening up your life and inviting someone in.
Resources and Guests
Feature Resources: Caleb Koala’s Comeback Ride + Overcoming: What Scripture & Science Say About Resilience
Caleb Koala’s Comeback Ride
A Bilingual Picture Book: Overcoming Adversity with Resilience
Meet Caleb Koala, a sweet and spirited young koala who lives with his grandfather and loves nothing more than riding his bike with his wild hair blowing in the wind. Caleb is no stranger to adversity but has overcome challenges and physical limitations to find joy in keeping up with others on his bike. However, when a sudden fall leaves him injured, doubt creeps in and Caleb decides he is now a koala who will no longer ride a bike. But with the love and support of his beloved Grandpa, Caleb embarks on a heartwarming journey and discovers his God-given ability to do hard things.
This bilingual picture book is an essential read for adults caring for children who have experienced early adversity, from parents and grandparents to social workers, therapists, global orphan care providers, and church ministry leaders.
Overcoming: What Scripture & Science Say About Resilience
With its unique Christian worldview and holistic approach, Overcoming is an empowering resource that shows how adversity may define the present, but it doesn't have to dictate the future.
Through compelling stories, examples, and explanations of important studies, scientific research is integrated with biblical truth to reveal how adversity can become an essential ingredient for cultivating resilience. Nine practical, relationship-centered strategies provide guidance for those looking to nurture resilience in children who have experienced early adversity.
Whether you work with vulnerable children or you’re raising a child who has experienced adversity, this book will equip you to care for children with compassion and confidence.
Zach Garza is the Founder and Executive Director of You Can Mentor, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping and encouraging mentors and mentoring organizations across the country.
Zach is passionate about mentoring because the Lord used a mentor to change his life. That personal experience shaped his calling and led him to spend his life investing in leaders who invest in others.
In 2011, Zach founded Forerunner Mentoring Program in Dallas, Texas, where he served as Executive Director and helped grow the organization into a flourishing ministry serving hundreds of families and faithfully stewarding a $1.2 million budget. Before launching Forerunner, Zach spent nearly a decade as a teacher and coach in a Title I school in Dallas, where he saw firsthand the impact that consistent, caring adults can have in the lives of kids.
In 2018, Zach founded You Can Mentor, a nonprofit that helps equip, encourage, and connect mentoring leaders and organizations. Through equipping, encouraging, and connecting mentoring leaders, You Can Mentor exists to help mentors thrive and more kids experience Jesus through mentoring. Zach’s desire is to see a national Christian mentoring movement where every community in America is supported by healthy, effective mentoring organizations.
In 2021, Zach teamed up with his mentor, Steve Allen, to create Ten Thousand Fathers, a movement focused on helping men grow in their roles as sons of God, husbands, fathers, and brothers. Zach is also the author of Tell Me About Your Father, a book that helps people process their stories, understand the impact of fatherhood, and experience the heart of God the Father.
Zach and his wife, Sara, live in Waco, Texas, with their three children: Zach Jr., Stephen, and Joanna. He loves spending time with his family, playing basketball, and eating tacos. Zach also serves as a consultant and keynote speaker for ministries and nonprofits, helping leaders build healthy organizations that create lasting impact. You can find his books on Amazon and the You Can Mentor podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Jason Weber | Host
Jason Weber and his wife, Trisha, have been speaking up on behalf of the marginalized for over 25 years. Jason has written and helped to produce several books and other tools, including Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn, a 2018 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist and Until There’s More Than Enough. Jason has been a regular columnist for Fostering Families Today magazine and is the host of the More Than Enough Podcast, which highlights the work of national foster care advocates. Jason serves with the Christian Alliance for Orphans and helps lead More Than Enough, a collaborative movement facilitated by the CAFO community. Jason and his family live in Plano, Texas.
