I have a little friend through one of the mentoring programs that helps young men. The relationship has not been the most encouraging experience as I have tried to connect with him, but he seems to be shy and unwilling to spend time. I understand he has friends, but I can’t even get to talk with him or anything. I want to ask him why, but he seems like he doesn’t want to talk. It is upsetting because I want this to work. I am hoping that God can provide answers.<\/p>\n\t
I assume he asked for the mentoring and not that it was “forced” on him? The best way to work with a young person is to listen. Young men, especially, have a hard time putting thoughts into words, so you have to have a lot <\/b>of patience while they think about what to say next. Rather than have awkward silence, the best thing to do is have an activity to do together. You might not have much to say, but the shared experiences will start forming a bond.<\/p>\n “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath<\/em>” (James 1:19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: I have a little friend through one of the mentoring programs that helps young men. The relationship has not been the most encouraging experience as I have tried to connect with him, but he seems to be shy and unwilling to spend time. I understand he has friends, but I can’t even get to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[233,395],"class_list":["post-30749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-friends","tag-teenagers"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31164,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-someone-there-talk-to-my-son\/","url_meta":{"origin":30749,"position":0},"title":"Can someone there talk to my son?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a single mom with a 14-year-old son who is starting to become curious about sex. I caught him masturbating, which was awkward for both of us, to say the least.\u00a0 I decided this was a perfect opportunity to have \"the talk\" with him, but he doesn't want\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Adolescence"","block_context":{"text":"Adolescence","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/parenting\/adolescence\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29092,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-help-a-friend-away-from-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":30749,"position":1},"title":"How do I help a friend away from homosexuality?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I need to help someone! A friend of mine is saying that he's gay. He says he likes another friend of mine (who doesn't like him, but sometimes they get too intimate, like extended hugs and caresses). I got curious and kept asking him until I got to the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":17725,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/if-im-christian-and-my-boyfriend-is-of-a-different-religion-then-is-it-wrong-for-us-to-date\/","url_meta":{"origin":30749,"position":2},"title":"If I’m Christian and my boyfriend is of a different religion, then is it wrong for us to date?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 10, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I wanted to ask you a question that kind of plays an important part in my life. If\u00a0I'm\u00a0Christian and my boyfriend is\u00a0Seventh-Day Adventist, then is it wrong for us to date? My parents think so, but I see no harm in it. I'm a little\u00a0confused and need\u00a0some clearing up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33306,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-woman-to-talk-about-the-bible-on-facebook\/","url_meta":{"origin":30749,"position":3},"title":"Is it wrong for a woman to talk about the Bible on Facebook?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 20, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I was wondering, do you think it would be okay for me, a female, to talk about God on Facebook since there are men reading what I am saying and sometimes even asking me questions? I never answer a question without a Bible verse though, and if it's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51433,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-parents-dont-want-me-to-be-a-christian\/","url_meta":{"origin":30749,"position":4},"title":"My parents don’t want me to be a Christian","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 19, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I believe in God, but my parents don't. They don't want me to be a Christian, but I do. I don't know what to do. Please help. Answer: It is a tough situation when a young teen realizes the truth, but his parents reject it. Most countries have laws\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44403,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-afraid-my-son-is-gay\/","url_meta":{"origin":30749,"position":5},"title":"I’m afraid my son is gay","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I sense my son is gay because he has never had a girlfriend. And I have caught him watching gay porn. I raised him in the church, where it is taught that that is a sin. 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