“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…” Romans 12:1a

When you think about your own cloud of witnesses – the women who may have passed away, or may still be alive, but who influenced your own faith – who comes to mind?

I am blessed to have many faces and names in my own cloud of witnesses. My mother, who prayed over me when I was a deeply anxious and troubled teen; my aunt, who talked me through relationship troubles and taught me how to make sure I put Jesus first in my relationships; my piano teacher, who became more of a spiritual mentor and taught me to use my gifts within the church; and so many more.

All of the women in my cloud of witnesses are in a different generation than I am. And often, this is how it goes – after all, as we age we are often called on to share our gifts, experience, and wisdom with younger people. The trouble is that while some of us know what it was like to be mentored, in this day and age, it can be tricky to figure out how to mentor the upcoming generations.

Gen Z, who are young adults right now and have been labeled the “anxious generation”, is a generation that tends to be more pragmatic and aware of mental health than previous generations. Gen Alpha, the youngest generation, is trendy and tech-savvy. Both of these generations have been shaped by an algorithm that has been curated for them and are in danger of falling further away from faith. They need their own cloud of witnesses to show up in their lives and point them to Jesus. Though it may be challenging, this is where you and I have a chance to step in.

While it feels intimidating, these generations are asking us to step into intergenerational discipleship and mentorship. But you may be wondering what this looks like? For me, mentorship has never been a one-size-fits-all equation. Some of my mentors took me to coffee and chatted about life with me. Others led Bible studies, introducing me to the truths of God’s Word and how it impacted my life. And still others helped me navigate mental health and taxing relationships during my turbulent teen years with grace and unconditional love. It was their consistent presence in my life, simply showing up and loving me well, that made the most significant impact in my life.

If you have a heart for the next generation but don’t know where to start, the first step is to look around and see who the Holy Spirit might be guiding you to love. Ask God to help you see opportunities that He is presenting and to have the boldness to step forward in faith. Perhaps you have a daughter who is having a tough time at school. Maybe a young woman in your church is living far from home and seems to be craving community. Prayerfully consider who God has placed in your path, and then reach out! You can invite them to coffee, to your house for lunch, or to join you in part of your everyday life. It doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated. Remember, the goal is just getting to know one another and building relationship. As the relationship grows, you will have more opportunities to share Jesus, show His love and point them toward God’s truth and wisdom. Trust that God will guide your steps and teach you to love the way He does.

As we take God’s lead to share our life and faith with those around us, we will look back one day at the impact our simply showing up and loving well has made. When the next generation of believers thinks on their own cloud of witnesses, I hope that you and I – their mothers and grandmothers, their aunts and their mentors – are on that list. I believe we can leave a legacy of faith with the women who will lead their generation to revival.

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