Crossroads: Keeping in Touch

When we pair a Simple Room youth with a college student mentor through our Crossroads mentoring program, it is with the hope that a lasting friendship will develop as a result. While this is not always the case, many times we have had the privilege of witnessing a mentoring relationship flourish over the course of several years. These special friendships are powerful and transformative for both the mentor and the mentee.

Earlier this month we were delighted to receive an update from Stephanie Hill, a former mentor and intern. Stephanie began volunteering at The Simple Room during her freshman year of college when she started a dance team for our youth. Soon after that she was paired with a youth to mentor through Crossroads. Stephanie and Shaquan initially connected through their shared tastes in dance and music, and soon they became inseparable at Simple Room events. They would often sing together at our dinners and celebrations. Stephanie even worked with one of her friends to set up a recording experience for Shaquan, and together they produced an album of six tracks.

When Stephanie graduated from Greenville College in May of 2010, Shaquan was uncertain of what the future held for their friendship. “I was so proud of her when she graduated,” says Shaquan, “But I didn’t expect for us to keep our relationship as strong as it still is.”

Stephanie proved true to her word, and stayed in contact with Shaquan even after she moved 5 hours away to enroll in a yearlong discipleship program in Memphis, TN. They talked by phone at least once a week and would often text message each other throughout the day. “I guess it’s almost easier to talk about personal things on the phone than in person,” Shaquan explains, “During that time I gained more respect for Stephanie and I learned to trust her more. So it wasn’t weird when she started talking to me about God. I was already curious about that kind of thing anyway, so I was definitely ready to hear what she had to say.”

Stephanie was in a program that emphasized discipleship, so she often shared with Shaquan the lessons she was learning in her classes. Stephanie says, “It was so cool how God worked through our friendship. You could tell God had already been working on her heart. We talked about a lot of different things and she starting memorizing verses every week.”

Shaquan describes it this way: “Stephanie would basically compare Bible verses to real-life things that were happening to me. I used to argue with my ex-boyfriend a lot. I would just get so mad. Stephanie shared with me the verse that says, ‘God will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.’ I remembered that the next time my ex-boyfriend started to argue with me. For the first time, I didn’t say anything back to him.”

After months of weekly phone conversations, Shaquan decided that she wanted to be baptized. “One day I just thought to myself that I’m already praying and I’m doing everything for God right now. So why not take that extra step to grow closer to God?” Just a few weekends ago Stephanie returned to Greenville to see Shaquan's baptism.

“It was an honor to have her there with me,” says Shaquan, “Because if it wasn’t for Stephanie I would not have grown so close to God.”

Now, Shaquan has taken the message of discipleship seriously and desires to share with her friends what she is learning herself. “Stephanie has inspired me to help others. I don’t want to see my friends end up struggling when they don’t have to. It’s not about you being really spiritual. It’s about you living for a cause that’s bigger than you. It’s about living for something that helps other people.”

When you support The Simple Room, you join a bigger cause. Real discipleship happens as a result of our programs, and you make these transformative relationships possible. Thank you for your commitment to serving Greenville’s youth.

Watch the video of Shaquan telling her story.