Who are you mentoring? by Brendan Conboy

Many of you will know that I spent 30 years as a Christian youth worker, most of that time in full-time ministry. Needless to say, my heart still reaches out to young people and to those who support them—it feels like an eternal bond.

Now, at the age of 65, I look back on a wide journey: from youth work to leading a charity to publishing books. Along the way, I’ve gathered a toolkit of experience. With retirement age approaching, the question I ask myself is this: what do I do with all of this knowledge? The answer is simple—I share it. I give it away.

I do this through mentoring: coming alongside charity leaders, aspiring writers, and youth workers who are navigating challenges of their own. I offer this help because others have helped me on my journey—ACW included. I know the weight of leading, creating, and supporting others, but I also know the joy of having someone walk beside me.

A few months ago, I visited a young Christian friend in a mental health hospital. He was there for several months, and each time I visited, he spoke of wanting to write his story. At first, I encouraged him with simple words of hope. He began writing down events, but what he produced was fragmented—just facts, not a flowing story.

I’m delighted to say that he is now out of hospital. Just this week he contacted me again, asking for further help with his book. This time he was focused, engaged, and determined. His vision is bigger too: not only to tell his life story but to create a self-help book that weaves his experiences into guidance for others. That excites me, because as I help him, he will help others—the ripple effect in action.

I gave him some tools, pointed him in the right direction, and agreed to meet again. In that moment, I realised: I am his mentor.

So let me ask you—who are you mentoring?

Brendan Conboy aka Half Man Half Poet is the author of 16 published books including two fascinating autobiographies, The Golden Thread and I'm Still VALUED.  In 1986, Brendan invited Jesus into his life and God blessed him with the gift of rhyming words.  He used that gift as a Christian Rap artist for 25 years and has written 6 poetry books including the entire Book of Psalms in Rhyme.  He has 3 published novels - Issues, Invasion of the Mimics and Legacy of the Mimics.  He is the creator of Book Blest.