Amachi Mentee Flourishes in New Home Church

Although many teens are convinced that they know everything and are more interested in hanging out with their friends than maintaining a relationship with a mentor, this is not the case for 14-year-old Justin Barker. Barker has been matched since 2001 when Amachi Philadelphia first began making matches. He doesn’t believe he will ever outgrow his mentor and says he wants to stay with him as long as he can.

“He’s a good role model, and he treats me like his son,” said Barker. Barker’s four brothers ages 10, 11, 13 and 18 years old, also have been matched with mentors since 2001. Even his 18-year-old brother still sees his mentor periodically.

Barker and his four brothers have lived with their aunt since he was a baby. He said having a mentor who serves as a male role model has been a critical component of his development. “[He] shows me how a man is supposed to act and be,” said Barker. It’s important “having a man to talk to about problems that I have that I can’t talk to a woman about,” he added.

Prior to being matched with a mentor, Barker said that he was not involved in any extracurricular activities outside of his church choir. In addition to the choir, now he is in Boy Scouts and mock trial, is a junior deacon, and is about to start baseball. Barker said his mentor, who is also a Scoutmaster, was the first to introduce him to Boy Scouts. He has been active with this organization since he was matched.

The most significant outcome of being a part of the Amachi Philadelphia program was leaving his home church and joining Bright Hope Baptist Church, his mentor’s church. “[Bright Hope] had more opportunities there for me,” said Barker. Best of all, he likes the people there. The church members treat him like part of their family, he said.

Barker is excited about increasing his spiritual development and involvement with Bright Hope. On Sunday, February 13, 2005, he was installed as a junior deacon at the church. “I think that it’s a great responsibility, and that I can do it,” said Barker. “It gives me a chance to experience more things to show what I can do with that responsibility.”

Spring 2005