This Holiday season has brought us the opportunity to be closer as brothers and sisters.. One thing that has become apparent in the past years of MOBIA is that people are more alike than different. The strength of our existence is built in a foundation of the people don't care about what you know until they know that you care. It has been fortunate to have such dedicated mentors who give of their time and experience to use the "Great Commission" of Jesus Christ to change lives. Families have been healed, marriages have been saved, Parents have become better parents, addictions have been averted, and lives have been saved with grace and forgiveness. 

What our member mentors have had is to be privileged to see miracles happening with the knowledge of the Holy Spirit. These messages are based upon hope, love, joy, and peace. These opportunities have been made available with experienced and trained mentors using collaborative materials and media expressing the life skills of faith. Please enjoy some of the photos of enlightenment. 2022, will be a great year for servant leadership!

Years ago it seemed like it was the right journey to take by seeking out those who didn't know Jesus and how he could be there restoration in life. Over the years God has been with us in the discipleship our group known as "Mentors of Bethany In America. During these past years our experiences have seen men and women become healed in Jesus's "Great Commission" for all of us. How glorious can it be when we see families become healed, alcoholics are embraced by Jesus, youth choose a better life aside from their neighborhood that has influenced them during their existence. The cycle of crime, violence, poverty, welfare, homeless, dysfunctional families are on a path with mentors to rid them of the evils that has held them in a mindset of hopelessness. All of these milestones have proven to humanity Jesus had the answers to grace and security. 

Imagine if this opportunity reveals itself to anyone on this earth. Is this a new tactic that has been discovered in todays world? Following Jesus in difficult times requires us to realize the world we live in requires us to follow Jesus as a full-time job. When Jesus sent the Apostle Paul to be the disciple of the gentiles he knew there would be rocks in the road to impede his progress for Jesus. Paul did ask and get help from the people of churches to fund his journey for Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:9) Jesus female followers with the12 disciples financially supported  their journey to Jerusalem. These women stuck with him all the way to the cross when others fled. In the Bible we meet a group of women who consider their high status less than important in contrast to the blessing of being able to serve alongside Jesus. During their difficult times Jesus appeared to them healed them of their sins and demons. 

The patronesses of Jesus' ministry weren't just following. They were actively involved in his ministry. The word used for their activity in Greek is diakone'o - ​where we get our modern word "deacon." They weren't just supporting Jesus with their finance. They were following him as disciple and ministering alongside him. The context of the verses and their details of the verses lend strong support to the assumption that these women were independent financial patrons, helping Jesus' ministry function. Joanna means" God is generous." Her husband Chuza, had a position of authority in Herod's household. It was likely Joanna came from a wealthy Jewish family. She risk the potential of being rejected and supported Jesus financially and as a disciple. 

Our experiences over the years has been at the blessings of Jesus. As an organization we could spend time broadcasting our successes without humility. Honestly, we know we have only scratched the surface with bringing Jesus to the people in need. Following Jesus in tough times could result in a victory for Satan when we tire and think our successes can sustain our glory with God. We all know Jesus was looking for much more. It was his direction to make disciples of nations. It is possible to carry on with Jesus challenge to go to more in need people by bringing Jesus life and forgiveness to as many people we can mentor. 

As the Apostle Paul and the women following Jesus knew it required support from them and the people who believe in Jesus. I make a sincere appeal to each of you that no matter what your support could be it will keep "Mentors of Bethany In America" strong with mentoring the Holy Spirit and Jesus's "Great Commission". 

Click in the website the donation button and keep this journey alive!

​God Bless

An evening of conversation, fellowship, singing Christmas Carols, competitive games and great food. All of the men and mentors from the Open Door Mission in the Garland Thompson Center celebrated on December 20th. For those who attended reported they had a very good time. A comment was made that this was the most fun they have had in a long time. 

MOBIA is always looking for more mentors to fulfill the mission of the members. There is no better reward than to help someone regain their self-respect and become a thriving part of society again. If you are a man or women who would just like to try out being a servant leader we would be happy to help you be part of our team. Contact us at info@mentorsofbethany.org

It has been four years in the making of an organization which has never turned their backs on anyone in need of growth in their faith. In 2021, mentors consisting of men, women and youth have given of their time and talents to help others who have slipped through the cracks of society acceptance. Those that have been served came from broken families, abuse, homelessness, incarceration, addiction, alcoholism and a history of father or mother wounds. Each week mentors are present to use the coaching techniques to uplift the spirit in each of the people they are personally serving. Weekly, in seven different sites people come to be nourished with life changing adaptations to their current life practices. The participants look to their mentors to be the bridges of life to fill the gaps to understand what it is to be a good man, father, women mother, and a contributing citizen in their community. All of the mentors have committed and dedicated their services to foster the strengths of their participants. During the last four years they continue to return people back to their families, jobs, and community with better knowledge of life skills needed to better live in peace. 

It is a mission for Mentors of Bethany In America to accomplish what other formal attempts of maintenance of these people in need to a better life by life skill education and adopting a faith of hope, joy, love and security. Each year we have experienced the value of mentorship by using a development curriculum to help citizens become self=sufficient in their lives instead of requiring maintenance by society. 

Mentors of Bethany In America look forward to 2022 by continuing the successful transformation of those in need of faith. Key ingredients to the success we have experienced comes from the great mentors who have come forward to become a change agent in someones life and from the donors who have graciously given what they could to actually provide the necessary grants, transportation, materials, technology, equipment, facilities, training, career services, education opportunities, and our online libraries of materials. 
Mentors of Bethany In America are continually being asked to serve other organizations and communities. By receiving your donations we can continue to grow our programs with training others to duplicate our system of mentorship. God Bless all of You who have taken the time to read our humble attempt to make lives better in America. 
 Go to Mentors of Bethany In America website and click on the donation button to make a difference in 2022. 
​Executive Director
​Gary R. Carlson

WELCOME
It is a pleasure to invite you into the fellowship of mentors serving people in need of coaching. Throughout the years Mentors of Bethany in America has designed a faith-based approach to support the individuals our mentors are coaching. It is a necessity our programs have the components to recognize the audiences they serve. The ability to allow the Holy Spirit and wisdom from you will provide you with the methods necessary to achieve great achievements with our people in need of support. This manual will give you the necessary sensitivity to use appropriated methods of communications, through visual, tactical, auditory learning styles. MOBIA is continually available and willing to provide support for the best experiences for our mentors and their coachable moments. Each new mentor will be assigned a mentor partner to help orient you to your role as a MOBIA Mentor.


​

​HISTORY
The story of mentorship has a long history of men initially lending a helpful support to people in need. Through a time beginning early in the 21st century a few men began lending support to men in the Douglas County Jail and later the Omaha Open-Door Mission. These small groups had the foresight to see the need for the need to grow these services to other venues in the Omaha, Nebraska community. 2014, there was a concerted effort to now grow the services of mentorship with coaching in other sites and organizations. In the next three years the men of Bethany became now the “Mentors of Bethany in America”, offering planned curriculum and mentor coaches to other people in need which included men, women, and youth. Support systems were enjoined with current organizations and individual services for participants seeking to improve their lives from poverty, incarceration, addiction, absentee fathers’, dysfunctional families, and depression.
More people reported feeling stressed, sad, angry, and worried in 2020 than at any point in Gallup’s global tracking. You might expect that during the worst pandemic in more than a century. 
But you can’t blame it on the pandemic alone. While 2020 set a record for negative emotions, the trend started almost 10 years ago.  
JON CLIFTON 
Global Managing Partner, Gallup 

​

Experiencing such a high number of people in need of coaching and mentoring it became inevitable to now create an organization to serve the people reaching out and looking for help. MOBIA had experienced a success with people on a smaller scale with their curriculum and practices that made the upscale transition even more possible. May 2018, MOBIA became an approved nonprofit organization with their own by-laws, board of directors, mission statement, and history of success serving and supporting the people in need. During the next years mentors have been deployed to seven sites across the Omaha, Nebraska area. Curriculum has been adopted for both in person and online formats. A complete virtual library has been developed and online courses made available to mentors and their participants. It is MOBIA’s commitment to continually review and revise approaches to improve services for the people that are served. During the years that have transpired with our participants our faith-based programs have experienced what we consider miracles in life restorations. 
MENTOR QUALIFICATIONSMOBIA places a great deal of value on the life experiences each mentor has experienced. The organization is proud of all our mentors who have come to us from the professional, blue collar, skilled, labor ranks and parent experiences. It has been evident that the experienced of both success and failure are necessary to better understand what the participants may be experience. During the journey of the MOBIA program existence they now have past participants who are now mentors. The program offers coaching from experienced mentors with curriculum and coaching methods created by professionals. New mentors will have the option to join any of the seven sites to serve people looking for their coaching services. Projections provided the program with the need to continue to recruit additional mentors. When you contact us with questions to become a mentor, please bring a friend. MOBIA needs men, women, and all ages of people to become a life saving mentor. The rewards of becoming a mentor exist in all our hearts. Just take the time to talk to one of the mentors currently experiencing servant leadership. 

TEAM LEADERS
Approved programs for MOBIA include team leaders who are the program specialist who are the spokesperson for the program outcomes and review. The role requires the leader to provide direction for program curriculum and methodology under compliance with the MOBIA organization. Team Leaders are the key people to keep a count for attendance and case manager for mentors to discuss individual participants to support them in their journey of redemption and revitalization. Team leaders will hold program meetings with their mentors and make suggestions and recommendations to the Program Advisory Committee. Materials both hard copy and online should be utilized from the approved MOBIA library of materials. Team Leaders will provide complete reports to the Program Advisory Committee of program strengths, weaknesses, attendance averages, mentor recommendations and support needs for individual participants.

PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Active programs will have a mentor designated as the lead person. The lead person will maintain membership to the program advisory committee to coordinate and oversee all activities within the program they are assigned too. Each lead will represent their program. They will attend all program advisory committee meetings. When new programs are implemented, a lead will be assigned to the program. Program lead people will be the main two-way communicator with the organizations where MOBIA is operating. 

APPROVED PROGRAMS

DOUGLAS COUNTY JAIL (PROGRAM SERVICE TEN YEARS)

MOBIA mentors provide the authentic manhood program for men who have been assigned to them by the Douglas County supervision. All materials and copies of resources need to be approved by the county jail authority. Mentors serve on a regular cycle by meeting on Monday evenings at the Douglas County Jail. Some to the inmates may be transferred to the Open-Door Mission for further support and coaching. In those cases, the men are easily entered into the ongoing authentic manhood program at the Open-Door Mission. Meeting times may very but are usually scheduled at the same time each week. All meetings are on Monday evenings. Ages of inmates are from nineteen to sixties. Services are provided for forty to fifty men each week.

OPEN DOOR MISSION (PROGRAM SERVICE EIGHT YEARS)

MOBIA mentors are part of the assigned curriculum program prescribed by the overall Open Door Mission program for men at the Garland Thompson Center. Mentors meet regularly with men who are in residence at the Open-Door Mission. Theses are residents who are experiencing homelessness, transfer from Douglas County Jail, treatment for addiction or alcoholism, dysfunctional family problems, poverty, and depression. Mentor coaches work with four to five men each week in both large groups and small group sessions. Coaches have a format of coaching methodology, hardcopy curriculum, and online library with access for both mentor and participants. Curriculum is provided from the Men’s 33 Series which provides six volumes with thirty-six sessions. Volumes are designed for men to engage in ongoing conversations with mentors resulting from written material and videos. Resources are provided by the MOBIA virtual library of media. MOBIA program is part of the requirements of the Open-Door Curriculum for graduation. The curriculum covers men and their design, a man and his story, a man and his traps, a man and his work, a man and his marriage and a man and his fatherhood. Meetings are on Monday evenings, 7 PM until 8:30 PM at the Garland Thompson Center. Program mentors serve twenty to thirty men each week.

LYDIA HOUSE (PROGRAM SERVICE TWO YEARS)

MOBIA provides support to the program for women at the Lydia House. Our MOBIA women mentors coach the women in residence in the Lydia House. MOBIA mentors meet regularly with the women who are homeless, living in poverty, have experienced absentee fathers, addiction, alcoholism, family dysfunction and domestic abuse. The women mentors provide curriculum drawn from the service of “RightNowMedia” with both hardcopy and online materials. Program times are scheduled on Monday evenings from 7 PM until 8:30 PM. Mentors continue their ongoing services by follow up with participants throughout the week. Women mentors meet in small groups and large. The attendance to their program is fifteen to twenty women each week. Mentors are providing coaching in marriage, employment, motherhood, nutrition, childcare, addiction, alcoholism, domestic abuse, and financial budgeting. 
 
 OMAHA STREET SCHOOL (PROGRAM SERVICE SEVEN YEARS)

Mentors from MOBIA coach young men ages 14 to 18 enrolled at the Omaha Street School. The Omaha Street School is an alternative high school for both males and females. Attendance is from students who have been excluded from their public schools due to behavior or an incident that expelled them from their neighborhood school. Students at the Omaha Street School are given the opportunity to receive a second chance at redeeming themselves by attending a school with specialized instruction with smaller teacher-student ratios. MOBIA mentor coaches provide a program focused on fatherhood and is called the “Father Hub”. MOBIA mentors provide a written curriculum designated to offer scope and sequence of events in their lives now and in the future. Mentors meet weekly on Fridays which includes lunch with the young men and an hour of instruction. Curriculum is developed to combat inappropriate behaviors, gang membership, and development of goal setting, employment, career exploration, filling fatherhood gaps, and understanding how to make mature appropriate decisions. Mentors take part in the day-to-day school academic success of the students and attend extra-curricula activities. MOBIA partners with the Omaha Street School and the 180 organization for coaching activities. 

LOCKER ROOM PROGRAM (FIVE YEARS)

Mentor coaches for the Locker Room program provide services to both local neighborhood men who are in search of improving their lives in fatherhood, marriage, career, and faith. Men who have graduated from the Open-Door Mission Program become candidates for more advanced support coaching upon graduation. Mentor coaching provides ongoing support with decision making, career support, and family function positive practices. The Locker Room program meets on Thursday at 7 PM at the Sandler Training Center at 107th and Q street. Programs are a continuation and review of the Authentic Manhood program. Coaching at this level requires a more hands on requirements of follow/up for each week’s successes and challenges. The Open-Door Mission transport graduates in their apartment living program to continue in the mentor support systems.

180 HOUSE PROGRAM (ONE YEAR)

Mentor coaches provide coaching to recovering alcoholics in residence at the 180 House in Millard, Nebraska. The mentoring takes place by sponsoring these men and in a roundtable session each week onsite. The table discussions are on Wednesday evenings from 7 PM going to 9 PM. MOBIA is in partnership with the Love Church organization by providing mentor coaches and curriculum from the Men’s 33 Series. Mentors work closely with the coordinator of the program at Love Church.

CHURCH SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT (ONE YEAR)

MOBIA has reached out to churches who have been experiencing operation difficulties. Churches receiving these services have received coaching on development, Sunday services, organization, and mission development. Mentors have instituted new programs in Bible Studies, Men and Women small groups. MOBIA Mentors has provided hardcopy and online curriculum support to the churches. MOBIA’s goal is to revive the church to a self-sufficient faith-based organization. 

Message from the Executive Director
Our volunteer mentors rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to influence them as servant leaders. They know that each day for our participants there is a need for change in their lives. If you want to see miracles first hand happening become a donor or a volunteer. MOBIA services are in demand and the people in need of help increase each day. Experience shows that that MOBIA programs have produced families reuniting and individuals who are making contributions to their communities. If you want to reduce incarcerations, poverty, homelessness, absentee fathers, addictions, and domestic violence MOBIA has the track record. All our programs are supported by your generosity. You can donate on our website: https://mentorsofbethany.org

Thank you to all our supporters,

Board of Directors and Executive Director
 

Author and Editor: Dr. Gary R. Carlson