What is “Life on Life”?
At GRIP “life on life” refers to an ongoing process of relationship development that is so much more than what people commonly think of as mentorship. It’s simply doing life together, modeling what it means to be a man or woman of God—not just during a program or in a classroom—but while in our homes, running errands, playing ball, working hard at a job, serving others in the community, or studying the Bible together.
All of our “mentors” (whom we call coaches) complete a thorough volunteer application process and receive ongoing training and support from our staff. Our coaches also commit to investing a minimum of six hours each week for at least one year intentionally connecting with their teens in and outside of GRIP’s programs.
The goal is for each coach and teenager to develop a lasting relationship—one that endures as our youth grow into adults. Just as a parent ought to show care and concern for every aspect of his or her child’s life, we train our coaches to pursue that level of involvement with their teens, getting to know them, their friends, their families, their teachers, their hobbies, and more.
In fact, "life on life" targets every major area in which our youth need encouragement and support:
- Relationships and trust
- Education and tutoring
- Job skills and work ethic
- Career development
- Life experience
- Spiritual growth
- Prayer and Bible study
- Church and community
- Serving others
For a glimpse of what “life on life” looks like in action, check out this video.
