Called to Service: You’ve Probably Never Heard of This Before feat. Katherine Mitchell

2019-08-13

“I have (teenage) girls who are former gang members but who are down for some karaoke and ice cream- and they want to do it, because they’ve never had that before.” Imagine you have been systematically abused and neglected at home, and the court system says you cannot go home. Instead, you have to live in an unfamiliar environment with strangers. Oh, and you’re also fifteen, with a teenagers’ limited life perspective and hormones like craaaazay. What if that was your life? Unfortunately, members of ...

“I have (teenage) girls who are former gang members but who are down for some karaoke and ice cream- and they want to do it, because they’ve never had that before.”

Imagine you have been systematically abused and neglected at home, and the court system says you cannot go home. Instead, you have to live in an unfamiliar environment with strangers. Oh, and you’re also fifteen, with a teenagers’ limited life perspective and hormones like craaaazay.

What if that was your life? Unfortunately, members of our society in every town and city go through this. These emergency shelters for abused and neglected teens could be right around the block from you. My guest today, Katherine Mitchell, is on the front lines of loving these teens by working in a shelter. She says that the number one thing the young women want is to be normal. They want someone to notice them and to care about them. And they need examples of healthy relationships because those have been denied them.

Is God calling you to be that person? Maybe you’re not ready to adopt a teen (TBH, I’d be super nervous to do that...) but whether you're single, in college, married with kids, or an empty-nester, you can make a world of difference to a teen by becoming a mentor or a tutor. I am honestly shocked at how easy and accessible this form of service is where I formerly would have thought that it wasn’t for me. And honestly, the times when I have coordinated or participated in intentional service have taught me so much about myself and my relationship with Christ, that it has exponentially grown my heart and turbo-charged my discernment in other areas.

This work is another contribution to the pro-life movement, and unfortunately I don’t think most Catholics know about these suffering teenagers (I certainly didn’t until I ‘met’ Katherine on Instagram.) I encourage you to take the first steps if you this episode inspires a stirring in your heart to serve in this way. I know I’m gonna be seeking it out in my town.

Topics Discussed

What is an emergency shelter for teens?
Many ideas for how to serve teens in the foster care system, including group volunteering and hosting a parish info event
What you need to get started serving in a shelter
What to do if you feel awkward with teens
Under certain circumstances you can adopt for free (I didn’t know about this- everyone has told me that adoption is ALWAYS expensive!)

Resources