I’ve always had a heart for underprivileged kids. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized how much I would have appreciated having a professional athlete—someone I really looked up to—hang out with me and mentor me when I was younger. That would have been so valuable to me during those crucial years. As I put myself in the shoes of today’s young people, I know that I have the opportunity to impact them by choosing to invest in their lives.

When I first went to Chicago I began to get involved with local hospitals and organizations, visiting those in the community that were sick or hurting. After about six years of being in the city, I felt called to start my own organization reaching out to the youth in Chicago. For the past three years, through the “What’s Your Forte?” Foundation, I have been able to reach out to underprivileged kids in Chicago, offering them mentorship and a chance to achieve higher education. At Innovations High School specifically, I’ve had the privilege of working with Executive Director LaShaun Jackson and Principle Omar Moore who have always done anything and everything they can to join me in serving these kids. This year, I’m excited to give out a few college scholarships to kids who are striving towards that dream.

Right now it’s pretty hard to be very involved in my organization in Chicago since I’m in the middle of the season and living in New York, but I’m already planning a trip back during our bye week later this month. I plan to hold an event and talk to the youth about the importance of education. I also want to challenge them to stand up against the violence that is happening in their city.

Though I’m away from Chicago for most of the year, I have a great team of people who help carry on the ministry when I cannot physically be there. My wife, my financial advisor, and many friends from back home are faithfully helping me plan and coordinate events and mentorship opportunities for the kids in the schools.

In the same way that I aim to see eye-to-eye with the young men in Chicago, my wife seeks to pour into the lives of the young women. Her desire is to restore the respect factor that is so crucial for these girls to understand in order to grow into confident women. Many of these young women need to learn how to respect themselves, as well as to demand respect from men. Without mentors or adults, who they can look up to, how can they learn these important truths? If we’re able to give them a few pieces of good advice as they grow up, it might save them from making some bad decisions in the future. We aim to impact the kids as much as possible.

Kids everywhere need to be mentored. I know that in New York there are many underprivileged kids in need and, though I don’t know what the best areas are for me to get involved in yet, I know I want to work towards that. It will take awhile to get something similar started here in New York but I someday I hope to make that happen.

Serving others has really challenged me to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of Christ. Everyone has their own story. Your story has the opportunity to help others as they see what you are going through, or have gone through, and are able to relate to and learn from you. Your story can become your ministry.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” —1 Peter 4:10

—Matt Forte

Matt Forte is a regular contributor of The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

Check out Matt’s Increase profile here: http://theincrease.com/author/matt-forte/

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