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Mentoring at 80: Helping a hurting world

Written by Danielle Kinvig

December 6, 2013

In December 2009, Hugh Olson was told that his wife, Claudia, had only months to live.

She was suffering from an extremely rare liver problem that had no cure. Together, they made a list of 12 life goals to meet, and over the next 12 months, they accomplished every one of them. Then after 55 years of marriage, Hugh said goodbye to his partner in life and very best friend.

“We used to talk about what I would do when I was alone, and Claudia said, ‘I don’t want you sitting home alone feeling sorry for yourself. Find a ministry like you have always wanted and do it.’ I promised her I would do my best.”

Some months later, up late one night, Hugh came across TruthMedia’s mentoring website. “I thought to myself, ‘I can do that,’” he says.

At 80 years of age, Hugh became an online mentor.

He quickly became passionate about the people he was connecting with online, often responding to young people searching for purpose in life, or couples dealing with relationship issues or problems in their marriage.

But, what Hugh soon discovered was that most people were ultimately searching for something deeper than just help with their everyday problems.

“There seems to be a hunger, especially among the young, to know Jesus,” he says. “The biggest challenge is to help young people realize the importance of Jesus in their lives. It isn’t just accepting Him with a short prayer, but it’s the follow-up of growing in the Christian life.”

TruthMedia mentors, like Hugh, are online missionaries. They have the opportunity to connect with people over life issues, walk alongside them on their spiritual journeys, and when appropriate, help lead them to Jesus – at any time, anywhere around the world.

“Most people simply want a friend who will listen and pray with them, love them and show an interest in what they are going through. They don’t ask for much. I think they are looking for love that they don’t have in their own lives,” says Hugh.

Hugh often finds himself just as encouraged by those he mentors. He wakes up at 5 a.m. every morning excited to read his emails and he knows he has as many people praying for him as he prays for each day.

“I mentor because I want to bring as many individuals to Jesus as I can before the Lord calls me home. I want to continue to mentor as long as I can. My whole life has changed and I’m closer to the Lord now than I’ve ever been before,” adds Hugh. “God wants us involved. Mentoring is a way to not only grow in Christ yourself, but to help others along the way to grow as well. There is a hurting world out there, and I like to think I can change that, one person at a time.”

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Every day people are asking questions, seeking answers to life issues, or wanting to discover Jesus and know more about God online. Thousands upon thousands of spiritual questions and messages for help come into TruthMedia’s Mentor Center on a daily basis.

Please pray for our mentors as they connect with people over tough questions about life, give hope and offer people next steps on their spiritual journeys. If you are interested in TruthMedia’s Mentor Center or maybe even in becoming a mentor yourself, please visit thementorcenter.com.