MEN’S MENTORSHIP
Welcome to Men’s Mentorship!
Perhaps you are asking yourself, “What exactly is men‘s mentorship all about at Grace?” While each mentor‘s life and approach to mentorship differs, our Men‘s Mentorship ministry has one aim: namely, to help you, as a man, become a better follower of Jesus. Our mentorship at Grace aims to be both encouraging and challenging. Men who get connected with a mentor should know what they are getting themselves into. Those being mentored will have expectations, some work done at home, and need to have skin in the game! As the old saying goes, if something does not challenge you, it will not change you, and our men‘s mentorship is all about life change! While mentorship may offer counsel at times, Men‘s Mentorship is by no means counseling. If you are looking to connect with real men who are walking with the Lord and will encourage and push you to do the same, please fill out the form below!
Meet our Men’s Mentorship team:
David Church
I am 37 years old. I have been married 10 years. We have two young girls, twin boys, and are blessed to also be foster parents. I am a sales engineer for a security company. I am daily humbled by what God still has to teach me and spend most of my free time in study of faith, family, and career.
Areas of Specific Focus:
Being intentional is very important to me. From day-to-day and year-to-year I ask, “Am I living to the fullest of what God has called me to be?” This covers all areas of life. I am less afraid of mistakes than I am of a life of apathy.
Why Men’s Mentorship?:
I love mentorship because it provides for two things that are so hard to find: a safe space for true honesty, because it is only when we are honest with where we are that we can grow beyond it, and a chance to experience someone rooting for us. When was the last time that someone was rooting for you and asked nothing in return?
Approach:
My hope and prayer is that through intentional conversation, study, and accountability for a season I may show you a right understanding of who you are in Christ and how through lifelong repeatable disciplines you can keep your Father’s focus your focus regardless of life’s circumstances.
Brian Deeb
I am married and have three kids: a son and two daughters. I work in the insurance industry. I love sports, including playing, watching, and coaching sports.
Areas of Specific Focus:
Family & mentoring (coaching) young men
Why Men’s Mentorship?:
I love being part of a group of men that are on the path of learning to live as Godly men.
Approach:
6 guys or less, meeting once or twice a month. Meeting times: early morning before work. Group will be topic or book based and will include scripture memory.
Paul Harding
I am a lawyer who has lived in the Capital Region my whole life, married with two teenage daughters. My wife and I have hosted marriage Bible studies and share our marriage struggles and triumphs through our testimonies. My hobbies include bike riding, weight lifting, golf, and reading.
Areas of Specific Focus:
Having struggled with intimate relationships from an early age and coming to Christ later in life, I find it very natural to talk with men about struggles in marriage and in the marketplace
Approach:
I have found the best formula for personal growth and mentorship is meeting one on one on a consistent basis. There is no one formula that fits all, however, recognizing that placing Christ at the center of our lives is a daily goal in my life.
Kris Milo
My name is Kris Milo. I’m 47 years old. I’m a computer drafter for an HVAC contractor. I’ve been married for 15 years and have an 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son. My hobbies include photography, kayaking, biking, hiking, and chess.
Areas of Specific Focus:
Being a strong, Godly father and husband; always learning (research, books, Bible, the wisdom of others, etc.)
Why Men’s Mentorship?:
Being an atheist until I was almost 20, then being saved in the Pentecostal church, I feel like I’ve experienced the extremes when it comes to a person’s world view. (I now live in between those extremes, by the way.) I think I can help bring clarity and confidence to men in my own situation (perhaps a few steps behind where I am). Our faith walk doesn’t need to be overly complicated, and should bring us peace and joy, even when things go bad, which is bound to happen. Our relationship with our God is sufficient.
Approach:
Once per week, 3 month commitment; after that, we evaluate together the next steps. I want to put an emphasis on learning, as well as encouraging trust (in me and God). Weekly assignments (reading, researching, memorization) will be light, but topical and absolutely required. Our meeting will break down what we’ve learned and how we can grow in that particular topic. One on one mentoring welcome, but groups up to 3 (myself being number 4) would be great.
Casey Toomajian
My wife and I have two kids and reside on the east side of the Hudson River in the hills of Brunswick. We spend our free time entertaining friends and family, hiking, skiing, camping, golfing, and generally getting outside as much as we can. I am the CEO of a local healthcare services company based in Clifton Park, NY.
Areas of Specific Focus:
Building habits to move toward and stay close to Christ
Why Men’s Mentorship?:
This journey is not meant to be traveled alone. The mentee benefits from the counsel of someone who’s gone ahead. The mentor benefits by drawing from life’s lessons and sharing their perspective on whatever challenging circumstances the mentee faces. When done right, this process sharpens the axe of both parties.
Approach:
Group of 7 or less gents reading the same biblically-based content. We would meet at least two times per month as a group and meet one-on-one as the mentee needs (regularly or as needed). This would be a one-year term.
Dan Yamin
I am married to Jo-Leigh Yamin for 35 years. We live in Troy, we have 3 children and a daughter-in-law: Danielle (social worker), Ryan (youth pastor and realtor), married to Rosa (wedding planner), and Mathew (student). Danielle, Ryan and Rosa live in Troy, Mathew is in his 2nd year of a master’s program at Duke School of Divinity in Durham, NC.
I have been employed in the telecommunications business for over 35 years. We started our telephone company (CornerStone Telephone) in 2001 and sold it in 2016 to a private equity firm. At that time (2016), I invested and worked for a telemedicine company, United Concierge Medicine, and started a telecom consulting business, GTE Consulting.
It brings me great joy being a husband and dad, as well as having friends and family over to our house; we have the gift of hospitality. I also have a passion and heart for underprivileged families and children; for about a year we have been foster parents taking in children in need of short-term care.
Areas of Specific Focus:
Marriage and business development relationships
Approach:
I would like to have 3-4 men in a group at most, using one of the Every Man A Warrior books, in particular book #3 dealing with money, sex, work, and hard times.