Today we’d like to introduce you to Zachary Garza.
Zachary, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The story of Forerunner Mentoring is my own person story. It is how a kid from a hard place was able to break generational cycles of negativity and sin through the power of relationships. I was headed down a bad path until a man intervened in my life. His name was Bob and he showed me how the traumatic experiences of my childhood were adversely affecting my present life. My issues of anger, fear of abandonment, and unforgiveness were keeping me from reaching my full potential. Bob spent time with me and built a relationship with me; he didn’t try to fix me. He loved me for who I was and showed up for me in my time of need. My relationship with Bob whet my appetite for mentoring relationships.
Having grown up with a contentious relationship with my father, I was left not knowing how to be a positive and productive man. Only a man can teach a boy how to become a man and I was taught by many mentors who invested into my while I was in my 20’s. One man taught me how to shake a hand and make eye contact during conversations while another walked me through pursuing and dating a woman in an appropriate way. I learned how to deal with my issues, have self-confidence, and have a relationship with God through my intentional interactions with these mentors. I can honestly say that I am who I am today because of my mentors. The anger, fear of abandonment, and unforgiveness melted away under the care and guidance of older, Godly men.
Before working full-time for Forerunner Mentoring, I was a junior high teacher and coach at a local, East Dallas title-one school. I loved my job as a teacher because it allowed me to do what Bob did for me; build relationships with kids from hard places. Compassion grew in my heart as I was introduced to student after student who had been dealt a hard hand in this game of life. I wanted my students to experience the joy and freedom that I was now experiencing. My desire to build a relationship with them and impart love trumped my desire to teach them adverbs and pronouns.
As a coach, our athletic staff always tried to teach our athletes more than just sports. We did our best to pass on manhood. We talked about servant-leadership and being a “man for others”. We wanted our players to walk away knowing that they had what it took to succeed, on and off the field. In short, we were intentional about providing the love of a father to every player in our program. We would treat them like we would treat our own sons. No exceptions. One day in the fall of 2009, I was on the football field leading a post-practice huddle with my 8th-grade football team. On a whim, I asked my team who lives in a home with no father-figure present to raise their hand. Out of the 65 players on the field that day, 40 of their hands shot up. It was in that moment that I saw 40 kids who were just like me. 40 young men, filled with potential, but with no guide to show them how to maximize their ability. It was in that moment that I knew I had to start a program to help these young men who were growing up exactly like I did.
Not knowing where to start, I looked back on his own story and realized how the Lord had shaped his life. It was all through relationships. I figured what those men did with me, I would do with my students. The first thing I need though was a student to begin with.
I entered into the cafeteria a few days later to look for our first student to mentor. I prayed, “Lord if you really want me to do this, you have to send someone.” Just a few moments later, a young man named Twquan walked up to me and stuck up a conversation. Knowing that this young man might be an answer to prayer, I began to ask question him about his home life.
“Who do you live with?”
“Mom.”
“Where’s your dad?”
“I don’t know.”
“If I told you that I wanted to introduce you to a man to be in your corner no matter what would you like that?”
“Yeah.”
“Can I call your mom and ask her?”
“Sure.”
And that’s how Forerunner Mentoring Program started. We paired up Twquan with Jonathan, our first mentor, and watched their relationship grow. Twquan, who was once living in a homeless shelter with his family. Is currently attending a 4-year college with an emphasis in business.
Over the next few years, Forerunner accepted more young men in our program and learned a lot of lessons the hard way. We have continued and will continue to find better ways to serve our young men and their families. Along with one-on-one mentoring, we started an after-school program and a single mother’s ministry. We partner with summer camps to give our young men fun and engaging opportunities throughout the summer months. Above all else, we believe that relationships change lives.
What the Lord began through my relationship with Bob, he continued through countless other men who made an investment in my life. My life changed when godly men showed up in my life to teach me how to become a positive and productive male member of society. At Forerunner, we hope to do the same for every young man and every family that builds a relationship with us.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has been rocky, but we believe that failure is the best way to learn. We are constantly finding better ways to serve our neighbors. We have learned not to assume, but to go to our neighbors and ask them “What do you need?” Another lesson I have learned is how to run a healthy non-profit organization. I have had to learn how to trust and submit to a board of directors, as well as how to create a work-place environment where our employees can thrive. Running a non-profit is like running a church and a business at the same time. That can prove to be difficult at times, but I am learning. Lastly, I have learned that instead of trying to do everything on my own, together we can achieve more. Partnering and learning from other organizations in Dallas has proven to be most beneficial. It’s also a whole lot more fun!
We believe the one who is faithful with the little will be given more. We want to do the best with what we have been given so we can build relationships with more people in our community. When we fall down, we will get back up and learn from our experiences. One of the values in our organization is “always be growing”, and that’s what we intend to do until the day we die.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Forerunner Mentoring Program story. Tell us more about the business.
Forerunner Mentoring Program does three things:
– One on one mentoring
– After-School and summer programming
– Supporting the single mother
We are known for relationships. It is what we do best. What sets us apart from others is who we serve. While we may expand to serve a broader audience in the future, today we are laser-focused on young men from hard places who are growing up without a father in the home.
Our goal is to do whatever we can to build relationships to help our families flourish. We believe sermons are great and book studies can be helpful, but, at the end of the day, people impact people the most. When you are old, you will be speaking of relationships. Because when it’s all said and done, relationships are the most important things we have.
Our ministry has seen a lot of fruit since our inception, but I am most proud of three things:
– Our mothers who sacrifice absolutely everything to help their children become all that they can be.
– Our Forerunners who take the road less traveled to create a new destiny for themselves and their future children.
– Our community for supporting this organization in every conceivable way and for truly showing this city what it looks like to “love your neighbor”.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We believe that if you pour yourself out for those in need and if you do all that you can do satisfy the desire of those in need, then you will be provided everything that you need! We have story after story about seemingly meaningless conversations or coffees turning into events that have a tremendous impact on our community. You never know who or what is going to lead to the next big thing!
Contact Info:
- Address: 10228 E. NW HWY – Box 24
Dallas, TX 75238 - Website: www.forerunnermentoring.com
- Email: hello@forerunnermentoring.com
- Instagram: @forerunnermentoring
- Facebook: Forerunner Mentoring
Image Credit:
Adam Fish @ Fish Fotography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
