“I believe every person has a purpose.
When it’s given, and you accept it, that’s powerful.”
~ Ronnie, Fostering Great Ideas mentor
Ronnie and Quan’s story is told to celebrate Fostering Great Ideas 15th year of supporting and restoring lives and relationships within the foster care system.
Their story is a testament to why “Relationships are key” – a founding belief of Fostering Great Ideas.
When they met back in 2014, Quan was a 16-year-old boy, recently released from juvenile detention and returned to Miracle Hill. He grew up in an unstable, single-parent home where neglect and drug abuse would force him and his siblings between his grandmother’s house and the foster system. It’s no surprise that without his basic needs being met, Quan wandered into trouble and somewhat of an escapist mindset. When he got mixed up in the wrong crowd, he also got in trouble with the law. He used marijuana as a crutch. Avoided communication and relationships. Never allowed himself to consider the life he would actually like to live if it weren’t for the limiting beliefs forced on him by his early circumstances.
Cut to Ronnie, Quan’s future mentor. He attended a church right next to the Miracle Hill boys’ home Quan was living in. In 2008, Ronnie began a ministry aimed at rehabilitating first-time offenders, and turning their lives around within 90 days. Why? What was at the root of Ronnie’s ambition? He faced his own battle with drug abuse back in the 70s, before he found God. Now, rehabilitated, he wanted to be the person he needed back then, for someone else today.
One night after church, Ronnie heard a bunch of boys next door at Miracle Hill playing basketball. He walked over to the program director and asked him how the church could show up for these boys. That conversation bloomed into Thursday and Friday night gatherings where boys from the home and men from the church would get together to play basketball, eat pizza, and actually talk about what was going on inside of their hearts. “It was a time to feed their minds, souls, and bodies,” said Ronnie. “After that, I asked for one boy who I could minister to. I didn’t want to pick anyone on my own, I wanted God to show me who I should mentor.” Ronnie was paired with Quan.
In a full-circle moment, Ronnie was able to show up for Quan in all the ways he wished someone would have shown up for him decades before.
He became Quan’s “official” mentor through Fostering Great Ideas. “We had so many things in common, that I know God put us together,” Ronnie said. When asked what his goal with Quan was, Ronnie choked up: “To love him unconditionally.” Quan was avoidant in those early days of their mentorship, talking a lot but “he didn’t really say anything. After a week or two, I told Quan that I wanted him to speak his heart and mind.” Ronnie’s consistent presence in Quan’s life – and his first-hand experience with the exact same struggles – allowed Quan to soften over time. He became more communicative, less angry. He faced and overcame his marijuana addiction. He started making plans for his future. “I wanted to do the right thing,” Quan said. “I didn’t want to give up on myself no more.”
Ronnie was intent on Quan creating clear goals for himself.
“You can accomplish goals when you have goals. You have to outline, or shoot for something, otherwise you’re going to hit nothing. I wanted to encourage his natural talents [football, his leadership, his speaking abilities] and remind him that anything is possible when you are committed to working for it.”
Quan’s words for future mentees are clear: “Allow yourself to be open. Open to receiving love. To changing. It will be uncomfortable at first, but if you embrace the process, that’s how you can find your path.”
Today, eleven years later, Quan is a grown man, and a man of faith, working full time and nurturing the positive relationships in his life.
He calls Ronnie “Dad” and Ronnie calls him “Son.” And just like their relationship began 13 years ago, they still get together for meals and deep talks, always eager to discuss the future and the dreams they haven’t realized just yet.
“When you allow yourself to love someone, there’s no way of going back…
I love all of the journey that we’ve been on, and I look forward to the remaining.”
~ Quan
If you or someone you know is interested in mentoring with Fostering Great Ideas, visit our Life Support mentoring page.
To help fund the important work of healing relationships for those living in foster care, you can support “Shine On”, Fostering Great Ideas 15th Anniversary gala on November 7th. Tickets are available at givebutter.com/shine-on-2025
