The word “mentor” can be defined as “a wise and trusted counsellor or teacher.” Although the word “mentoring” doesn't appear in the Bible, scripture does give us numerous examples of mentoring. Jethro mentored Moses, Jesus mentored His disciples, and both Barnabas and Paul were mentors.
When I was growing up when at school, college and work I was never aware of the expression “life coach” or “mentor”. I would not have recognised those terms of expression but I was aware and thankful for the role of individuals who had an impact on my life; their input and the way that they exemplified life to me. Certain teachers were very influential in my life, they saw potential in me and helped draw it out. A teacher who taught me French was the reason that I chose teaching as a profession.
When I was a young teacher I was so grateful to have a head of department who was not only passionate about the job but cared deeply for the well-being of the staff in the Art department. He knew how to communicate with his department and he took the time to get to know us all. That’s not to say that we didn’t have our differences, but there was a sense that he had our back! He not only taught me how to get the best out of students by knowing them but he also modelled to me how to deal with students who for a variety of reasons were disruptive, without having to shout and exert my authority by noise. He knew his students and they trusted him and opened up to him. He inspired those kids from an inner-city area to have dreams and ambition. So many of our students went on to art school and had lucrative careers. They went beyond self-imposed limitations as well as the limitations imposed by others. I was developing skills that would help me in ministry and life and I was learning how to delegate and encourage strengths in others rather than majoring on their weaknesses. I worked in an area where poverty was visible and aspirations were low. The kids were the raw material that could be moulded for potential! God is the master potter and we are the clay, but we also need to be His hands and mouth pieces to co-labour with him to help others to become a vessel of honour. (2 Timothy 2:20)
Take me, Mould me Use me, Fill me I give my life to the Potter's hands Hold me, Guide me Lead me, Walk beside me I give my life to the Potter's hand
Songwriter: Darlene Zschech
We live in a world where so many children are “orphans”; where fathers are absent, having either died or abandoned their children. We live in a society that allows some parents to walk away from their responsibilities, leaving the onus either on their partner, other family members, or the state. A vicious cycle that results in “orphans” producing orphans.
What an opportunity for the Church! As a young Christian in my early thirties, my observations of the Church at large were that the men were encouraged in leadership and preaching but the women were neglected. I don’t believe that this was by design but rather through the traditions of the Church that leadership is male. Hunger for God is not prioritised by gender! The devil uses this tactic to cause division and strife. I’m sure many women who have a call to be pastors of churches struggled to realise their callings because of a lack of positive mentoring. Men and women were always meant to work side by side, their gifting being complementary to each other. Thankfully that has changed over the years and the church is being blessed by both men and women working alongside one another in unity.
The world is already stepping up to the plate; sportsmen and women are now realising that they are role models to young people and there are many famous football clubs and other sporting clubs that are running mentoring programs in their communities. There are so many people in need of a kind, caring individual who will take a committed interest in them. The Church should be one of the best places to find mentors and to be mentored, and people need mentoring in all different aspects of life. How many individuals complain that they want to do something for God but never get chosen or think that there isn’t the opportunity! There may be a single parent family that you can draw alongside and pass on your skills and wisdom, you could become an adopted spiritual aunty, uncle, grandfather or grandmother, mum or dad. Everyone has something to impart to someone else. Decorating skills, cooking, computing, art or reading, writing, sports or just being a good listener! The important thing is being there on a consistent basis.
Nothing thrills me more than watching someone, young or old, light up when I call out the God-given potential that lies dormant on the inside of them. God has put potential on the inside of everyone on this planet. To believe in someone and help them release their gifting is priceless. Far too few people make it on their own and most of those that do, do so in their own strength. And well done to them, but if we want to change the world then we have to be prepared to love the one in front of us - whoever that may be - because it might just be that, that one individual will have a major impact on society! We need a love revolution and any individual can start that!
Some will feel called to mentor professionally and will train and get qualified, whilst others will mentor through friendship. Both are good and needed. If mentoring seems too scary for you, then make the decision to be an encourager. It’s not hard to encourage someone, to comment on their hair or clothes, or to send a card or call them; the very things that would encourage you, use to encourage someone else. Very little time and effort are required to encourage another person. I’ve taken to actively looking for someone to encourage while I’m out. There have been lots of times I have commented on a lady’s hair and had an instantaneous response of a big grin! There was a very tall girl in the local supermarket and I mean tall. I felt to celebrate her height and compliment her on it (not that she had a choice in it), but so many women have body image difficulties and so many women who are very tall are not really at home with their height. So, it’s good to encourage them. And if you feel that you would benefit from being mentored then speak to your church leadership or your boss at work.
Mentoring is vital both in the Church and the work place. Maybe you are already mentoring or being mentored without fully realising its significance in your life! Nothing stirs passion more than seeing how others respond to your encouragement and mentoring. As a prophet of God, Elijah threw his cloak around Elisha and thus began his apprenticeship. Who is God calling you to throw your cloak around? Who has thrown their cloak around you in the past and what have been the consequences? Those being mentored can expect to go further in their faith than their mentors! What have you received and what will you pass on as a spiritual inheritance? Below is a list of some of the mentors and pupils from scripture.
Moses and Joshua
Ruth and Naomi
David and Jonathan
Eli and Samuel
Barnabas and Paul
Mordecai and Esther
Do you have a spiritual mentor who is pouring his/her life into you the way Paul poured his life into Timothy, or the way Elizabeth poured her life into her cousin Mary?
Do you have someone you can go to for wise counsel?
Do you have someone who is a Godly example for you and a model worth imitating?
Do you have someone who lives out Biblical values and spiritual maturity?
Do you have someone with solid skills that can help you improve where you are weak?
Here are some scriptures to inspire and encourage you to be involved in mentoring, either professionally or through friendship.
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2
“ Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
“ Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
“ Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behaviour, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children.” Titus 2:3-4
“ And even when I am old and grey, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” Psalm 71:18
“ Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
“ Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.” Proverbs 9:9
“A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5.
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practise these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26
“ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
“Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds.” Proverbs 27:23
“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7
What’s the job description for being a mentor?
Being willing to spend the time it takes to build a relationship with another person.
A commitment to believing in the potential of the person you are mentoring; speaking into their life about what you see ahead of them.
A willingness to be vulnerable and transparent, willing to share not only your own strengths and successes, but also to share your weaknesses, failures, brokenness, and sins.
Being honest yet affirming when dealing with errors, faults, and areas of immaturity.
A commitment to standing by him/her through trials, even trials that are self-inflicted as a result of ignorance or error.
Helping to set goals for his/her spiritual life, career, or ministry, and to help them with their dreams.
Objectively evaluate his/her progress toward his/her goal
Above all, a commitment to faithfully practice what you preach.
“Be what you would have your pupils to be.” Thomas Carlyle
Do you have a Barnabas?
Do you have someone in your life to encourage you?
Do you have someone to believe in you, support you, and guide you?
If you are married, you should consider your spouse, children, or grandchildren as the ones that you can mentor. Also, you might ask yourself if there is anyone outside of your family that you can invest in.
“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others”. 2 Tim. 2:1-2 ESV
Mentoring should be: Intentional, transformational and reproducible!
Converts need mentors and role models to illustrate how to do life. It would be quicker to learn from someone who’s further down the road than we are. The Bible calls it being a disciple, which means “ learner ”. Being an example is much bigger than that. The Church needs mothers and fathers who have weathered the storms of life, have learnt from mistakes, are overcomers, are still loving and who are willing to put their faith on the line. They are people who are willing to “adopt” someone else to help them fulfil their full potential in Christ, helping them become all that they can be.
Pride tells us, “But I don’t need help!” When we hunger for God we will take instruction from others gladly!
This is a testimony from a lady called Deborah celebrating the virtue of being mentored.
The first time I met the person who would eventually become my mentor was when I joined my new church. I had a shoulder injury caused by my daughter’s dog pulling me over on a walk. I remember her praying for me and asking how I did it. She then proceeded to ask me if I had forgiven the dog! My first thought was that she was a right nutter! This way of thinking and praying was completely alien to me as I was from a Church of England background now joining a free church. Although I eventually had to have an operation on my shoulder it made me think through and make the connection between forgiveness and healing. Something I had never thought of before. Over the next weeks, months and years I found myself drawn to her. I valued all she was teaching me about prayer, the Holy Spirit and the prophetic. It literally turned my spiritual life upside down. I had never experienced anything like this! She taught me how to stand on the word of God for everything. To fight using God’s word and to step out and have a go at the prophetic, healing and anything else I felt God wanted me to do.
She encouraged me to have a go, that nothing is impossible with God. We all need a mentor, someone we can look up to, can sound off to and to ask questions and to learn from.
“Encouragement is the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.” Dr. Larry Crabb
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