The Importance of Mentorship
What is Mentorship?
To many in the Christian world mentorship, discipleship, Christian brotherhood are words which all too often boil into one course of action. That being a 12 to 14 week book study where an older person leads a younger person once a week for 45 minutes through a prepared set of questions on specific readings and lessons.
It is situations such as these where the question comes, "What would Jesus do?"
When Jesus pursued His ministry, He said, "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Mark 8:34
Jesus defines mentorship as full commitment, being ALL IN. This mentorship with Christ wasn't bound by a weekly book reading, but it is a life on life ministry where the mentor and the mentee have much to learn and to teach in all areas of this Christian walk.
What should the mentor expect?
Whether you are a leader at a church, in Bible study, amongst your classroom or household, mentorship is the call of every Christian who has grown in Jesus. While there is not a specific time at which each person is to take on the role of a mentor, it is completely dependent on your maturity and faith. The Bible does not say, "Believe and remain disciples," it says, "Go and make disciples."
As a Christian you are an example to all people at all times in all places. As a mentor you are a teacher to a specific person or small group of people for a specific time.
Mentorship, for both females leading females and males leading males, encompasses Bible study, accountability, faith living, prayer, and consistent fellowship. Each of these aspects are individual and important in giving the mentor the opportunities to lead the mentee in all ways.
- Bible Study allows the mentor to teach on a solid biblical foundation where all lessons are not opinions but truth.
- Accountability keeps both parties kept to standards of holiness and Christlikeness in honest communication.
- Faith living causes the relationship to affect every aspect of the mentee's life. From the lessons being taught by the mentor and the actions witnessed, the mentee ought to follow and take action in his or her own life. Whether that be evangelizing, grabbing lunches, prayer walks, faith living is the application of preparation.
- Prayer consistently from both parties over one another allows them both to stay strong and encouraged as their relationship grows. Remembering that it is through Christ alone by which all things can be done.
- Consistent fellowship is where the life on life comes into play. In any way necessary, the mentor invites the mentee into his or her life through lunches, grocery shopping, coffee at home, on-campus evangelism, door-to-door tract knocking. This provides a first person look at how ministry is pursued in all parts of a Christian's life.
What should the mentee expect?
Being a mentee, the first step is to look for a mentor. Your first thought might be to create a checklist of who you want teaching you and going out choosing exactly who fills those requirements. But, the first step of finding a mentor is to pray. Pray that the Lord will reveal to you who He would have to teach you. When you ask God to grow for Jesus, your prayers will never return empty.
When you do have options for mentors, make sure that they are faithful in church, that they are Christlike in their interactions with others, and that their personal walk with Jesus is one to be modeled after.
The best way to learn about mentorship from a mentee's perspective is to hear what one here at CFC has had to say, "In coming here to CFC, I prayed for a mentor, and it wasn't long until God opened that door. After over a year of being mentored I have practically grown in my faith. From having a one-on-one relationship with the Lord that was wrapped up in Bible reading here and there and daily prayer I have learned what it means to live a Christian life, wherever I go, around all types of people. My mentor has seen the desires of my heart and given me opportunities to grow through evangelism, teaching, Bible study, and even leading others to the Lord. One-on-one consistent and intentional mentorship has given me a solid foundation in my faith to where I am now ready to mentor others, who will then mentor others, growing God's kingdom!"
Take Note.
The fullness of biblical mentorship can't be confined to one single blog post. That being said, take note of these important challenges when you pursue mentorship.
- Be personable.
- See the needs of your mentee and be patient.
- Ask your mentor specific questions and be teachable.
- Always be honest and communicate often.
Go, Make Disciples!
True biblical mentorship is not something to be done sparsely, but ought to be pursued by every Christian seeking to grow the Church. Mentorship is so important because it provides new believers with the opportunity to be led and taught by seasoned believers. When believers are to start from scratch in their knowledge of the Lord, left with nobody to teach them, then the body of Christ has no strength. But when mentors teach others, the body of Christ grows with knowledge passing from generation to generation.
The call of every believer is to GO! To make disciples of every nation, multiplying our efforts and growing exponentially in the name Jesus Christ.
