3.05.2011
Mentor Me! - Part 1
11:16 AM | 
Posted by
Codie Leath
I have been spiritually mentored off and on for the past 10 years. Sometimes it was a weekly one on one appointment, sometimes a monthly phone call. A few times it fell in my lap, mostly I had to go out and get it. But it was always a tremendous privilege! Outside of my personal, daily time with God, discipleship and mentoring have been the #1 contributors to my spiritual health. I realize I am in the very small percentage of women who ever get these opportunities and I’m determined to do something about it. Let’s start with a practical dissection of the subject:
Why we need it
Humans flourish with personal attention. It’s true in every facet of life. Your grades were better when you were tutored, your athletic performance improved when your coach was around, salespeople sell more when they talk regularly with a sales coach. Our spiritual lives are no exceptions. If a wiser woman gave you personal attention on a regular basis, assuming your cooperation, you would notice increased fruit in your life.
Tiger, Peyton, and Serena all have coaches. Is it because they are the best or is it in part what has made them the best?
It’s time we all stopped ignoring the 4th spoke of our life wheel, our spiritual life, and give it the same intentionality with which we’ve supplied our intellectual, physical, and social lives.
What it is & What it’s not
General Definition: Mentoring is the intentional relationship between 2 people where the wiser, more experienced person counsels and guides the other.
In the realm of spiritual growth, let’s make some distinctions:
Discipleship – curriculum based training program to establish a new convert in the basics of Christianity
Mentoring – life coaching for the already established believer
Professional Counseling – counseling for loss, tragedy, addiction, victims of abuse, etc.
It is helpful to note that one does not need a seminary degree or counseling degree to mentor. A track record of walking in cooperation with God’s lead in your life is what it takes.
Why the lack of it
Despite the command in Titus 2:3-5 for the older women to train the younger women, we’re not seeing much mentoring in the Christian community. Here are 3 reasons why:
- It’s hard to do something you’ve never seen done or had done for you.
- The older generation tends to be private and modest, thinking, “Who am I to probe into your life?” or “Who am I to be able to help you?”
- Proactive & Reactive - Many crucial ministries such as divorce recovery, crisis pregnancy, inner city tutoring, soup kitchens, recovering addict groups, and single moms’ classes are reactive in nature. In addition to these, we should think proactively about ministry by mentoring those younger than us. In this way, we can save marriages before they break down and avert addictions before they start. Over time, there would be less need for reactive, mercy ministries because our proactive efforts would counteract the problems before they even arise.
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