Friends for Life: What is Mentoring? |
| Why are you here? This is no “tell me the meaning of life” question. It is as simple as it sounds. Did you wander onto this page by accident? Click on the link out of curiosity? Perhaps you have been longing for the kind of guiding, caring relationship the word “mentor” implies to you. If you entered with a clear-cut idea of what mentoring means, you are probably hoping to find a mentor. We rarely set out to become mentors ourselves. Let’s look at where you may be in this mentoring journey.
The purpose for spiritual mentoring is to be drawn or to help others draw closer to Jesus. Do you need someone to show you who Jesus is? Perhaps you have only recently accepted Him into your life. Perhaps you still need someone to show and tell you who He is. There must be a Christian woman in your life, perhaps in your church with whom you are comfortable. She seems to have that peace you yearn for, that joy you can’t help but envy, that ability to laugh at pretty much anything life hands her. Seek her out. If you ask her to be your mentor, you might get a confused or even a negative reaction. It’s a scary question! I bet she would love to be your friend. Tell her you want to understand where her joy comes from or how she can have peace in the face of adversity. Ask her to have coffee with you! Have you known Jesus for a while, but desire a deeper relationship with Him? If you have been walking with Jesus for any length of time, you probably have a church home. You may be involved in church activities and know several women, each of who possess some strength you admire. Have you considered that God might want you to teach a Bible study, but the thought of being in front of a group of women makes your palms sweat and your legs shake? Ask your favorite teacher to help you! You will probably discover that at some point she had her own way of reacting to nervous butterflies. And you may gain a lifelong friend in the process. Are you at the point in your life where you’ve learned some of life’s lessons that you would be willing to share? You could be a mentor! You need to know that there are no requirements, no level of necessary knowledge, and no implied impending sainthood. The qualifications are simple. What have you learned in your daily walk with Jesus Christ? Are you still learning? Are you willing to be a friend to a young woman (or even someone older than you) who simply wants to talk, confide, get some guidance and learn from your experience? Can you listen without judging? In the months ahead, we’ll examine several aspects of mentoring. Included are: • What is the Biblical basis for mentoring?
Throughout these pages you’ll also see quotes from mentors and mentees, along with personal mentoring experiences and lessons learned.
Penny Jo Horn is our Mentoring 101 Leader. She is a member of FBC Woodbridge and an active member of their mentoring program. For questions, quotes and comments about mentoring, contact Penny at mentoring@NorthStarWomensNetwork.org |
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