Mentoring

What is a Mentor?

men·tor/ˈmɛntɔr, -tər/  [men-tawr, -ter] noun

1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. 2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter.  Synonyms: adviser, master, guide, preceptor. (dictionary.com)

A mentor is someone who cares about who you are and who you want to be. They are someone who helps you set goals and encourages you to work towards those goals everyday. Mentors are older than you and have more life experience, so they can share and guide you when you need it. They are trustworthy and brutally honest with you, especially when you do not want to hear it. A mentor is a confidant with whom you can talk about anything and everything. A mentor is someone who is a success in your eyes and a person you wish to learn from. A mentor is available to you and wants to spend time with you. They not only teach you, but they learn from you as well. They ask tough questions and expect answers. Mentors believe in you. A mentor has similar spiritual beliefs to yours and leads you to a deeper faith. They should know and understand your life. A mentor prays, explains, loves, teaches, guides, lives, challenges, and most importantly lives life as an example to you.

Why be a Mentor?

• Because we are called. As Christian women, it is our duty, according to God’s word, that we live our lives as an example to the younger generation. Titus 2:3-5: “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

• Because it’s fun! It’s not just learning and leading, it’s a friendship. The person you choose to mentor should be someone you love spending time with, someone you care about, someone you encourage and pray for. Someone with similar spiritual beliefs, taste, goals, morals, etc.  Trust me, mentoring is not a chore!

• Because they need it. We live in a world that wants to convince young women that their value is in how they look, who they hang out with, what car they drive, where they live, and how much money they have. We as mentors are here to show them their value is their relationship with Christ, their future, and their ability to love and lead like their Savior called them to do -- like you are called to do.  It is such an amazing gift to be an encourager, a listening ear, accountability partner, prayer warrior, a goal monitor, and teacher.

• Because YOU need it. As much as you have to teach these young women, you too have so much to learn. Being a mentor is about leading and guiding, but it is also about growing and learning, too. As transparent and honest as you are expected to be, you should expect the same from your student. They will be brutally honest with you, even when you do not want to hear it! One of the greatest things about any relationship is the balance. A relationship is 50/50 -- you both give and take -- and a mentor/mentee relationship is no different. Be prepared to get as much out of this as your student. 

Where do I find a Mentor?

Mentors come in all shapes and sizes, and can be found anywhere where there are people you know and trust. Church, school, scouts, service clubs, your neighborhood, your house… the list goes on!

When you are looking for a mentor, consider the people in your life already. Is there an older person that you can speak with openly and honestly? Someone who you wish to be like? Someone who goes out of her way to be encouraging to you? You may have a mentor and don’t even know it!

For those of you seeking a mentor who are not plugged into a place like those on the list, contact us and we will help connect you to one of our partner mentors/organizations. They will encourage you through the process of seeking out a locally-based mentor.

I want to be a Mentor!

That’s great! Our goal is for every woman who understands the gift of having a mentor to pass on the blessing by pouring into the life of another young woman.

I’m sure you may be wondering where to start. As we tell our students who are searching for a mentor, check out places where you may already be involved. Churches, schools, and service organizations are great places to start. If you are not involved in places like this, please contact us, and our mentoring partners will help you find a place to plug in and get involved. 

What does the Bible say about Mentoring? 

We are so lucky that God has gifted us with His word, a blue print for mentoring. Here are a few of our favorite verses about mentoring:

Titus 2:3-5 “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, even in old age he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another.”

1 Thesalonians 2:8 “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”