Help needed at Youth

Could You Be a Mentor ?

We will be needing mentors for our ‘Growing Leaders course starting shortly.  The commitment is small in comparison to the fruit it might yield.  Here are some details that might help you decide whether our not you could be a mentor to one of our young people.

Our role, God’s role

In all of this we recognize that in God’s economy he is ‘the mentor’ and we are the ‘sub-mentor’. It is not the mentor’s job to take God’ place in someone’s life – the mentor is there to help the person see what God wants of them and for them.  The mentor’s desire is to ‘present everyone mature in Christ’ (Colossians 1: 28)

What is Mentoring?

CPAS definition

Christian mentoring is a dynamic intentional relationship of trust in which one person enables another to maximise the grace of God in their life through the Holy Spirit,

in service of God’s kingdom purposes,by sharing their life, experience and resources.

Therefore mentoring is more than two people spending time together.  It is a mutual relationship ( it flows in both directions), with an intentional agenda there is an end in mind, filled with meaningful content ( combining theory and reality, thinking and practice), from one individual to another understanding that one has resources and experience the other is eager to learn from.

The Mentoring Process

1. Connecting- building initial relationship, getting to know each other.
2. Clarifying – what do we want to gain from our time together? What is important to us?  Expectations? (Time frame, intensity, frequency, focus and accountability)
3. Pursuing – going after it together
4. Evaluating – how are we going?  Are we meeting our expectations? On track?  Break needed? Carry on?
5. Adjusting – keeping going, making changes, transition and closure.

Qualities of effective Mentors

M ake the most of the potential in a person.

E  ncourage and builds up others through gifts and abilities.

N urtures with patience, knowing that time and experience are needed for development.

T olerates mistakes, brashness, abrasiveness and the like in order to see

   potential develop.

O ffers perspective through vision and the ability to suggest the next 

   steps that a mentee should take.

R esponds with flexibility to people and circumstances.

S eeks first the kingdom of God .

What to do next:

Please speak to Revd Mina Smallman to find out more details or phone 020 8954 0455. This is a wonderful ministry as the rewards are massive. Remember you may not have all these qualities but if you have a desire to see our youth grow closer to God that could be good enough - if in doubt please speak to me before you rule it out.