The personal aim that I have is to develop a network of young people that I am mentoring because God has spoken to me about the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. To support the ministry, visit www.pwshop.co.uk
Some time ago, I pictured myself carrying a battered, rusty tray over rough ground. The tray was laden with a collection of expensive, crystal glasses, of varying age, size and shape. Carrying this tray was a delicate process: not just because of the rough ground, but because people kept bumping into me as I walked and I was in danger of losing my balance or tripping up. I began to discover the key was to keep looking ahead to where I was going; if I looked down, or took too much notice of what was going on around me, I would fail.
I believe that God gave me this picture for my ministry of mentoring. I believe mentoring is something God has called me to, and I don’t want to do anything else until I go to Heaven! To invest in the life of another person is an awesome privilege. It’s not to be taken lightly, because each life is very precious, and mentoring enables real, genuine spiritual growth to take place. The conversations that take place in these good, strong, Christ-centred relationships have the potential to change lives. I believe they are the keys to unlocking our post-modern hearts.
My background and training is in teaching, but I have also had various roles in national Christian ministries over the last 15 years. By far the most fruitful and satisfying highlights in these years have been ‘investing in the few for the sake of the many’ (Leighton Ford, Arrow Leadership Programme). My advice for you, if you think mentoring is something in which God wants you to invest, is ‘have a go!’ Also, be prepared that folk around you might not always get it. They will try and distract you, and the ground you travel with any other person can be bumpy at times. The most important thing to remember is to keep looking ahead to Jesus; to the One who calls us all to present each other as mature, encouraged and built-up in our understanding and appreciation of Him.
The specification for an ideal mentor would include qualities like availability, spirituality, approachability, unshockability, accountability, vulnerability and the ability to hold up a mirror to someone to help them take a look at themselves! For a relationship to work well, the mentee must also be teachable, committed, boundaried, humble, honest, hungry for God and prepared to reflect.
Bishop Graham Cray recently commented that he can see no way for effective discipleship to happen in the 21st Century, apart from through small groups and one-to-one relationships. How true! The Bible knows nothing of solitary, isolated, keep yourself-to-yourself religion. We are made to function in community and share our lives with each other. If you are feeling a bit battered and rusty, watch out, because God might just have plans for you….
Paul Wilcox
Mentor and Freedom-Fighter!