Mentoring

By: Kate Arnold
Executive Director, Youth for Christ, Alaska


Failure: no one likes it, everyone does it but growth grows out of it.
I’ve been around the leadership block long enough to know that I cannot do it alone. However, over the past year as I have been an active participant in the Murdock Charitable Trust’s “Mentoring Experience” I have come to understand that concept on a much deeper level.

For me, mentoring is a must. I believe that for me to be the leader that God has created me to be it is instrumental that I have mentors in my life so that I can lead and mentor others to see their God given potential.

One of the important lessons that I have learned in this process is that failure is normal. All great leaders fail greatly. Failure is never final it’s another opportunity to learn and grow. I have a whole constellation of mentors in my life who I meet with regularly. These are folks who listen carefully – who hear more than I say, they share their stories of successes and failures with me, they know my blind spots, and they ask me questions I need to answer. They affirm my calling, provide a holding space for gaining perspective and forgiveness, they let me climb out of my own hole, and give blessing not advice.

Most importantly they model Jesus, the ultimate mentor. I am challenged to look at how Jesus mentored. How did God set out to change the universe for eternity? How did Jesus form the next generation of disciples? Am I emulating Him just as the 1st century church did?

Am I seeking out those God chose? Jesus went out and chose the ones that were restless, the true and teachable ones. Historically, the Kingdom of God has been advanced by very ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Jesus’ power. Am I willing to look for people who want God to mess with their lives and to change the landscape of our community? Am I willing to copy Jesus by finding teachable servants who follow Jesus by seeing themselves and others change?
Do I ask good questions? Jesus gave the disciples choice over and over again. A simple choice was offered, “Come, follow Me.” Jesus was never afraid to ask His guys if they still wanted to follow. Am I willing to listen to the Spirit and continuously offer those I lead chances to choose Jesus in their lives and their ministry?

Do I lead by His example? Jesus clearly spelled out the cost to follow Him. Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.” Am I clear about the costs of living the Jesus-life in front of unsympathetic friends, family, and those I lead? Am I willing to lay down my agenda and follow His example?

Am I present? Jesus shared everything with His companions, the disciples. In turn, they watched Jesus and knew what He was like under all circumstances. Do I act like Jesus by spending time with those who serve under me, listening to them and loving them no matter what the outcome is?

Do I delegate effectively? Jesus gave His disciples different levels of responsibility. We know that there were 120 disciples at one time, then 70 and then Jesus chose from 12 men He called “Apostles.” Within the 12, there were the inner 3 (Peter, James and John) and finally the “disciple whom Jesus loved…John. Do I mimic Jesus in this regard? Do I bring others along with just as much as they can take at the time…listening to the Spirit speaking to me about each one?

Do I expect big things out of those I lead? Jesus sent them out to do big things. In Luke 10, Jesus gives special authority to 70 guys who had seen Jesus heal people and cast out demons. He gave them the Holy Spirit and His authority. Do I believe that the Spirit and Jesus’ authority still make God-things happen today? Do I model these very same things for others and help them develop this level of trust in Jesus?

Do I rejoice in the success of others? Jesus rejoiced in their success…just like it was His own. In John 17 you get a profound sense of how much Jesus loved those that followed Him. Jesus enjoyed seeing the Kingdom of God grow because of the disciples’ efforts. Jesus had no need to be the center of attention. Am I willing to lay down my reputation and give credit where credit is due? Do I have that same Spirit of love in me for the ones God gives me to mentor into a more mature faith?

Do I allow room for failure? Jesus’ one “bad hire” did not slow down God’s plan. Jesus did not hate Judas. In fact, He offered Judas many chances to turn away from his course of betrayal. Do I chase after those who turn away from Jesus and in the end still make their own choices?
Do I pray for those I lead? Jesus prayed for His followers. All four gospels including Isaiah and Hebrews tell us this. Am I following Jesus example in my own prayer life as I mentor others into a Christ-life and into the ministry that naturally flows out of it?

Am I willing to sacrifice my own rights on behalf of others? Jesus showed His love for His followers through sacrifice. John’s picture of Garden arrest of Jesus shows us Jesus’ protection of and self-sacrifice for His followers. Jesus displayed His power not His own safety but the safety of His followers. Do I follow Jesus’ lead and exercise His power for others and not myself?

If you feel like you have gotten to the end of this blog and have more questions than answers…it is good. Remember the best thing that we can do as leaders is take care of ourselves. Keep personal renewal a priority by intentionally spending time alone with God, keep yourself in perspective – don’t take yourself too serious (Romans 12:3), develop a personal vision, embrace a culture of forgiveness (great leaders fail 50% of the time), and develop accountability relationships through mentorships.