Lausanne World Pulse – Developing Emerging Leaders Through Mentoring
By Steve Irvin
5. Mentors should give guidance to the mentee. However, unless there are clear scriptural commands at issue, allow the mentee to make his or her own decisions before the Lord. For instance, in considering a change of ministry, help the mentee examine matters of spiritual gifting, call and future goals. But the final decision must rest upon the mentee as he or she takes responsibility for discerning and following God’s will.
6. Mentors should be sensitive to cultural differences that influence the expectations that mentees have of mentoring relationships. Some cultures expect that mentors be more or less directive. Others may require the mentor to be much more paternal and to become much more involved in the mentee’s family and personal life. Some mentors may want to keep a strict schedule, while the host culture may consider relationships far more important than schedules. Cultural sensitivity, wise transparency and a winsome spirit will go a long way in nurturing the mentoring relationship.
Mentoring Resources
Helps for mentors in the leadership development task are readily available. For example, Mentorlink International offers training materials for mentors in several languages, as well as “web-assisted mentoring” for those who cannot find a mentor in their own context. Another interesting site is Mentor and Multiply which offers a number of materials related to mentoring, as well as access to a number of experienced mentors who can be contacted via email for advice and encouragement.
Recommended Reading
Krallmann, Günter. 2002. Mentoring for Mission: A Handbook on Leadership Principles Exemplified by Jesus Christ. Krallmann is a Bible teacher with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and presents mentoring within the context of world evangelization. He draws principles from Jesus’ own mentoring ministry.
Sanders, Martin. 2004. The Power of Mentoring: Shaping People Who Will Shape the World. Sanders, professor at Alliance Theological Seminary and international leadership consultant, focuses on the key aspect of character development through mentoring.
Johnson, W. Brad and Ridley, Charles. 2004. The Elements of Mentoring. Johnson, a US Naval Academy professor, and Ridley, Johnson’s former teacher at Fuller Theological Seminary, offer fifty-seven concise, practical chapters on the skills and traits of effective mentoring.