WHY MENTORING MATTERS
All throughout Scripture we see the importance of having mentors and investing in others. Jesus left us a mentoring blueprint for us to follow. We need to find faithful and reliable followers of Christ to teach others to follow Him and lead their ministries well.
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrusted to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” -2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
HOW COACHING AND MENTORING WORK TOGETHER
Coaching: For most people, the word “coach” evokes a sports leader. In that context, an athletic coach does several things: brings the best out of his/her players, teaches fundamentals, encourages, motivates, places players in their gifted position, recruits new players...and ultimately wins games.
Mentoring: One person modeling and passing on to a willing learner, in a relational setting, knowledge, skills and a basic philosophy about Christ-likeness in all areas of life.
There is one important foundational contrast we must make between the terms “coach” and “mentor”. Unlike a coach who teaches skills (Outside Game) and tries to win games, a mentor is concerned primarily with the inner person—helping the one mentored with what we refer to as the “Inside Game.” The focus is the heart: on who the person becomes.
The key to the two-pronged approach of being a coach and a mentor is to pay attention to both the Inside and Outside Game— to transform first and foremost personal character while raising the level of competence in those they seek to develop. When these two aspects of our makeup receive appropriate attention and guidance, true spiritual transformation can take place.
CHECK OUT THESE 3 GREAT MENTORING RESOURCES…
RESOURCE #1:
The “BE WITH” Constellation
•BO KNOWS MENTORING
•ABOVE: A WISER MENTOR INVESTING IN YOU
•EVEN: PEERS THAT INVEST IN ONE ANOTHER
•BELOW: A YOUNGER PERSON THAT YOU INVEST IN
QUICK SUMMARY:
The “BE WITH” model of coaching/mentoring is really a lifestyle, not just an activity. It has a trickle-down effect on all the generations who follow, as well as those mentored. It is a lifelong, three-fold commitment: willingness to be mentored (coached), actively mentoring (coaching) others, and also planting within those mentored (coached) a vision of someday becoming mentors (coaches).
We in ministry today desperately need this powerful model to be widely practiced: spiritual mentors coaching others to help them run the race, win the fight, and make disciples of all nations as Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19–20).
PRO TIP:
RESOURCE #2:
The “BE WITH” Factor
•CHECK OUT BO’S BOOK ON MENTORING STUDENTS
•MOVE MENTORING FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
•IMPACT STUDENTS PURPOSEFULLY: GRAB A MEAL, RUN AN ERRAND, JUST BE THERE
•ADOPT A “BE-WITH” LIFESTYLE AND REVITALIZE YOUR PASSION FOR MAKING DISCIPLES
QUICK SUMMARY:
You want to make a huge, lasting difference in the lives of students, right? The Be-With Factor is a powerful, practical, and sustainable mentoring approach that does just that. It’s patterned after Jesus’ example of being with his disciples in a variety of real-life settings. It’s not another program, but it’s about reaching a generation by focusing on a few and doing life with them.
PRO TIP:
RESOURCE #3:
Student Ministry for the 21st Century
•A CLASSIC STUDENT MINISTRY RESOURCE
•TIMELESS TIPS, TOOLS, AND STRATEGIES FOR AN EFFECTIVE MINISTRY
•RE-EVALUATE YOUR APPROACH WITH TRUSTED INSIGHTS FROM BO
•CREATE A VIBRANT STUDENT MINISTRY WITH INTENTION AND PURPOSE
QUICK SUMMARY:
Why settle for a "youth group" . . . when you can build a dynamic student ministry that keeps more and more students coming -- and keeps them growing! From the director of Student Impact, one of the country's largest and most effective student ministries, here is a clear, step-by-step approach that takes you for a quantum leap beyond merely maintaining a youth group . . . to building a student ministry!
PRO TIP:
Be a Mentor
•MAKE MENTORING A LIFESTYLE
“I believe in you. You got this. You’re not alone.”
-Bo Boshers, Founder of LEAD222
