The Value (and Power)
of a Mentor At some point in your ministry journey, someone came alongside you and helped bring clarity, understanding, and support. This could have been done without any formal coaching or agreement, but the outcome was one that brought encouragement as you tried to understand how God was shaping you for His kingdom service. My guess is that there is one or even many who have intentionally invested in your development as a minister of the Gospel. For so many ministers, you find yourself investing in and discipling others. This is because you take your calling seriously. Maybe some critical questions we ought to ask are: “Who is mentoring me?” … “Who is speaking words of encouragement and direction into my life?” … “Who can say hard things to me?” In his book, Who’s By Your Side, our own district superintendent writes, “There is a difference between an esteemed consultant and a trustworthy friend.” The Value of a Mentor: - To develop you as a (spiritual) leader
- Someone to listen to your ideas and give an honest response
- To provide encouragement during difficult times
- To build your personal resiliency
- To celebrate personal and ministerial successes
- To learn from an experienced colleague
- You will grow from a positive relationship
The schedule of all ministers is full of many appointments, the study of God’s word, meetings, counseling, and administration. Time will not come to you; you will need to create space for this kind of relationship. While you may be able to justify the reasons for not engaging in a mentor relationship, you will not benefit from the support of godly advice along the journey. Is there someone you can contact today? If you need to further define what this might look like, reach out to a colleague, or call the district office. The Proverbs writer reminds us, “Iron sharpens iron.” Still growing in God’s grace, Wayne Nelson
District Administrator | 
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