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Introduction
Could it be that within the next few years we will see hundreds, or maybe even thousands, of small groups of Christian believers from across the USA and Canada on mission to win their friends and neighbors to Christ? Can you imagine these believers from the market place, neighborhoods, schools, coffee shops, playgrounds, and homes forming organic churches that reproduce themselves exponentially?
In anticipation of a great explosion of organic churches the Nazarene Organic Church Network (NOCN) has set out to provide encouragement and support to its leaders through a dynamic mentoring network. Many eager organic church leaders are looking for mentors who have a little more wisdom and experience and who can walk alongside them on their journey. In order to help these leaders become successful, we need to turn to people with experience to coach, model, and guide.
This lesson is designed to help prepare individuals to become mentors in the NOCN. In this lesson you will discover what it means to become part of the mentoring process. You will understand who a mentor is and what the responsibilities are to the person you plan to mentor. You will also be asked to respond by making a commitment to becoming part of the NOCN mentoring process.
This lesson also contains all the material needed for anyone to teach others about the NOCN mentoring program. With a single click you can download Power Point presentations and PDF files for both teachers and students. You can also watch videos and order additional materials if you wish.
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A mentor is one who helps a leader get where he wants to go.
Some people may think that mentoring is just another fancy word for discipleship. While there is certainly some overlap, mentoring goes in a slightly different direction. Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) defines a mentor as "one who has been where you want to go and is willing to help you get there." This is the relationship between a mentor and a protégé. You may compare it to someone who is trying to cross a river without any guidance. It certainly is possible, but it's much safer and quicker to follow the instructions of someone who is familiar with the water. One may be able to cross on their own, but why take the risk? We believe that every organic leader needs the helpful influence of a seasoned practitioner.
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A mentor provides support
Bobb Biehl of Masterplanning Group International explained that mentoring is like a group of people scaling a mountain. If one person is linked to another one above, and that person in turn is linked to another one farther up the cliff, then together they have safety, stability, and strength. If one person slips and begins to fall, several other climbers absorb the impact and provide safety. Imagine someone attempting to climb all alone, with no support system. One may achieve great heights. But a single wrong move can result in disaster. King Solomon advised that "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NASB).
As a mentor, you will be one of many who will be providing support for the organic church leader. However, your role is unique. You come as one who has already been where this leader wants to go. It will be up to you to help him/her get there. As you provide support and care along the way, listen and learn as much as you can about the leader's family, ministry, and life situation. Send notes, call, text, and pray for the person you are mentoring. Make sure to celebrate victories together and be available whenever he/she needs advice or encouragement. There may be days when the organic church leader feels like throwing in the towel. It is your job to pick it up and hand it back.
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A mentor helps the organic leader reach goals more efficiently
Howard Hendricks likens the mentoring process to the idea of stepping onto a moving sidewalk in an airport terminal. You may be walking at the same pace, but you dramatically increase your speed. Here are a few ways this can happen:
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Help the leader discover God's vision, make a plan, and follow a timeline.
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Help the leader stay focused on the most important things.
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Hold the leader accountable.
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Provide supportive prayer for the leader and his/her family.
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Provide resources and help make connections.
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Offer an objective point of view. Be a sounding board for ideas.
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Point out potential landmines.
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Provide motivation and encouragement.
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A mentor is a model
Dr. Brian Wilson once told a story about growing up on the mission field. As a small boy, one of Brian's favorite things to do was to walk alongside his father as he went from place to place. Because his father was much taller, Brian learned to adjust his stride in order to keep up. When Dr. Wilson grew older and moved away to college in the United States his new friends noticed that he walked with a limp. "Did you hurt yourself?", "Are you ok?", his friends would ask.
Curious as to why so many people were noticing a limp, Brian began to rehearse the years of his childhood. He remembered that his father suffered from the effects of polio and always walked with a limp. In order for Brian to keep up with his father, he had to match his stride. Brian, too, began to walk with a slight limp. By spending so much time walking at his side, Brian's gate naturally simulated that of his father. Much of what an organic leader learns from you will be caught rather than taught. Howard Hendricks wrote that "modeling is the greatest form of unconscious learning there is."
It is difficult to lead others to do things we have not done ourselves. It's like a soccer coach who never spent time on the field. He may be able to give instruction, but he doesn't really know the game from the perspective of a player. Hebrews 13:7 says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." In the same way the Apostle Paul said to, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).
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| Biblical Examples
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Exodus 18
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Jethro and Moses
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Jethro taught Moses how to delegate.
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Deut. 31:1-8; 34:9
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Moses and Joshua
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Moses prepared Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the Promised land.
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1 Samuel 9-15
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Samuel and Saul
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Samuel prepared Saul to be king and chastised him when he rebelled against God.
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1 Kings 19:16-21; 2 Kings 2:1-16; 3:11
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Elijah and Elisha
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Elijah recruited and prepared Elisha to be his successor.
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Acts 4:36ff; 9:26-30
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Barnabas and Saul/Paul
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Barnabas helped open the way for Saul by endorsing him within the Christian community.
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Acts 15:36-39; 2 Timothy 4:11
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Barnabas and John Mark
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Barnabas defended John Mark and went with him when they separated from Paul.
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Acts 18:1-3, 24-28
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Priscilla & Aquila with Apollos
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At Ephesus, Priscilla & Aquila tutored Apollos. Apollos later became a powerful spokesman for the Gospel.
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Acts 16:1-3; Philippians 2:19-23; 1 & 2 Timothy
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Paul and Timothy
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Paul took Timothy with him on a missionary journey. Timothy eventually became the pastor at Ephesus.
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2 Corinthians 7:6; 13-15; 8:17; Tutus
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Paul and Titus
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Titus was a Greek speaking Gentile who Paul and Barnabas won to Christ. Tradition says Titus became a leader on the Island of Crete.
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What does a mentor have to offer?
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Experience: Hopefully you have developed many skills along the way. Your role will be to pass these skills on just as an a master craftsman passes his skills to an apprentice.
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Knowledge: It is good for the mentor to point a protégé in the right direction. What books are available? What resources are out there? Who are key people he/she should meet?
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Access: To people. To networks. To information. To other institutions and other possible resources.
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Friendship. If nothing else, you can offer companionship. Organic leaders often feel lonely and isolated. All they need is for someone to just be there.
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Time: Making yourself available to listen and coach can take time, but it is a small investment when compared to Kingdom impact.
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Yourself: God created you as a unique, valuable individual. In fact, your very person is your most valuable asset, so don't overlook it. God has made you with your special slant on life, your unique bent and style. No one else is exactly like you. No one else can match your unique contribution.
Adapted from: Hendricks, Howard G.; Hendricks, William D. As Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship. Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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Responsibilities of a Mentor
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Meet: Establish a set time for regular meetings. Mentoring appointments should be done biweekly or at least once per month. If a mentor is working through the NOCN training material you should plan to meet within a few days of the completion of each lesson. Face to face meetings are preferable, but if distance prohibits, they can be done over the phone or through video chat. Consider the advantages of meeting with the protégé and spouse. The mentor should be available for unscheduled phone calls or meetings whenever necessary.
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Encourage: The mentor should listen to the concerns of the planter and spouse. Unless they get them off their chest, it will be difficult to proceed in the work. It is important to give sincere affirmation.
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Nurture: The mentor should be both an advisor and a spiritual guide. Pray together often. Make sure the organic church leader stays on track spiritually.
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Teach: The mentor should engage his protégé in discovering creative ways to do ministry. The mentor should lead the planter to resources for training: books, conferences, tapes, workbooks, etc.
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Observe: Mentors must be good monitors. They need to be able to read the pulse of the situation. Ask discerning questions to discover how things are really going. In doing so, you may help your protégé avoid major problems.
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Require Action: It is important that your protégé learn to plan the work and work the plan. At times you may need to offer some motivation to keep things going according to the planned outline.
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Meeting Agenda Checklist
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Check progress. Review any material or lessons that may have been completed. Ask probing questions to see if your protégé understands the material and is able to make real life applications. Make sure to answer any questions he may have.
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Check to see that things are going well spiritually and emotionally.
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Check to see how things are going within the ministry.
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What are the priorities over the next few weeks or months? What obstacles need to be overcome? What resources may be needed?
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Schedule a date, time, and location for your next meeting.
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Pray together.
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Consider how you want to be involved
Now that you have completed this lesson, there are several ways you engage in the mentoring system.
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Find one or more persons whom you are willing to mentor. Use this lesson as a guide to get you started. It is important for us to track our mentors, so please make sure to complete the attached form.
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Use this material to teach others. You may gather a group and use the Power Points and PDF's in a formal classroom setting.
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Encourage others to use the virtual classroom and complete the lesson individually.
It is very important that you take a moment and fill out the attached forms. We want to be able to measure our effectiveness and track progress.
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