The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 50: Diving Deeper Into Your Story
We make a massive deal about everyone telling their story in mentoring groups. It’s arguably the critical piece that will determine where your group goes.
Sharing our stories breaks down the walls of the performance trap and opens the door to vulnerability. Sharing our stories teaches us empathy and builds the bridge to community. And authentic community is the cornerstone of a Radical Mentoring group.
There are a couple of stories you’ll hear from your mentees . . . their career story, their family story, their faith story. All of them matter (particularly the last one), but what you really want to hear is their life story. You want to hear their heart…what matters to them and why, their most proud moments, and their most forming failures.
Once you know where everyone has been and where they are now, you can work together during the season to unpack where each of your stories is going, and define the stories you want your lives to tell when you’re old and gray.
As the mentor, it’s your job to model this by going first. Tell them your life story. And since you’re closer than they are to being old and gray (if you aren’t already there!), paint a picture of what life can be like when it’s rooted in God’s love and grace. The resources below will help you tell your story and equip your mentees to tell theirs.
THE SETTING OF YOUR STORY
A LEGACY WORTH LEAVING
In this article, men’s ministry leader Pablo Ceron challenges us to consider how we want to be remembered and what kind of legacy we want to leave. It’s an important question to ask ourselves. It can also be a galvanizing one to ask your mentees after they’ve vulnerably shared their stories and their pasts.
Breathe New Life Into Your Discipleship
Small group mentoring can help you engage your people, build your core group of leaders, and transform your church. Our free resources equip you with all the tools you need to launch a sustainable mentoring program.