The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 27: Helping Men Grow Spiritually
Jesus’ instruction to “go out and train everyone…in this way of life” (Matthew 28:19 MSG) is the mantra of mentoring. As mentors, we’ve embraced following Jesus as a way of life. And we probably have a strategy for living it out, even if we’ve never formally written it down.
One of our jobs is to help our mentees figure out what “this way of life” means to them and take some practical steps to start living it out. It’s why Radical Mentoring groups focus on topics critical to spiritual growth…how we view God, our identity in Christ, how to pray, how to develop priorities, and how to lead others.
Our training as mentors comes from our life experience. From having lived a season or two longer than our mentees. This maturity helps us see things in the big picture and while it will inevitably dictate what we cover, mentoring isn’t one-size-fits-all. That’s one reason we emphasize stories upfront. It breaks down barriers and builds trust, but it also gives us insight into who our mentees are.
The best mentors don’t just share their experience, they take the time to get to know their mentees and unpack the struggles they’re facing. The best mentors seek to understand where their mentees are coming from and discover where they want to go in order to help them grow.
We’ve compiled the resources below to help you with this, to help you dig deeper into how men grow spiritually, what issues they’re facing today, and how to find mentees who are hungry and ready to embrace this way of life.
BETTERMAN PODCAST: HOW MEN GROW SPIRITUALLY
EIGHT STEPS TO LIVING “THIS WAY OF LIFE”
DAVID ANDERSON ON THE TOP FIVE ISSUES FOR MEN
Different environments serve different purposes in helping people along their spiritual journeys. Mentoring groups are best for those who are hungry and ready to dive deeper. Inviting mentees will always be an imperfect science, but these traits will help you.
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.