Mentoring: A Biblical Approach to Personal and Professional Development
Mentoring is a hot topic these days. In recent years, I’ve seen it emphasized in several areas of life and ministry, including discipleship, pastoral ministry, church planting, Air Force culture at-large, and of course, chaplaincy. Our own quarterly report even asks, “Who is your SBC Mentor/Mentee?”
Based upon the feedback I’ve received, and my own personal experience, I wonder if we, as ministry leaders, are falling short in this vital area. Perhaps, many of us have brushed aside the idea because:
- We can’t define it
- We don’t see its value or necessity.
- We won’t make time for it.
I can hear the reactions as I type these words: “Not another program. Not another requirement. Not another time-waster. Been there. Done that.”
However, for those of you who have been effectively mentored, and are now actively mentoring others, you may be singing a different tune. Based on your positive experience, you see great value in such relationships, having been blessed both as a giver and receiver. My hope, as the chaplaincy pastoral care manager, is to better integrate mentoring into the spectrum of care we provide our endorsed chaplains. Consider mentoring as a form of care for the caregiver.
So, what exactly is mentoring? And how is it different from coaching?
According to the Coaching & Mentoring Network, “Mentoring, particularly in its traditional sense, enables an individual to follow in the path of an older and wiser colleague who can pass on knowledge, experience, and open doors to otherwise out-of-reach opportunities. Coaching, on the other hand, is not generally performed on the basis that the coach has direct experience of their client’s formal occupational role unless the coaching is specific and skills focused.”[1]
When I consider coaching, I think about vocational skills, workplace goals, and problem-solving during a short-term relationship. These aspects relate to things we do, like competency or capability. However, when I think of mentoring, I picture a deep relationship, wise counsel, and personal and professional development over a much longer period. These elements speak to who we are, meaning our character. An overlap between coaching and mentoring certainly exists, but I believe one of the best delineations is as follows.
Mentoring relationships help us grow as a person, as a human being made in the image of God, despite our imperfections, weaknesses, and shortcomings. Mentors spur us on to develop not just superficially, but at the level of the soul. Mentors provide wise counsel and sound guidance, often because they’ve been in our shoes before and are a little farther down the road in life and vocation. Mentors also provide personal accountability. Ultimately, they care more about who we are than what we do.
So, does a biblical approach to mentoring exist? Can good scriptural examples be found? The answer is a resounding yes. Think Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, even Jesus and the twelve disciples.
Yet, I believe one of the best examples is Paul and Timothy. Paul certainly led Timothy along “the path of an older and wiser colleague.” Paul imparted not just expertise but experience. The two discussed not just the dos and don’ts of ministry, but the character behind it—who Timothy was to be as a ministry leader, as a man of God. Wisdom and knowledge were certainly shared, but it was much more than mere information exchange. Paul shared himself—mind, body, and soul. He continually exhorted Timothy to grow not only in ministry capacity or capability but more importantly, as a person, as a follower of Jesus.
In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, Paul says, “But you … pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.” I associate fighting with tactics and strategies, yet Paul emphasizes character traits, not battle skills. When was the last time you thought of bringing “love” to a fight?
Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 3:10-14, Paul says, “You have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings … continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you.”
The apostle reminds Timothy that the who of ministry is ultimately more important than the how. What kind of ministry leader, what kind of man, will Timothy be? Paul served as a great example of faith, hope, love, and even resilience. The apostle, as mentor, would not always be there for Timothy, but his godly example would.
So, don’t be surprised if you hear more about mentoring in the months to come. It’s biblical, and it’s worth it.