Introduction (why mentoring is important)
Mentorship is frequently expressed as biblical leadership and vice versa. Therefore,
mentorship is the beginning of growth in the name of Jesus. When new believers are convicted
of the truth and the way, Jesus Christ, they feel an inherent calling to be with Him. Most of the
time, those who are newly saved have yet to learn how to begin a journey that is kingdom
oriented. So, new believers need mentors to disciple them to grow their new found faith and
establish a firm foundation.
Fortunately, becoming a mentor, or biblical leader, can be done without extensive
training. It is through the Great Commission that we are called to make disciples of all nations
(Matt. 28:19, English Standard Version). The Great Commission does not say that we need to
earn a Master’s in Divinity before making disciples or that we should listen to 10,000 sermons
first. No, it simply states that we should all go out and make disciples of all nations. Wheeler and
Whaley lay an excellent foundation for a six-week cyclical discipleship process that begins with
formational components and ends with reproducible component.1
The process Whaley and Wheeler developed is just one of many that may be used, but it
is crucial to provide this level of mentorship to new believers so that they may understand what
God expects of them. Mentors should want to disciple new church members to help them grow
and allow themselves to grow. Proverbs 27:17 states that man will sharpen another. Moreover,
being in this high level of intimacy allows new believers and their mentors to express themselves
in an authentic manner that is typically not familiar to many non-believers. This level of
closeness allows the mentor and mentee to bear one another’s burdens and pray for each other so
that there may be healing (Gal. 6:2; Jam. 5:16).
1 David Wheeler and Vernon M. Whaley. The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical Principles for Worship-Based
Evangelism. (Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing Group, 2011), 174.
Analysis: Compare and Contrast
Both of the mentors I interviewed stated that they initiated the mentorship relationship.
They indicated that the individuals they approached to mentor demonstrated an eagerness and
willingness to become disciples. I feel that the qualities mentioned above are essential when
attempting to empower and develop new leaders within the church. Initially, both of the mentors
met in person, but now Antonio is forced to rely on virtual meetings through Zoom. Although I
naturally feel more comfortable meeting others in person, I know that spiritual formation can
occur regardless of the setting. Just as the Bible references the earthly ecology time and time
again, Lowe and Lowe depict a digital ecology as a sequence of communications through an
assortment of digital platforms.2 Therefore, the relationship between mentor and mentee is not
hindered, and spiritual formation is cultivated.
During the initial time spent with the mentee, the mentors open up with prayer so their
time together may be spent in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As mentioned in James 5:16,
prayer is indispensable when it comes to time spent together and for healing (Jam. 5:16, ESV).
When I interviewed Roderick, he mentioned that he does a “check-in” to see how the mentee is
doing, whereas the Antonio stated that they go into the “soul room” to examine the assigned
scripture. While I understand the necessity to perform a “check-in” at a certain point in the
relationship, it would be imperative for the mentee to bring forth any tribulations, areas of
emphasis or matters that merit discussion before progressing through the remainder of the
meeting. This concept places the responsibility on the mentee to be forthcoming and develop as a
leader. I appreciate the “soul room” because I believe that we can help others grow and develop
2 Stephen D. Lowe and Mary E. Lowe, Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual Growth through Online
Education (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018), 105.
their scriptural interpretations through our eisegesis. Moreover, if we apply historical, cultural,
and literary context to the assigned verses, we can truly develop a sense of God’s Word.
Antonio has been the director of sexual purity for several years now. For his mentees, he
discusses with them if they have been pure by avoiding pornography, masturbation, and any
other sexual immorality. Additionally, they also discussed tithing because it was something that
neither mentee had performed regularly. I enjoy that both his mentees are assigned the task of
developing their sexual purity plan to implement within their communities. In John 6:27, Jesus
states that we should be doing kingdom work to produce good fruits (John 6:27, ESV). Jesus did
not just save us to have eternal life, but He also wants us to bear good fruit and help expand the
kingdom of God. Therefore, having his mentees develop a plan to implement a sexual purity
group is precisely what the Bible describes in 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Roderick had not mentioned any implementation of a plan or use of the mentee’s skills
in a meaningful manner in their community. There is accountability in terms of being in the
Word and transparency, but as mentioned above, there should be a process that can lead them to
disciple others with their spiritual gifts. We know that we are walking with the Lord by bearing
good fruit.
Regarding the most challenging aspect of the relationships, the responses were different.
Antonio has a set of brothers that would receive mentoring together, but he soon realized there
was a sibling rivalry that proceeded into competitiveness. This required separate meeting times
for each of them. The mentorship process should be individualistic to create a more intimate
bond and level of openness. Adding others creates a small group that does not always have the
same level of development as a one-on-one relationship. Roderick does one-on-one mentorship
and describes the challenge for him is helping others believe and live out their own potential.
Getting others to have faith that God will lead them to success is never easy, but it seems more
complicated with multiple people being mentored at once.
Considering the significant results of the relationship, I found that both mentors
mentioned similar comments. Both mentors have experienced mutual growth with their mentees
through the mentorship process. Moreover, both mentors have seen the growth of the
relationship between God and their mentees, which has provided additional growth in other
aspects of their daily life, such as bearing fruits and breakthroughs.
Two of my favorite results are the increase in prayer and tithing. Through prayer, my
wife and I have been able to get through some of our most challenging times, including
infertility. Additionally, tithing provided a strong pillar for our faith and deepened our trust in
God to afford for us even when we could not see a way through our problems. I feel strongly that
praying should be embedded into the hearts of all mentees, as well as tithing. These two acts of
worship solidify our relationship with God and express our love for Him
With Antonio's mentees, I understand that there is a particular emphasis on purity
because of their past battles with pornography and infidelity. At times the relationship between
mentor and mentee becomes blended into each other's lives because of shared experiences.
Indeed, this type of relationship has added layers that allow for a stronger connection, further
substantial dialogues, and empathy toward one another's struggles. From experience, I know that
having mutual experiences, like military experience or infertility, can really allow others to put
their guard down and speak freely with no fear of condemnation.
Additionally, I have seen what the power of our testimonies can do for others. I recently
shared my life testimony in a thirty-minute timeframe and could see how many men felt
connected to different parts of my story. By sharing these profound and intimate moments with
others, the relationship instantly turns superficial to profound. Through this level of intimacy,
any mentor will see the fruits of their labor and mentees.
Conclusion
The first significant lesson I have learned about mentorship is forming a relationship.
Demonstrating to the mentee that we have every day or similar experiences allows them to feel
added comfort. As I have experienced, and as both of these mentors mentioned during the
interview, shared experiences cultivate an environment in which both persons can feel their
relationship grow. Furthermore, by instilling a door of authenticity at the beginning of the
relationship, both persons understand that they will be held accountable for their actions, or lack
thereof.
I know that spiritual formation can occur over various mediums and technology, but I am
confident I cannot make that a part of my mentoring. Although Antonio is currently performing
long-distance mentoring, he stated that the most challenging part of their relationship was that
they did not meet in person. I have used virtual communication during my deployments to Iraq
and Korea, during my first graduate school due to the pandemic, and now in my divinity
education. Technology has been a blessing, but I am a people person who likes to see others
face-to-face.
The last thing I would like to implement into my mentorship process is the “soul room.” I
do not recall where I heard this, but I learned that we should never hold onto our interpretation of
the Bible as the only truth. At times, you will listen to others give their rendition of what a verse
means to them, and it will change how you look at it again. I hope that through continued sharing
of personal revelation of Scripture, I may grow closer to God and my mentee and that my
Bibliography
Lowe, Stephen D., and Lowe, Mary E., Ecologies of Faith in a Digital Age: Spiritual
Growth through Online Education. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
Wheeler, David and Whaley, Vernon M., The Great Commission to Worship: Biblical
Principles for Worship-Based Evangelism. Nashville, TN.: B&H Publishing Group, 2011.
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