ACMN Blog

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Biblical Foundations for Mentoring – ‘nouthetein’

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From The Mentor Exchange

One of the Biblical terms that shapes the expression of mentoring today is ‘nouthetein’ – the verb meaning ‘instruction’ or ‘edification’.  It is used by Paul through his letters to encourage believers to respond to and to exercise pastoral teaching or spiritual guidance with one another.  The background of the term is important.  The context of its use is in family, household or close friendship environments where there is a relationship of trust, responsibility and particularly mutuality.  It has the implication of ‘honest and earnest but gentle admonition among friends’.  The contextual basis for nouthetein’ is always a caring committed covenant relationship with the other.

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Are You a Godly Mentor?

By Rick Lewis

Even mentors with many years of experience find that the inherent complexity of human relationships creates an environment in which there will always be much left to learn about this process. Part of this complexity comes from the fact that human relationships function on many levels. On the first level, it is clear that mentors’ words and actions have an impact on mentorees. What may not be quite so obvious is that on deeper levels, other factors within a mentor – such as inner attitudes, emotional health and the condition of the soul – are all in play, affecting the way the relationship functions and develops. Perhaps the most powerful of these factors operating within a Christian mentor is their godliness. Mentoring is not only about what you do; it’s about who you are. I invite you who are mentors to stir up your awareness and understanding of the interconnectedness between who you are, what you do, and the outcomes of your mentoring.

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Motivation for Christian Mentoring

By Rick Lewis

Much about mentoring can be learned along the way. There is no need to have everything right before you start. However, motivation is one of those matters that do need to be examined before you begin, and regularly reviewed as you go along. Although this self-examination is a confronting business, it is necessary for mentors to get their hearts in tune with the Spirit of God if they expect to be used by him to bring benefit to others through mentoring. So, what motivated you to get into mentoring? For most of us, the reality is a mix of noble and base motivations. We may wish it were not so, but there is no use pretending. Having acknowledged that, it befits mentors to propagate the noble motivations and weed out the base ones.

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The Lost Art of Lingering by Rowland Forman

I’m delighted to let you know that The Lost Art of Lingering: Mutual Mentoring for Life Transformation, which captures a lot of what God has been teaching me over the last 5 years, is now available through e-books (Kindle), paperback via Confia Publishers (a less expensive option for those in the USA) http://www.confiapublishers.org/the-lost-art-of-lingering.html, or Amazon. For those in New Zealand or Australia, it’s probably better to order through me (postage will be much cheaper). My wife Elaine is handling the orders. Contact her at ejform@gmail.com and she’ll send you a copy with an invoice. We should have books available in a week.

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Conference Attendees Please Register on this site

Following discussion at our conference we have decided to implement a “user” system on our website. This is now active. Please register using the widget in the right side column.  When you register please be aware your registration has to be approved before you can access materials.  This may take a day or so.  One of the admin team will be emailed with your details and will approve you.

Thanks.

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Announcing our 2013 Mentoring Forum

Traction for
Transformation

Digging below the surface to what makes mentoring work

You are invited to join us in Melbourne on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th April for the 2013 Christian Mentoring Network Forum.  Following the interest in last year’s forum we decided to focus on this year on specific skills and equipping for mentors to deepen their mentoring relationships.  Some of the highlights will be: Graeme Cann reflecting on the practice of mentoring, Keith Farmer and Mark Conner sharing insights from their mentoring relationship, Sandy Jones teaching on effective mentoring arising from appraisals, Rick Lewis and Tim Dyer teaching from their experience on practices and skills to give mentoring traction in the lives of others. Continue reading “Announcing our 2013 Mentoring Forum”