Australian Christian Mentoring Network
A Community of Practice for Christian Mentors
ACMN National Seminar – Strengths Based Mentoring – July 25, 2024
What an exciting time we shared as a community of practice as Christian mentors from across our nation! Almost 50 of us engaged on ZOOM from various different time zones (with others planning to catch up on the content later).
Key presenters Andy Goodacre, Kylie Butler and Sally Jones each shared with us from superbly integrated, yet different perspectives.
Why go it alone? Why not allow others to strengthen your life by coming alongside you? Fear of exposure? Fear of failure? Those who are available to mentor you often know what it’s like to fail and what it’s like to have life fall apart.
The value of mentoring is incalculable. It’s immense. Having someone coming alongside you makes such a difference. Continue reading “The Importance of Mentoring”
Christian Mentoring is one person with greater life and/or ministry experience coming alongside another to assist them to grow and flourish in their life and ministry. Some have described it as counselling or coaching.[1] But it is not. Whilst it may have elements of this, referring for other’s skills in various different areas reflects mature mentoring.
One purpose of mentoring is to help mentees tap into the knowledge of those with more experience than themselves and learn faster than they would on their own. It’s also an opportunity to grow their network and connect with leaders rather than only their peers.[2]
5 commonly recognised and helpful C’s of mentoring are:
Competence, Character, Confidence (with humility),
Connection and Compassion.[3]
All of us desire to impact lives. All of us are passionate as Jesus’ followers wanting to make a difference as we mentor others. But how frustrating is it when we are mentoring someone and it seems to be going nowhere?! When we don’t get clear responses to our questions, when they don’t have anything to talk about and when things seem to dry up. Is it time to give up with them? Perhaps. Or to give up mentoring all together? Unlikely.
Rather than needing to give up on a mentoree or feeling as though there’s something wrong with us or what we’re doing, there are a few keys that can unlock “Meaningful Mentoring”.
Always prepare yourself before your session prayerfully reflecting upon what’s happening in the other person’s world. Set aside your present challenges or busyness and pause to listen to the Lord to hear how He may want you to connect with them. Think about: What has been happening in their lives? What challenges are they facing? What victories may they have won? How can you walk alongside them best strengthening them?
All this before you actually meet. Now whilst you are meeting:
There are many excellent articles on active listening. Applying the overall principles here:
As mentors we are guiding people on journeys of discovery for themselves rather than diagnosticians who prescribe solutions and antidotes. Listening meaningfully enhances this.
As we companion with people in the mentoring journey, it becomes vital that we guide people in all areas of their lives.
Previously we’ve considered the importance of our mentees having a healthy balanced life in their physical, social, financial, mental, spiritual and we began on their emotional lives.
Today, some key ingredients for creating emotional health in our mentees.
First, the problem. Many people have been suffering from trauma through restrictions, isolation, health and economic impact due to Covid. As we meet with people, now more than any other time, we need to be aware of their emotional needs. Emotional depletion leads to potential for burnout, distraction from ministry pathways, marriage and family disruption. It can affect all areas of our lives.
So, if that’s the problem, what’s the solution as mentors? Continue reading “Creating Emotionally Healthy Mentees”
All of us need someone to walk alongside us. We need to be loved and to love. We need to understand and to be understood. Whether old or young, women or men, from Asia, Africa, Europe, US, Australia or NZ, wealthy or without earthly riches, follower of Jesus, Buddha, Islam or atheist, liberal, Pentecostal, progressive, conservative or evangelical, pastor, large, medium or small church, denominational leader or business leader, we all need mentors. I’ve seen this for over 20 years. I’ve had the privilege to walk alongside people with all these backgrounds. And I’ve seen 6 keys that are able to unlock and guide people’s journeys. When using these 6 keys to specific areas, mentoring people is transformative.