LEAD510_MIRA

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Feb 20, 2024

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Mentoring Interviews: Report Assignment

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.

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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

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eisegesis can help them in their walk with God. Moreover, I love learning about Scripture and could never turn down a short conversation about His Word.

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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