Following the pattern of Jesus and His disciples, we realize the importance of mentoring in the spiritual formation process.  Most of us would acknowledge that our notable periods of greatest spiritual growth have been when someone took much interest in us and invested their time and energy into a close, open and caring friendship with us.  They were there for us, and we knew it.  They were available at almost any time to listen, to encourage, to lean on, and to motivate us when we were weak and unsure and struggling.  They modeled Christ to us, and we experienced Christ's love for us through them ("Jesus with skin on").

 

This is mentoring.  We strongly believe it is a necessary component of "Bodylife" for the community of believers.  It is the coupling of experienced, stable believers with those "younger" (not in age, but in experience) in Christ.  Mentoring is the implementing means of "discipleship" - it's the embodiment of "speaking the truth in love" and fulfills Christ's great command "to love one another" - a more immediate means in the Body of believers for experiencing Christ and His personal love for the individual.  It is what Paul called, being a "spiritual father"; or, as one organization expresses in its name, being a "Big Brother".  Mentors and "disciples" meet often, weekly, to keep Kingdom focus, uncondemningly bear one another's burdens, motivate and encourage in the way, and gently push each other onward and upward in Christ.

 

We train mature believers in the attitudes and methods of effective mentoring, and maintain relational balance in the community of believers in a "pay-it-forward", all-inclusive practice of mentoring.  It is not just for some; Christ modelled it inclusively in His relationship with His followers, even acknowledging His Father as His Mentor and Discipling Teacher.  Many "successful" ministries examplify the significance of mentoring to their overall growth and fruitfulness.  In Native lifeways this was customary practice, the elders mentoring the younger.