We can All be Mentors and Mentees

By Jennifer Manabat

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another

- Proverbs 27:17

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

- Titus 2:3-5

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

- 1 Peter 5:1-5

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

- Colossians 3:16

The bible is full of verses on mentoring and how elders (mentors!) can guide and build up those who have not traveled as far or as long on their journeys. When I first became a Christ follower, I had the opportunity to be mentored by an older woman at my church, and it was such a wonderful and life-changing experience. I was astounded that a woman wanted to come alongside me, teach me, and help me to grow in my faith. Seeing the benefit, it instilled in me a deep desire to do the same for other women that God would bring along my path.  

Having been both a mentee and a mentor, I’ve experienced both sides and I’m of the belief that anyone and everyone can be a mentor or mentee. Being a mentor has helped me to realize that I have authentic life experience that I can share with mentees to help them on their journeys. There is always the opportunity to grow and learn more about ourselves at any phase of our lives. And God calls us to share that life knowledge and experience with others in return. He can speak and work through us if we will let Him.

Mentoring also helped me to realize that mentees can benefit so much just from having someone to listen to them - to really listen and be a sounding board. And who doesn’t need that? There are so many voices talking at us and telling us to do this or be that to be happier or more successful, and it can be overwhelming. To find someone you trust that will come alongside of you and listen to you, and to provide wisdom, truth, and grace is a real gift. So don’t worry if you don’t know what to say or what specific advice to give to a mentee – just be present with them, ask questions, and listen.

If you have never mentored anyone, I encourage you to do so. It is such a rich and rewarding experience. One of the greatest things I’ve learned about mentoring, and why I continue to do so, is that the experience always grows me in the process. In seeking to guide others and provide insight, I have found that the women I’ve mentored always have something to teach me too. I’ve learned that I may not always get it right, that I may have imposed a thought or piece of advice, but I give myself grace and remind myself that I am a work in progress too. I have also realized you don’t have to have all the answers, and you probably won’t! Remember that mentoring is about relationship, and when you start there, you can’t go wrong.

Jennifer has been one of the mentors for Resource Global. She is currently a Pediatric Occupational Therapist at Kids In Sync and lives in the Chicagoland area.

Modern mentoring: Why is it important and how is it different?

Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as a trusted counselor or guide. 

“The number one thing employers can do to demonstrate their investment in a young person becoming a leader is to train and develop them, including coaching and mentoring,” stated Lindsey Pollak, The Hartford’s Millennial Workplace Expert. 

Many millennials seek purpose in their work. Helping them to explore their God-given vision and the talents they possess early in their career increases their job satisfaction and enables them to make an impact throughout their life.  

Lifeway research found that 68 percent of church-going young adults identified the opportunity to receive advice from people with similar life experiences as very important. Young adults place high value on connecting with people who have more life experience than they do.

As we find regularly at Resource Global, today’s emerging leaders of faith frequently desire to make a difference through their careers and in their communities, cities and the world. They long for a like-minded guide who will come alongside them and help them think through strategic questions and provide relevant resources as they navigate the marketplace. 

Is mentoring biblical? While you won’t find the word “mentoring” in the Bible, we see many examples of mentoring relationships taking place throughout scripture. Jethro mentored Moses, Moses mentored Joshua, Naomi mentored Ruth, Eli mentored Samuel, Samuel mentored Saul and David, Elijah mentored Elisha, Elizabeth mentored Mary, Priscilla and Aquila mentored Apollos, Jesus mentored the disciples, and Paul mentored Timothy. In Titus older women are instructed to train younger women and Paul implies that older men should teach younger men by example.

So how is modern mentoring different from traditional mentoring?

First, the focus is on what the mentee wants to learn, not on what the mentor knows. Mentees bring their most important questions and mentors engage with them to help foster growth in the desired areas. Mentors may recommend resources, assignments, and contacts in their networks who have particular expertise or experience. The mentee is an active participant throughout the process.

Second, the relationship is characterized by authenticity. Mentees are seeking a more experienced person who will share their work and life experiences with transparency—the good, the bad, and the ugly. This occurs when the relationship is a safe place to discuss ideas and both parties share experiences that include stories of successes and struggles, how they have processed them and what they learned.

Finally, mentors benefit in the process. Mentors aren’t just giving, they also receive. In my own experience as a mentor I am inspired nearly every time I connect with my mentees—by their heart to make a difference, their lives of faith and by their thoughtful engagement with God, their work, and the world around them. I learn new things as I engage with different perspectives and experiences. Time flies and I am always thankful for the opportunities I have in mentoring. 

So what are you waiting for? Jump in and become a trusted guide for an emerging leader in your organization, church or community. You’ll be providing a valuable service and you may just find you receive much more in return. 

Christine Gorz helps Resource Global with connecting and developing our mentorship pool for our cohorts. She formerly was the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Moody Bible Institute. She has also done marketing in the Christian music industry in Nashville, Tenn. She and her husband, Chris, live in Chicago and she loves mid-century design and a good cup of coffee.