A Christian Mentor’s Tasks

A good mentor of new church leaders...

• Listens to each trainee.
• Helps trainees to discern what their flocks need and to think through specific plans.
• Shares each trainee’s burden.
• Helps each trainee to start at once to mentor other newer shepherds. Many excellent mentors are only a few weeks ahead of newer leaders whom they serve, because they share similar concerns.
• Bases ministries on the commands of Jesus and His apostles, rather than on mere human traditions. New Testament guidelines to train, evangelize, shepherd, worship, organize and multiply churches or cells consistently prove to be more effective than popular, non-biblical fads with which men often replace God’s commands.
• Helps congregations or cell groups to serve one another.
• Serves trainees as long as they need it, normally until their congregations or cells are practicing the vital ministries that the New Testament requires phasing out time-intensive mentoring when trainees and their flocks mature, like Jesus did with the Twelve, and Paul did with Timothy and Titus.
• Models skills working with people while being accompanied by trainees.

Meets with only a few trainees at a time. Jesus mentored twelve and sometimes met with three or less. Paul usually had a small band that he mentored as they traveled and worked together, keeping the group small enough to deal with each trainee.