One of my favorite
aspects of serving with women is mentoring. I enjoy watching women discover new things about themselves and helping them work through the trials of life. When I first began working with women however, mentoring was the last
thing I wanted to do! Nobody told me what
mentoring was all about. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I
found the process frustrating and I am sure the women I wanted to help would
agree. It is only by God’s grace that I
remain in ministry after such a negative experience. Here are some things I
have learned along the way. I hope they
help you as you begin to reach out to others.
Going slowly. You can’t help the whole world. Mentoring can take a lot of time and it is better to serve two or three faithfully instead of nine or ten poorly. Jesus had an inner circle He worked closely with even as He discipled the twelve.
Regular debriefing. Ask for input from those you trust. Find someone you can talk with on a weekly or monthly basis to evaluate progress in those you are helping. Do people see spiritual growth in them? Can others suggest new materials you might use or ways to help connect them to the church? There is wisdom in asking for help.
A supervisor to help. Sometimes you run into problems. Ask your women’s minister or pastor to be available for consultation. I frequently spend evenings on the telephone helping others plan a new approach to situations.
These are just a few ideas. I would love to hear what you would add to
this list!
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