Pastor, Do You Want A Mentor?
I am a professional and Ordained Pastor. I have been in vocational ministry since I was very young, growing up and after college. My college degree is in pastoral studies and Theology. Studied under well-known and experienced missionaries and professors. Work under good Christian leadership in missionary work, administration, research and serve along side distinguished church leaders in different fields and offices. I have traveled extensively to promote missionary work in many parts of my country and beyond. My background comes from Scriptural Union and Christian Community Fellowship. I believe in biblical education and Christian discipline. I major in character, not charisma. I have been educated in institutions and in the laboratory of the local church. And yet, I was never able to take a class called, Handling Lawsuits, Managing Church Conflict and Projects, or Ministering to Sexual Traders, and such!
I have been in ministry all of my adult life, but try as I might, I’ve still been blindsided by issues for which I was little prepared. Some of the issues have been extraordinary, while others have been mundane. Issues like caring for my family without losing my ministry, managing my time for personal spiritual disciplines, or leading a church business meeting. Being a young pastor is not easy. It’s tougher if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Mentors are invaluable when navigating new ministry terrain. I have many mentors, but not all of them even know that they are my mentors. I have found a few with whom I have a traditional mentoring relationship. Most of the pastors to whom I turn for direction and guidance do not meet with me weekly. Instead, they meet with me as needed and as life permits.
Some of my mentors are former pastors with whom I have met regularly. Some have been seminary professors, and others I work with as my directors. Some are men with whom I don’t speak more often than six or twelve times per year. I count their impact on my life in years of relationship, not days or hours. These mentors in my life are the people I call when life is hard and seminary has not prepared me to handle it.
You need a mentor, my dear pastor. If you are reading this, you know you need a mentor, but you may not know how to find one. Here are a few steps I’ve used to find mentors throughout the years.I hope it might be helpful and useful for you and those around you.
Choose to Be thankful for who you have.
A young pastor sat in my office recently and told me about the kind of man he wanted to mentor him. He wanted a strong leader and an effective pastor. He wanted someone who had made a difference. He wanted a home run mentor. That young pastor needed guidance. Pastors are called to be faithful to the end, not famous to the end. A Man/Woman of God who has served faithfully in the same single staff rural church for the past 20 years has something to teach you. Don’t despise the men that God has put into your life because you want a mega church pastor to invest in your life.
Choose to Be thankful for what you get.
Some of my mentors would not think of themselves that way at all. They do not spend excessive amounts of time with me. They have no idea how I value the time they spend with me. These men and women of God do not give me two or three hours a week. I’m OK with that. I’m thankful for what I can learn from them when I get the chance.
Always Be in the right place at the right time.
I tried cold call contact breakfast when I moved into my first pastorate years back. None of them worked out. When I went to meetings with other pastors and got involved in church and ministry work, I discovered men and women who could and would help me. Mentors are not going to come find you, go to the meetings that you perceive to be a waste of your time and watch God bring helpful men and women of God into your life.
Don’t be weird.
In your romantic view of the world, it may be acceptable to walk up to a man or woman you barely know and ask him to mentor you. You will do better taking him to lunch first or arrange for a meeting of both. Develop a friendship and see where the relationship goes as you pray for God help and direction. Be patient and refer back to point 2 above. If it doesn’t work out for a mentoring relationship, be thankful for what you get out of that connection or lunch.
Choose to Listen more and talk less.
If you want a mentor, then act like you need one. Ask questions and take notes when you get answers.
Be careful, Don’t abuse the relationship.
Even some pastors can use others as stepping stones to move up in life. Make sure you see another pastor as a valuable mentor and not as a valuable contact. There is a difference. Look for men who can make you a better pastor, not men you can use to attain a more desirable pastorate.
Always Pray, Never Stop.
Pray first. It is last on the list only because I want you to remember it most of all. Pray for God to give you people who will make you more like him and more able to care for his people. Pray that God would give you all kinds of mentors. Those who can help you navigate building programs and lawsuits as well as those who can teach you to do pastoral care well and to love your wife first and care for your own family better.
Conclusion
Mentors have proven to be invaluable to me. What about you? They fill in the gaps that seminary and college miss. I learn more what I could not learn in seminary or college. They encourage me and rebuke me when necessary. You need other pastors to shape you. Go find them, they are waiting for You.
Do you need a mentor now? Do you want to be mentored by someone as a pastor and church leader? Click here