Is Missional Mentoring one answer to the Discipleship Problem?

For many years my most important ministry in Africa was to disciple both Mus!ims and believers. I spent many hours a week introducing men to Jesus and spurring others on in their faith. What has struck me since returning to the UK 6 years ago is how badly we disciple believers in this country. Many leaders rely too heavily on a monologue sermon and some inspiring corporate worship once a week, a cosy house group meeting every so often, and a lot of personal responsibility.

In most mission situations expecting new believers to grow on a diet of weekly sermons, the odd bible study and superficial fellowship would be ridiculous, not least because it is a million miles away from the model Jesus gave us. The Jesus school of discipleship asked for uncompromising commitment to the master as Luke 9:23 says “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Jesus also demanded an uncompromising commitment to each other. “A new command I give you, love one another.” (John 13:34).

Mentoring is often the missing element in discipleship. We all need someone who will listen to us, challenge us, hold us to account, encourage us and spur us on. An intentional relationship in which a mentor leaves aside their own needs to focus on helping another to grow, is both powerful and rewarding.

Where mentoring can fall down is when the relationship becomes inward looking, more about personal fulfilment than submitting to God’s will. One way of countering this is by giving mission its proper place. The real need is to help each other become effective missionary disciples. We need to be reaching out personally and also developing a heart for God’s world.

The challenge of effective mentoring is integrity, setting a good example. Indeed many fear that they are not good enough to mentor another and hesitate to approach a potential mentee. Yet it is in mentoring another that we can learn and be challenged and grow ourselves. All of us have something God has given us that we can share with another, all of us should make ourselves accountable to another and hold another to account. Mentoring done properly multiplies as our mentees find others to help grow in faith. The apostle Paul understood this principle well as he wrote to his mentee, “You have heard me teach... Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” (2 Tim 2:2). If we want to see our churches growing healthily perhaps we need to take missional mentoring seriously.

Father help us to be strategic and effective in our discipleship.