Two ideas for receiving Mentoring without ever meeting a mentor

Posted on June 24, 2016June 22, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Mentoring is a powerful tool in our life and it can help us grow in a number of areas. For some finding a mentor is a challenge. A few years ago I realized that there is a different type of mentoring available. I realized I could pull wisdom from people I have never met.

There are two tools I use to be mentored by people I have never met.

1) Books

We live in an incredible time where information is readily available. In my journey, I read books that are not just in my field of work but many outside of it. For example, reading a book from someone who is in a field that has crossover elements can be very helpful in your life.

Since 2010, I have increased my reading to about a book a month. I tend to read a lot on my kindle app now. I do this because I have no room on my physical book shelf anymore and I like the highlighting elements. I often take those and put them into my Evernote and it becomes searchable.

Check out books I have read this year here

I would also recommend your local library if you have one. These are hidden gems in our towns and cities that many do not take advantage of. My family started using the local library more to save money on buying books and space problems.

Books can be a great way to have a mentor without ever meeting with a mentor.

2) Podcast

When I started work in Ottawa I started listening more and more to a range of podcasts. As I would walk from here to there I would listen. At first, it was people from my field of work. Now I have increased the range of listening. I tend to favor leadership, business, and church related podcasts.

Podcasts and books need to serve as jumping off points. As you reflect upon what the authors are saying, allow that to stir thoughts about current situations and what you can and should apply.

On a side note, I started using the stitcher app which lets me listen to a range of podcasts all in one place.

Podcasts can be a great way to have a mentor without ever meeting with a mentor.

Mentoring is a powerful tool to help you grow and reach your goals. A physical person may not always be an option. Books and podcasts can be a good alternative as mentors instead of a physical mentor.

What great books have you read recently or podcast series do you follow?

In the last 5 years what books have been most influential to you?

It is in the Small Things– Making a difference

Posted on June 15, 2016June 14, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Small things have a way of growing into big things.

As I concluded one season of ministry and entered a new season, I realized I had a bigger impact than what I ever knew. There were moments in that old season I wondered, what am I doing? Are we making any impact? I have learned sometimes we are so close we cannot see the growth. I also learned again the power of stories.

There is much I have learned about life, God, ministry and myself from raising my kids. Much of parenting I am learning is the small steps and choices in the moment. The thing is, my kids continue to grow. My boys seem to eat like they have an endless pit inside of them some days. Sometimes it is like I look up and realized you have grown. They were growing the whole time, I was just too close to fully see or understand it. The same can happen in the ministries and when we are investing in others.

I have learned from my recent ministry experience that it really is the small choices and small things that have a way of growing into big things. I do not feel we did anything special in our time in Ottawa and we made our mistakes. We tried to follow Jesus and do the small stuff, be faithful to who he created us to be. We took risks and learned and saw the kingdom grow and be strengthened.

During the last few weeks, a number of people shared with us the impact we had on their life. Please, I am not sharing this to say look at me. I share this to say you never know the power of small steps over time. There is power in small faithful moments that lead to grand things. Perhaps not success as the world defines it, but lives are different, the kingdom has grown. For that, I can only say, praise Jesus.

The gospel has this way of starting small like a mustard seed that over time grows large enough for birds to nest. We cannot underestimate the daily grind and faithfulness of seed scattering and planting and watering.

Do not give up on the good works you are doing. Do not give up on the faithful small steps. Do not give up on the seeds being planted every week and not knowing what is happening. God is at work. God is with you. Keep your eyes on Christ the author and perfecter of our faith.

Small things have a way of growing into big things.

Perhaps God has placed an idea, a burden, for someone or group of people. Break it down into small steps and start taking one step at a time. Embrace every moment and look for Jesus there. Let him shape you and form you. Take a risk and small steps. Over time, small things have a way of growing into big things.

^“31He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³²Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”” Matthew13:31-32

5 Benefits of mentoring in the Church and life

Posted on May 20, 2016May 18, 2016 by Matthew Laker

Mentoring has had a big impact upon my life. I have had more informal mentoring than formal, but either way have appreciated those who have invested in me.

Together with the church community at Sunnyside Wesleyan Church in Ottawa, we wrestled on how to best produce systems of formal and informal mentoring/discipleship relationships. We saw mentoring as a way to walk with another person so as to support and encourage them in their faith. To put this into practice, we connected new believers with a mentor for one year as well as connected those who made steps of Baptism with a mentor. Some asked for a mentor to help work through a certain issue in their life. It was not without its challenges, but we have heard some great stories of people entering, engaging and experiencing the life God has called them to in a deeper way.

Each relationship had a start and end date and people on average met once a month. One of our challenges was we somehow combined the roles of life coaching, mentoring, and discipleship into one. Even with the challenges though, I still believe in the power of this type of mentoring.

No matter what you call it

I see five benefits of mentoring.

1. Reality check

This can be the biggest help we can give people when we invest in them. Helping people understand where they are at and where they need to go is foundational to mentorship/coaching/discipleship.

2. Talking it out is just good

I have seen this time and time again in my own life. As I talk through a situation with someone, it helps me process and bring a clarity of its own. Often the mentor does not even have to say much, just get the person talking and ask good questions.

3. Act like a Lighthouse

A mentor has the ability from life experience to help reveal things the mentee may not see at this point in their journey. The challenge is for the one being mentored to trust and evaluate the words of the mentor.

4. Investing in others, helps you grow.

Not everyone is ready to do full on mentoring, but everyone can invest in someone. As I have invested in others and watched others do it, I have seen that all individuals are challenged but they can always grow in faith and life.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

5. Great way to make disciples.

It may not be the most efficient or the fastest way of making disciples, however, when we look at the life of Jesus, he spent more time with 12, and even more time with 3 of that 12. I would be willing to bet some of the biggest impacts for the kingdom of God have come from smaller communities and one on ones. People spending time with people.

Do you want to experience the kingdom of God? Do you want to see the kingdom of God?

Then make time to invest in other people.

Jesus said “Teach them to obey the commands I have given.” One of the best ways I know of is one person leading and guiding another person. It is not going to happen fast and it is a journey.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Do you have any questions about mentorship?