A method for discipleship: Power in coaching-mentoring relationship

A method for discipleship: Power in coaching-mentoring relationship

Posted on by Matthew Laker

I have found the coaching-mentoring idea a great tool to help people grow in life and faith.

 

In my local setting coaching-mentoring has become a part of my ministry. I soon realized in leading a church I cannot do it all but need to train others to develop what has started. As I connected people with mentors/coaches it helped create an environment for them to grow in life and faith. There is power in the body of Christ.

 

Jesus said to teach them to “obey everything I have commanded”. Often we think this is just in large or small group classroom style settings. Jesus definitely had large teaching times, however, he spent more of his time with a few individuals. When we get to the book of Acts we often see the apostles taking people under their wing.

 

One may protest to me that mentoring and coaching are two different things. They are right, but, there are good principles in both systems that I have found useful in helping people fully enter into Christ-likeness and the life he calls them to.

 

I see the Coaching/mentoring as a relational experience through which one person journeys with another by sharing God-given resources. It is understood chiefly as coming alongside someone and offering them support, accountability, and a listening ear in any and all aspects of life. Each experience has clearly defined start and finish times. The goal is to help the other person fully enter, engage and experience the life they were created for.

 

There are many methods to go about the great commission. This is one that I continue to see fruit from and one that I see throughout history in one form or another. Often it is not fast or glamorous. It is often messy and not a special pill of wonders. It is often slow but gives an opportunity for people to put down strong roots.

 

Jesus said the harvest is ready but the workers are few.

 

What if you consider investing in just one person over the next year?

 

As we serve others we enter, engage and experience the life we were created for.

 

To be a follower of Jesus means we will invest in others. This investment will not be for our benefit but for theirs.

 

Check out this post for informal coaching-mentoring relationships tips.

Here are two books that may also help:

“Become a coaching leader” by Daniel Harkavy

“Christian coaching” by Gary r. Collins

5 Benefits of mentoring in the Church and life

5 Benefits of mentoring in the Church and life

Posted on by Matthew Laker

5 Benefits of mentoring in the Church and life bMentoring 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?