No man reaches maturity alone. The men who grow deepest are the men who have been poured into by men a step ahead of them - and who pour into men a step behind. Mentorship is not optional for a man who wants to keep growing.
Why You Need a Mentor
There are seasons you have not yet walked and pitfalls you have not yet seen. A mentor is a man who has been where you are going and can speak into your life from experience. He saves you time, warns you of danger, and models the man you are becoming. Pride says you can figure it out alone; wisdom says find a man who has.
Scripture"Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm."
Proverbs 13:20
What a Mentor Gives You
- Experience - lessons learned the hard way, shared freely
- Perspective - seeing your situation from further down the road
- Correction - truth you might resist from anyone else
- Encouragement - reminding you who you are and where you are going
- A model - a life you can imitate, not just advice you can hear
Invest in Others
The MISSION Method includes Invest in Others for this reason. Every man should have someone investing in him, someone walking beside him, and someone he is investing in. The Investment Map names all three. Mentorship is the middle of that chain - receiving so you can give.
How to Find a Mentor
Do not wait for a mentor to offer. Ask. Identify a man whose life you respect - in your church, your work, or a community like Kingdom Men on Mission - and ask if he would meet with you periodically. Be specific about what you want and respectful of his time. Most men are honored to be asked.
Come Ready to Receive
A mentor invests best in a man who is hungry. Come with questions, not just complaints. Take notes. Do what he suggests and report back. A man who applies what he is given gets more invested in him. A man who only talks and never changes will lose his mentor's investment.
Become a Mentor
The moment you have received, you have something to give. You do not need to be finished to mentor a man a step behind you. Share what God is teaching you today. The chain of mentorship is meant to continue through you - that is Next Man Up in action.
Next Man Up
Mentorship is the bridge between your growth and multiplication. A man who is mentored and then mentors another fulfills the final principle of the MISSION Method. The question is not only 'who is mentoring me?' but 'who am I mentoring?'
Take the Next Step
- 1Name a man whose life you respect
- 2Ask him to meet with you regularly
- 3Come with questions and a teachable spirit
- 4Apply what you learn and report back
- 5Begin investing in a man a step behind you
Common Questions
What if I cannot find a mentor near me?+
Look in a broader community like Kingdom Men on Mission, where men connect across distance. Mentorship can happen by call as well as in person. The relationship matters more than the geography. Start by asking - you may be surprised who says yes.
When am I ready to mentor someone else?+
Sooner than you think. If you are a step ahead of another man in any area, you can help him. You mentor from what God is teaching you now, not from perfection. The only requirement is willingness to share your life and walk with someone.