Q: What is a Mentor?
A: I’ll give you an example from my own life.
Many years ago, I worked with a woman who would often come and talk with me during a slow day. At first, she would just talk about work and then through some simple questions, she talked about some things going on in her life as time allowed. She was curious and open to conversation that did not always align with her understanding of life. A few times, she asked to meet me for an early morning breakfast just to chat. We did, and we would have short conversations about her life, my life, and the differences. I had attended Grace College, and she said she always wondered about that place.
I left that job and later got married, and we moved far away. I did not see her or have communication with her for several years. One day, in our apartment in Colorado, I received a letter from her that had been forwarded to our address. When I got to the end of the letter, I had tears in my eyes. I told my husband, “She is now a Christian, and she is thanking me for the time and things I shared with her years ago!” I really could not believe it. I looked at the letter again in disbelief and just felt so grateful that God had put her in my life. He gave me the opportunity to listen to someone who was searching, talk about my story, and share a few thoughts at breakfast.
What a privilege. I was there, but the Holy Spirit did the work. That was a glimpse that has stuck with me. A glimpse of God using us as His vessel. It stuck with me that since the Holy Spirit can truly move someone, I just need to be open to offering kindness and a safe place to be heard.
Sometimes we might be a mentor without even realizing it.
So, to answer your question: A mentor is someone who listens to others and intentionally walks alongside them with compassion and stories from their own life and lessons learned. A mentor asks questions with curiosity and to understand rather than offer quick answers. To me, a Christian mentor reflects Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who guides with care, wisdom, and protection of His sheep. A shepherd walks ahead to show the safe path. A mentor offers their support, time, and heart, sharing their own journey to help others see and encourage growth.
One thing I currently do and have been doing is asking various education students out for an early breakfast or coffee. We meet super early, (at like 7 a.m.) so we have some time to talk. We talk about life for them at Grace and how they are doing both in classes and outside of classes. Many times, it can lead to stories from their lives from the past or current. I want to hear whatever they want to share. We can get into topics such as their best ways to study for tests to current and past relationships. It is a wonderful time to be with them in a casual atmosphere and no-pressure setting.
I want to allow some off-campus and uninterrupted time to just enjoy getting to listen to them. This may end up being a one-time out, or it can lead to meeting off and on through their time at Grace. Sometimes, they express their curiosity about me and my life. This is when I get to share about Jesus and all he has done. Our conversation might be as simple as “Do you like dogs?” To which I would say a resounding “Yes”! Or it could be more thought-provoking, such as “How would you handle this difficult relationship?” All of it matters; all of it is important.
Q: How do we see Jesus mentoring throughout his ministry?
A: Jesus mentored his disciples by allowing them to observe him with people and by sharing stories of His personal life. There is so much to the story of Jesus and how he walked alongside others, offering His full presence. He was their Shepherd and took great care of them. In John 10 it says, “He calls his sheep by name, puts the flock before himself, and offers ‘more and better life’ instead of destruction.”
In the story of the woman at the well in John 4, Jesus uses the drinking water to talk to the woman about “living water.” He offers her this living water saying, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” With this water metaphor, Jesus gently showed the woman a different way, a way of forgiveness and hope. By listening to her, he understood how to help her see his message.”
Q: Why is mentoring important in the academic, professional and spiritual worlds?
A: These can be difficult settings, and people can often feel inferior or not good enough. Offering compassion and kindness with encouraging words and actions demonstrates a desire to see others feel valued every day. Mark 12:30-31 talks about loving God and loving others. When someone knows they are loved and that they matter, they may feel safer, more confident, and deeply at peace. This would naturally allow that person to not only see strength in their abilities but to want to share their stories with others.
Q: How can a Grace student find a Christian mentor? What opportunities does a Grace student have to BE a mentor?
A: Finding a mentor may be as simple as asking someone to tell you their story. But often, it can happen naturally when they are willing to be honest and ask questions. And, they can be in prayer for God to bring someone into our lives who will “shepherd” like Jesus.
There are opportunities all around us to mentor. It may be toward your roommate, your friends, the person sitting behind you in class, a family member, a person you do not know. You can hear others anytime, and if you speak truth as you share your own stories of His grace and mercy, you can trust the Holy Spirit to do the work in their life.
I think it is important to recognize that a mentoring relationship is not necessarily, and not likely, to be lifelong. But it is a time when we can hopefully offer something that can point to the one who will always be there. Our relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit is forever. We know that we may never see a “result” or an impact on someone’s life unless the Lord allows. That is why it is so important to move with humility, love, and wisdom. The ultimate mentor is our Lord and Savior, Jesus! True change in someone’s heart is not because of us; it is because the Lord offered Himself through the Holy Spirit in us.
So What Does Mentoring Actually Look Like For You?
Life in a community with solid leaders and mentors can be transformative — both for those who choose to take opportunities to mentor those around them, and for those who receive the shepherding. Mentoring may be less about having all the answers and more about being willing to walk alongside someone long enough for them to discover hope, truth, and courage.
As Julie said, “Mentoring does not have to be difficult or complex. It does not need to be elaborate or decorated. And being sincere and unassuming is the gold standard of mentoring because it is treating others with honest, simple, and gentle kindness.”
So, take a look around you. Who needs to be encouraged in the truth? Come alongside them. Who has a solid relationship with God, who can pull you up even closer to Him? Be intentional about spending time with them.
Christian Mentoring really can be that simple.
To read more about how Grace raises up leaders to know Christ through college mentoring, click here.
