I like to think I support my church’s youth ministry. After all, I chip in for seasonal fundraisers and celebrate milestones like graduations. That’s a start, but is it a true investment?
Committing to the youth in your church means getting to know the teens and praying for them individually. It also means modeling what it looks like to follow Jesus week in and week out. While teens are taught to live and share their faith in youth ministries, it’s helpful to have another consistent person in their life who can personally model a disciple-making life.
From my own observations as a former youth leader and someone invested in my church, I’d like to offer insights on what a mentoring program could look like.
The Goal of Mentorship
“Who needs mentors these days?” you might wonder, now that advice and how-to videos are readily available online. But no influencers can match the power of real-life relationships with people who walk with Christ.
Not everyone has the capacity or time to teach a high school Bible study or chaperone youth events. But adults of all ages can befriend members of the next generation, sharing their faith stories.
So how do you find mentors and connect them with students? And how does the work of mentors differ from your duties as a youth leader? The logistics of a mentoring program are less important than the outcome. The goal, as with all youth ministry programming, is to go full circle, making disciples who make more disciples.
To accomplish that, mentors from the general congregation actually have some advantages over youth leaders:
- One-on-one discussions in neutral sites offer youth undivided attention, making them less guarded.
- Thanks to mentors, teens see what faith and faithful living look like beyond church and school.
- Students hear about aspects of life that their youth leaders (and parents) haven’t yet experienced.
Because mentoring is a two-way relationship, adults benefit too. They’ll want to imitate [the] faith (Hebrews 13:7) of young people who are on fire for Jesus.
When mentors and teens pray, care, and share with one another, they’ll discover new approaches for doing the same for others. Teens who’ve learned Gospel Advancing methods such as Life in 6 Words can practice them with caring adults in low-pressure settings and learn from how their mentor has lived out evangelism in their life. Then mentors can use those techniques in their own circles.
Connecting Students to Mentors
For a mentoring program to work, students need to feel invested. When possible, involve teens in the selection process, letting them gravitate toward a mentor with a certain career or interest. Just don’t overlook the power of “random” matches, because God works wonders through unexpected relationships.
If you have more students than mentors, try a rotating schedule. And for teens who can’t or don’t participate, offer alternatives such as meetups with youth ministry volunteers.
To kick off the mentoring process, meet for a celebration or group meal. Or send several mentor-student pairs on the same outing to ease people’s nerves. Cafés, concerts, mini golf, tutoring, and school events all work well for mentor-mentee time, as long as conversations remain the focus.
Plan check-ins to keep the relationships productive. Suggest faith topics that mentors can address, and remind teens to be honest about their struggles, questions, and prayer needs.
Trustworthy Mentors for Youth
Strong Christian role models are reliable and steady by nature. They listen well and focus on others. Most importantly, they’re devoted to Jesus, want to keep growing in faith, and love sharing the Gospel with others.
Mentors don’t have to be church elders or longtime Sunday school teachers. Almost anyone with close ties to your church who attends worship consistently is a candidate.
Don’t rule out anyone as “mentor material” due to their age, occupation, or life stage. Young adults are ideal because they’re still familiar with adolescent challenges. Empty nesters and retirees have lots of life experience and (usually) free time.
Here are some ideas for identifying mentors: Consider members of the greeter or visitation teams, the missions committee, small groups, and prayer groups. Browse the church directory to find behind-the-scenes servants eager for a new adventure. In a short survey, ask congregants about their career fields, hobbies, service interests, and any knowledge or skills that might appeal to mentees.
The Kind of Mentors Who Stick Around
A “call for mentors” announcement likely won’t do the trick. You’re asking someone to take on a personal role, so ask in a personal way. Describe the role and why you think the person will excel in it. Assure mentor candidates you’ll support them along the way.
Youth group members make great recruiters, too, especially if they have a connection to a potential mentor. Ask your students to think of people within your church who they see living out their faith. (No matter the candidate, conduct a background check.)
To ease people into mentoring, let them shadow youth meetings or events. Encourage them to talk to current youth ministry volunteers and to pray about the decision.
Also be ready to address any concerns. If people are afraid of overcommitting, offer shorter periods of service, such as one semester. If people fear they won’t have all the answers, assure them that everyone’s learning together.
Although mentoring offers many benefits, the most powerful is how it models real-life discipleship. Why not give it a try this fall?
