Last month, I wrote about my vision of a church full of mentors. Each member of the church taking one or two others under their wings and mentoring (discipling) them into deeper walks of faith (discipleship). The question naturally arises, “Where do I find people to mentor?” The answer to that question is unique to each of us because each of us has different life situations and relationship groupings. But here are some simple suggestions for finding people to mentor.

First (and foremost) are your children and/or grandchildren. God created us to be in families where the passing along of the faith is a natural function instilled and encouraged. We teach our children to eat, sleep, walk and think. We pass along to our children our values and, yes, our beliefs. We model for our children (and grandchildren very often) what following Jesus looks like. We cannot and must not pass off this vital responsibility to others. Even the church cannot replace the mentoring and discipling of the parents and grandparents in the family. So the first place to look for people to mentor is your own family.

The next places to look come in no discernable order. Your neighbors, co-workers, fellow students, friends, children of friends, nieces and nephews (and other extended family members), and anyone God puts in your path. The key is to be looking. Ask God to show you whom He would like for you to mentor in the faith. Remember, you don’t have to have a seminary degree to do this! All you have to have is some mileage under your hood (metaphorically speaking); some time in walking with Jesus and the desire to share the wisdom God has given you.

There really is no substitute for this. So start praying and start looking for the people God has picked out for you to pour into their lives with the life-saving Good News of following Jesus!

Your Pastor,

Pastor Glen