Why Mentorship Is Important: Lessons From the Influential MentorChikamu

Mentors Speak Truth

As I sat at the restaurant with Mr. Hunter, I knew that my mom had told him what I had done at the soccer game the week earlier. My competitive behavior had gotten the best of me. That, along with the words that I yelled, caused the referee to toss me out of the game. As I sat waiting for Mr. Hunter, I knew that I was in trouble. As Mr. Hunter looked at me and explained the truth to me, it was clear that I had let him down, but more importantly, I had let God down. As Mr. Hunter spoke truth to me that afternoon, it was clear that I wasn’t being condemned, but challenged to be a better person, to be the godly young man that Mr. Hunter knew I could and should be.

In John 1:46-51, Nathaniel asks Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathaniel is honest with his question and honest in his character, and we know that by what Jesus says to him when Philip brings him to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t reprimand Nathaniel for his bigotry. Jesus is patient, even saying that it’s Nathaniel’s honesty that He loves and respects. In being the mentor that God has called us to be, we must leave room for the mentee to express themselves honestly while they grow in Christ, but at the same time speak words of truth to them when they make a mistake. I believe that everything changed in Nathaniel’s life because of the response that Jesus gave him. Nathaniel got the opportunity to follow Jesus on an extraordinary journey during His three years of earthly ministry, finding out that the very best comes from Nazareth. As a mentor, we must be able to look past the now and see into the not yet, leading them during their immature phase into a life filled with the wonder of the presence and power of God.

As a seminary professor, Howard Hendricks would always hang around after his classes to allow students to ask him any questions that they may have. One day, a young Andy Stanley approached him to ask why he didn’t start a church. Hendricks told him that he can do more as a professor who pours into the lives of students than he could by starting his own church. Pastoring is an amazing way to serve and lead God’s people, but Hendricks was making it clear that he believed in the power of mentorship and the direct impact he could have in students’ lives. When we patiently and lovingly speak truth to our mentees, we are pouring the truth that Jesus has placed in us into the one that God has called us to mentor.