We search for the ideas to help our students grow and we want to know what can help them understand discipleship. The one-on-one encounter that everybody knows so well–and we want to see him or her grow in the Lord so badly–yet the more we try the more we find ourselves burning out. At least I did; and I know of a few more who did this, as well. However, we were so young in our ministries that we didn’t know the difference between pouring our lives into the students and pouring ministry into our volunteers and our youth leaders.
My pastor at the time and my continued mentor helped me to see the difference a youth pastor-lead youth group to a student-lead ministry. Mentors can and will help us through those rough times, and God has purposely placed these people in our lives to help us understand that we can see a change in our lives and that it is effective. Brother Mike (as we called him) once explained to me that if you are the only leader, it means everyone is following you. So this means you make every executive decision for the entire group. After awhile, you will find yourself burning out; and you don’t want to make these decisions anymore and you will eventually give up on the whole thing. So what he told me is to train and pour into leaders and have them lead your group. At first I didn’t want to do this…Well, my youth was a small group to begin with, so why would I bother to equip other leaders? Also I wanted to be the main focus of the teaching. I was lied to–by myself; I wanted the whole focus on me. So when I figured this out, I was almost burned out; and that is when I took his advice and decided to start something new.
Mentoring is not a new concept; just an old one that seems we have decided to go away from. Here are a few examples: One person told me the reason he got away from mentoring was the idea the kids don’t want and older person to relate to them. Another one says he won’t because the kids know what mentoring is, so he will call it something else if he chooses to use it. However, I want to explain to you that if we get away from mentoring, we are getting away from the very teachings of Jesus and what He did for His disciples. When He chose His disciples, some of them probably were teenagers themselves when he called them to follow Him. He mentored, discipled and helped them see what they needed for the future. With Peter, He built the church (
If we teach our students to face their problems (the right way), we are teaching them how to face the world correctly. When we run from our problems, we do not grow character. We are not teaching ourselves the lessons we are suppose to learn, and we run from them. We either are causing the problem we are facing to be prolonged or causing new ones on top of the ones we are experiencing. A good mentor program will show students how to face their problems, but also know we are not to do this alone. With a good mentor program, we can see the students who are being discipled go through the problems and go through them with ease. Remember, God will not have us go through anything we aren’t strong enough to handle. If we have someone to help us through them, they become that much easier. We always will have the Holy Spirit guide and direct us; hopefully we can hear Him and will listen. A good mentor is a good choice to have, as well. Listening to the Holy Spirit always will be best, but a good mentor is also helpful.
Develop a good mentor program in your church, and you will see your church unite; but you will also see good discipleship. Discipleship is the main purpose of the program. Growth–who wouldn’t want that in their youth group?
