Mentoring Our church offers a Bible study each summer. One that is much less stressful and lower key than what we offer during the year. We do it because we recognize that many women in our church simply cannot commit to our structured studies that are offered in the fall and spring. They usually run six weeks, and we have a different one of our very gifted teachers present the lesson, then we break out into smaller groups. This year’s study was on Rest. I was assigned a group that had an interesting range of spiritual maturity. A couple of the women are very well grounded, some obviously not.
While sitting there, I strongly felt the Holy Spirit leading me to seek out a mentoring relationship with one of the younger ladies present. I don’t know what it was that drew me to her, but I knew I needed to talk to her. Sue (name changed for her privacy) and I met for tea shortly after the study ended. She just about jumped when I asked, after we talked for quite a while, if she were interested in being mentored by me. I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do, but her response made it apparent that this was orchestrated by God.
I am not going to give enough details that Sue would be recognizable, as I mention above this is a pseudonym to protect her. She is dealing with a lot of trauma; I want to protect her from that and honor our relationship as well. She meets with one of the men in our church, who, when I spoke with him about this, told me she really needed a woman’s perspective on a lot of the issues she is dealing with. So, he is happy I’m meeting with her. I have also sought the blessing of our pastor. I certainly did not want to enter this relationship without their knowledge/approval.
We have started with Melissa B. Kruger’s book Growing Together, Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests, published by Crossway. It’s been a great experience – the way things have been exactly what Sue needed, and dovetailing with not only our Discipleship Hour, but the weekly study we are both in on Ephesians, and even often our pastor’s messages. They have all combined to reveal an area that Sue has been struggling with that particular week.
We’ve taken a few weeks off for the holidays and hope to resume next week. We have about three weeks left in this book. The next one we are going to tackle is one recommended by our pastor – Jen Wilkin’s None Like Him subtitled 10 Ways God is Different From Us – and That’s a Good Thing! It’s published by Crossway as well. What I have learned through this is that you learn as much, if not more, when serving as a mentor and teacher.
The blessings I have reaped have been immeasurable. Sue know she can call me with any issues, and she has. I’ve prayed with her and I have seen her grow. I look forward to much more of that in the months to come!
Post Script.
Sadly, while this was sitting in draft mode, Sue relapsed. She went into rehab but did not do well coming out and has stopped all mentoring, along with withdrawing her membership at church. When I spoke with our pastor, he said she made it clear not to contact her. So, she is now on her own. I pray that the Lord will continue his work in her and draw her, once again, to him. It was a good opportunity, and I hope that I will have another one like it.
