Tip 1: What is Biblical Mentoring?
By Gary Brittain, 2024-12-24
As one of Ron’s mentors, let me answer that question. Throughout his ministry, Ron offered small groups with success depending on many factors – some of which were out of his control. He spent many years training student and adult leaders of the various ministries including Christian Medical & Dental Associations (cmda.org) and the Navigators (navigators.org). Most of the training and coaching of ministry leaders was offered by phone calls. He did offer Leadership Training in weekend retreats but much more was done by phone calls. We all believe that a face-to-face meeting is ideal but not always possible.
When launching Biblical Mentoring (BM) as a discipleship training ministry, Ron introduced a model that employs weekly 30-minute phone calls. Grounded in Ephesians 4’s call to equip the Saints (believers) for greater works of service, we can assume that includes the challenging work (privilege) of disciple-making. Isn’t that what Jesus commissioned us all to do – to GO and Make / train disciple-makers?
BM effectively addresses the four obstacles to discipleship identified by Barna in the article link below. These obstacles are the lack of: time, commitment, comfort, and awareness.
Key Distinctives of BiblicalMentoring.org (BM):
- Flexible Format for the Busy Person with Limited TIME: Unlike most discipleship small groups, BiblicalMentoring is highly adaptable and offered within personal networks and in confidence. It works with or without Zoom video calls, though we prefer non video one-to-one calls, especially with mentees (trainees) we know personally. We will often do the initial call with a Zoom video call to get introduced or re-introduced. A mentor’s mentor (coach) may assist in the initial call. The “success” of what we achieve does not depend on numbers. The phone training sessions (calls) can be achieved anywhere at anytime.
- Multiplication of Disciple-Makers in a way that encourages COMMITMENT: BM equips mentees to become disciple-makers. This is the true measure of effective training. Through role-swapping during training, participants gain the valuable and necessary confidence, skills, and experience to serve as disciple-makers. The mentor transitions to a coaching role, offering oversight, encouragement, and unity on a monthly basis. Training equips Saints (believers per Ephesians 4) for lifelong relational discipleship. Some of us will mentor / train multiple mentees. What we offer is conducive to what some call Vocational Discipleship Training.
- Relational Focus to offer COMFORT: BM emphasizes new or existing long-term relationships between mentors and mentees. The life-to-life in a one-to-one format gets more and more comfortable as trust is built over time. Out initial set of verses (Topical Memory System of the Navigators) requires 60 memory verses /weeks of mentoring / training sessions. BM is not reliant on the local church’s small group offerings, which often focuses on training of facilitators rather than disciple-makers. The goal seems to focus on what it takes to continue offering a group meeting to make disciples – NOT disciple-makers. We emphasize from beginning to end that the Holy Spirit is the teacher and both individuals are students (disciples in training). We emphasize also that no one can teach what they haven’t experienced personally.
- No Curriculum Dependency that requires extra reading and promotion for AWARENESS: Traditional small groups typically use curricula, often topical and limited in consistent Bible reading, interpretation, application, or memory work. BM, in contrast, fosters regular engagement with Scripture as God’s Word of Truth. Evangelistically, the Gospel is shared or reviewed weekly, helping believers to grow in their faith and for non-believers to understand Jesus as one’s Savior and Lord. Sanctification is a life-long process. Participants either want to learn the Bible or they do not – at that time. As a laymen-led ministry, there is no need to broadcast a meeting or event that requires time and effort to attend. There is no need to promote the value of a speaker or teacher or special curriculum to many potential attendees to hopefully get a few to attend. As life happens, many groups get smaller and smaller if commitment is not required. The BM mentor simply needs to recruit one person at a time, usually someone he or she already knows to build awareness of our training. Some mentees take more time to train which has promoted offering of about ten sets of Memory Verses.
Visit BiblicalMentoring.org to begin your journey toward becoming a disciple-making disciple.
Reference: 4 Barriers to Discipleship Community in Churches – Barna Group