Four Types Of Mentoring

As God is a relational being, so has He created us as relational beings. He did not create us to navigate life on our own and be self-dependent. As we grow by spending time with God vertically, He also provides others to help us grow in Him. Recognizing this importance in how we were created by God helps us understand not only do we need others to grow, but also others need us. Mentoring is the relational means where one shares their God-given resources to another thereby empowering them to grow and develop. Mentoring is relationally delivered and provides wisdom, information, experience, confidence, insight, relationships, status, plus more. It can range from intensive, to occasional, or passive. The more intensive the mentoring model

This summary is to help one know the different mentoring types and then use this knowledge in developing a balanced model of mentoring relationships for throughout a lifetime with a focus of finishing well. The Discipler mentoring type is probably the most familiar, and also the most intensive mentoring type out of the three intensive mentoring types being Discipler, Spiritual Guide, and Coach. It requires more intentional and specific interaction. Although this mentor type is usually for a new believer beginning their walk with Christ, it is also important for many older Christ followers for they as well have never been discipled. Over the last three decades, many people are suffering from lack of discipline and dysfunctional situations. Intense mentoring is needed since human nature resists change and new habits are difficult to develop. Additionally, the mentor needs to take a strong leadership role in the Discipler mentor type by noticing the need and initiating the relationship. Accountability is of high importance along with sensitive encouragement to the mentoree who will be learning to create new habits of personal

The sponsor provides the mentoree influential networks, links them to valuable resources, provides career guidance and development, and is the mentoree’s advocate to the organization. These things develop the mentoree and can accelerate their leadership formation. Organizations should always be looking for potential leaders and providing Sponsor mentors for retention and organizational improvement. In summary, “Sponsorship is a relational process in which a mentor having credibility and positional or spiritual authority within an organization or network relates to a mentoree not having those resources so as to enable development of the mentoree and the mentoree’s influence in the organization.” (Stanley and Clinton 124) Finally, the last type of mentoring is passive and is called Model mentoring. The model mentor can either be contemporary (currently living) or historical (ceased). Model mentoring is a great mentoring resource that is always available since the previous six mentoring types require various extents of availability from a mentor that may not be available. In this type of mentoring empowerment can take place when the mentoree follows through with all three dynamics of attraction, responsiveness, and accountability. Scripture provides us many examples of Model mentoring including