Role: Mentor to Young Men

Lew Stone taught us about men’s role as “Mentors to Young Men,” the second in our 2024 series, “Godly Excellence in a Man’s Roles.”

He first defined a “Mentor” as a trusted counselor or guide, explaining that mentorship in the body of Christ represents an older, more experienced believer investing in the life of a younger believer to help that younger believer grow in Christ.  This process of mentorship is reflected in  1 Corinthians 11:1, where Paul says, “Be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.”

Lew explained how important it is for older believers to take the faith and knowledge they obtained in their walk with Christ, and share that with the next generation of men so they can grow in Christ.  

He talked about how Paul was a mentor to Timothy, and that Paul had to invest time in Timothy.  He explained further that mentorship does require an investment of time, but that investing that time in someone is a selfless act of love and can have an impact for His kingdom.      

He then discussed various practical aspects of mentorship.

• Potential mentors and young men should be praying for mentoring relationships.
• Being a mentor doesn’t require perfection. However, it does require the ability to say, like Paul, “imitate me as I imitate Christ” through a life that is obedient,  disciplined, and honoring to Christ.  (1 Timothy 4:12b).
• Potential mentors should be observant of opportunities to mentor, and seek to talk to younger men and show interest in their lives.   Young men as well should be available and engage in discussion with older men in order to foster potential mentoring relationships.
• Newer mentors should speak to experienced mentors for practical suggestions and to deal with any unique circumstances that may come up that they are unsure how to handle.
• A good way to begin a mentoring relationship is to get a cup of coffee together, which is a casual environment that is conducive to discussion.
• A mentoring relationship can use structure, by going through a book such as Donald Whitney’s book “Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life.”
• It is important for a mentoring relationship to go beyond superficial discussion, but include discussing struggles and seeking how best to pray for each other.