The Mentoring Process “Mentoring is a relational experience in which a mentor empowers a prot ©g © for ministry by sharing God-given resources in an intentional manner so that personal and leadership development is facilitated.”

The mentoring process is at the heart of Lincoln’s Internship Program. It involves the development of a relationship between the Field Mentor and the intern. The Field Mentor serves as the primary ministry model for the student during the internship. The student will learn from the mentor by observation as well as in more structured settings.

The Field Mentor is encouraged to read Stanley and Clinton’s book, Connecting, to get a more complete understanding of the mentoring process. See Training Resources for additional training aids.

Biblical Models Mentoring was a way of life for the people of the Bible. It was the primary means of passing on skills and wisdom from one generation to the next. Some Old Testament models are: Jethro and Moses (Ex. 18), Moses and Joshua (Deut. 31), Jonathan and David (I Sam. 18-20), and Elijah and Elisha (I Kings 19). Some New Testament models are: Jesus and the Twelve, Barnabas and Saul (Acts), Paul and Timothy (Acts 16; I & II Tim.), and Paul and Titus (II Cor. 7; Titus).

Five Crucial Dynamics Attraction – This is the beginning point of the mentoring process as the mentor and the intern are drawn to each other as they see the potential in the relationship. As this dynamic increases, trust and confidence will grow, increasing the value of the mentoring experience.

Relationship – The mentor and prot ©g © develop a relationship that extends beyond a mere communication of knowledge or development of skills.

Responsiveness – The prot ©g ©/intern must have an attitude of receptivity to the modeling and teaching of the mentor.

Accountability – Accountability is an important aspect of personal spiritual development for any Christian. It is particularly important for the intern as he/she develops personally, professionally, and relationally. By the nature of the program, the Field Mentor will take the lead in the accountability aspects of the relationship.

Empowerment – Empowering another person means to help them to recognize their potential within and to encourage the development of that potential.

Characteristics of an Effective Mentor

The Field Mentor should be an individual who is growing in his/her relationship with Jesus Christ and in his/her own area of ministry. As this growth occurs, the mentor will want to grow also in the area of mentoring. Section 7 provides resources on mentoring. Included in some of those materials are suggestions about effective mentors.

Stanley and Clinton (Connecting, p. 38) suggest these characteristics of an effective mentor:

Ability to readily see potential in a person Tolerance with mistakes, brashness, abrasiveness, and the like in order to see that potential develop Flexibility in responding to people and circumstances Patience, knowing that time and experience are needed for development Perspective, having vision and ability to see down the road and suggest the next steps that a mentoree needs Gifts and abilities that build up and encourage others

Howard and William Hendricks (As Iron Sharpens Iron, pp. 60-72) suggest the following characteristics for a mentor:

Seems to have what the mentoree personally needs Cultivates relationships Is willing to take a chance on the mentoree Is respected by other Christians Has a network of resources Is consulted by others Both talks and listens Is consistent in his/her lifestyle Is able to diagnose the mentoree’s needs Is concerned with the mentoree’s interests

Characteristics of a Successful Prot ©g © If the intern is going to grow during his/her experience on the field, then

A desire to serve God and to be used by Him in ministry Confidence that the mentor can help with his/her growth A sense of God’s leading in the entire internship placement process Willingness to make personal sacrifices in some areas in order to establish the mentoring relationship in the internship A servant-heart toward the mentor Respect for the mentor A teachable spirit Willingness to be held accountable by the mentor

The Mentoring Session The intern and the Field Mentor will meet weekly for approximately one hour in a formal mentoring session. The mentoring session should be utilized to assist the intern in personal and professional growth.

Each mentoring session should have a main focus (e.g. reporting a critical ministry incident or evaluating progress toward a particular goal), but it will also contain other aspects of an effective mentoring relationship. Some ingredients that may be utilized in the mentoring session are:

Active listening Planning strategy for a ministry objective ministry Skill training Discussion of character issues Evaluating conflict situations Sharing of personal prayer requests Celebration of “victories” experienced by the intern Use of effective questions to draw out personal concerns/needs Mutual encouragement for spiritual growth Confronting in love in areas needing growth Explanation of the “why” of a particular ministry action

Principles for Establishing the Mentoring Relationship Stanley and Clinton suggest “Ten Commandments of Mentoring” in Connecting (chapter 13):

1. Establish the relationship 2. Jointly agree on the purpose of the mentoring relationship 3. Determine the regularity of interaction 4. Determine the type of accountability 5. Set up communication mechanisms 6. Clarify the level of confidentiality 7. Set the life cycle of the relationship 8. Evaluate the relationship periodically 9. Modify expectations to fit the real life mentoring context 10. Bring closure to the mentoring experience

Some of these principles are determined by the nature of the internship, but others will need to be negotiated at the beginning of the internship experience.

Learning Tools (in a Mentoring Relationship)

There are many tools that may be utilized in the mentoring/supervising relationship that can assist in the intern’s growth. These may be used periodically to help structure a mentoring session and enable the intern to reflect upon a ministry experience in a more intentional manner.

Case Studies

A “case study” is a written description of an actual event in ministry (e.g. pastoral call, grief support situation). The case study report should be typed by the intern and be no more than two pages in length. The intern shares it with the mentor to provide a learning experience for the student through analysis by the mentor and/or a group of peers. The written case study includes:

Background Factual description of the event including forces influencing the event and persons involved, and how the student was involved in the process of ministry.

Description Describe what happened and what you did.

Analysis Identify the issues and relationships involved, analyzing the dynamics and changes.

Evaluation Were goals met in the interaction? What issues were left unresolved? What could have been done differently?

Significant Ministry Incident

The student may provide a report of one event in ministry that had special significance for him/her. The report will include a brief description of the event, but the major focus is upon the student’s reaction to and reflection upon the incident.

Journaling

A journal is a tool to be used by the intern for recording the various ministry activities of the student and the student’s reflection upon those activities. That reflection should include theological issues, emotional responses, and relational dynamics.

The journal entries will provide material for the mentor and student to evaluate together. It will give an opportunity to evaluate patterns of relating to others and provide insights for developing new methods for ministry. Some of the journal material may be shared only with the student’s Faculty Mentor.

Practical Ideas for Mentors

1. Share your life. Investment takes time and patience. Internships are most successful when the Field Mentor truly invests and open up his/her lives to the students. Give them a “piece of your mind” so they can see how and WHY you do your ministry or job.

2. Help them win and be successful. Protect them from situations and other people that might bring more discouragement than what the student can handle.

3. Give them opportunities to grow. Some responsibilities are easy to delegate. Others are more difficult because of training. Follow this plan to hand off responsibilities to your interns.

I do-You watch.

I do-You help.

You do-I help.

You do-I watch.

You do-I train someone else.

4. Challenge them to get out of their comfort zones. Stretch them. Internships provide the student with a more realistic view of the job or ministry he/she is planning to pursue. Internships help the students to decide whether to continue preparing for the occupation choice or to prepare for another job or ministry.

5. Provide them with honest feedback and constructive criticism. Do so with love. Each intern will be different in how he or she will receive the honesty. Get to know your intern. It will help you to provide the necessary feedback that your intern desires and needs.

6. Listen to their ideas. Even though often idealistic, student interns bring a fresh perspective to any church or organization. They may provide you and your organization many new and fresh ideas. Do not feel threatened by their energy and ideas. Feed off them. Encourage their perspectives. Help them balance their excitement with realism without dismissing their unique ideas.

7. Equip them with resources that will help them start well. You could possibly budget for practical resources that will help the intern to become better prepared for the ministry or job he/she will enter. What helps you (and others on your staff) do your ministry or job well? (These are only suggestions based on what Field Mentors have provide in the past.)

Give them a planner or Personal Digital Assistant (i.e. Palm Pilot).

Send them to a training seminar in your field of service.

Give them “must-have” books for the field of service they will be entering.

Provide them with some extra cash every once in a while just for fun.

Give them access to the files and information that help you be successful.

Provide a year’s subscription to a professional journal.

http://www.lccs.edu/internship/I-Intern%20Sites/03-Being%20a%20Mentor/Sites-Being-Resources.html