MENTORS

Once you are in a ministry position and tracking your experience requirements, you will need mentoring and accountability as you learn the practical aspects of ministry in leading a healthy church. If your District does not appoint a spiritual/pastoral mentor or mentoring committee for you, you should seek a mentor involved in a healthy church. It would be best if you could acquire a group of three persons who would meet with you at least once every three months, and at least one of whom would make phone contact with you at least twice monthly. It would be most helpful for you if at least one of the persons was a member of the District Board of Ministry who would understand the issues of development and formation under consideration at this stage of your ministry preparation. 

You should discuss with your mentor or mentoring committee issues of spirituality, spiritual development, transitioning from the idealism of education to the realism of ministry practice, establishing and pursuing a program of lifelong learning, and other matters related to your formation as a minister of the gospel. One arena of development that is sometimes overlooked is that of developing a personal financial stewardship plan. This not only involves practicing the habit of tithing but also creating a plan to address any consumer or educational debt as well as take responsible action in planning for retirement. 

Learn all you can from conversation with your mentor or mentoring committee during this stage of your development as a minister. Invite the members of your mentoring committee to visit you unannounced at the church where you are serving, during both service and non-service times. Develop a covenantal foundation for feedback, accountability, and evaluation with them. They can be your best advocates in becoming the minister God has called you to be.