The #iMentor Initiative was started to honor the investment of mentors all over the world, and to encourage potential mentors to take the initiative in starting an intentional relationship with a college student today.

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Why I Mentor…

I love doing life and ministry with young adult women. More often than not, these young women teach me and pour into my life with their fresh perspectives. Here are three lesson’s I’ve learned from spending time with my “slightly” younger girlfriends that I mentor.

This younger generation of Christians see God as a person to communicate and engage with in real, tangible ways. My younger friends often talk about God as if they were conversing with Him from across the coffee table. She worships Him with unashamed passion. She talks about God in ways that make others want to know Him. This encourages me and challenges me to step it up in my own faith. It encourages me to get out of my comfort zone and communicate with God more passionately––to not be afraid to jump into unabashed worship and communication with my Lord.

Authenticity is mandatory in relating with young adults. If we are not real and raw about our own life, they will tune out immediately. I think the young adult women I mentor respect me more because of my imperfections. When we share our “life junk” they are more free to open up and share theirs. It is only when we both get real that true life changing transformation occurs.  This generation faces tough stuff in the real world and I don’t think there is anything that makes my young girlfriends blush. But this is a good thing in that through their sharing I’ve learned not to make snap judgements when I hear a not so pretty story of someone’s struggles. Life can get ugly and authenticity opens the door to valuable ministry and sharing Christ.

Finally, I’ve learned that just because they are young and less experienced in life, young adults have legitimate and valid opinions. When my friends share their thoughts with me, more often than not, they change my opinion on the subject. We cannot discount these rich ideas and opinions coming from our young adults. Where we come in is to cultivate their ideas and pray them through the grand plans in which our mentees concoct. I am grateful for those mentors of mine who have encouraged my ideas but also kept me from jumping in feet first. Our young adult women in the Church will bring a sense of fresh excitement to the table that will invigorate and renew our ministries if we make an effort to bring them in and raise them up as leaders. This starts with taking them under our wings through mentoring relationships.

That’s why #iMentor >> Do you?

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Mentors are ordinary people who avail themselves to being used by God — in the life of another — in extraordinary ways. Check out the #iMentor page and consider how God might want to intentionally use you in the life of another. I bet you’ve got a story to share! And if you’re looking for a resource to help you in this important work, consider my new book: Shaping Their Future: Mentoring Students Through Their Formative College Years.