In the past several years there has been a perceptible shift in the approach of many organizations working with the church in China. The shift is from training large numbers of leaders in a relatively short period of time to mentoring a few leaders over a longer period of time.
In this podcast, we hear from three seasoned speakers in this area as they discuss what mentoring looks like in China ministries, and the implications of mentoring in a Chinese context.
In a recent ChinaSource Quarterly article entitled, "Five Profound Mentoring Needs in China," Eric Lee notes that the most common requests from Chinese church leaders during the past three decades have been for Bibles, spiritual literature, and training. Now, however, they are asking for cross-cultural missionary training and mentoring.
Learning and insights from a recent consultation for mentors and coaches are reported in this article. It delves into many aspects of mentoring, coaching, and spiritual formation including the value of both older mentors and peer mentors. It also provides helpful suggestions for finding a mentor and a mentee.
The author shares from her experience as a mentor giving us glimpses of three different women she has shared her life with, and how her interactions with each of them have brought about changes in their lives. She closes with a summary of what being a mentor has required of her.
Rose and Hunter look at characteristics of churches and businesses that indicate their need for coaching and go on to explain what coaching entails. Rose describes how she has put coaching into practice in the ministries she is involved with at her church and acknowledges the blessings this has brought to the church body.
Lee identifies five areas where Chinese leaders need mentoring due to a lack of positive influences in their lives. He examines each of these areas and shows how mentoring can fill the voids left by unfulfilling or nonexistent relationships.
Mentor: “A good teacher and valuable friend.” With this definition, the author shares how three mentors have made an impact in her life and testifies to the reality, omnipotence, compassion, and greatness of her Heavenly Father.
The guest editor's point of view...
The following resources were recommended by WWL participants as helpful in coaching, mentoring and spiritual formation.
Those who have mentored share some of their insights and discuss the needs of Chinese leaders that would benefit from mentoring. The role of foreign Christians in mentoring is addressed along with a look at how Jesus mentored other. Mentoring resources are suggested.
What does it mean to serve and to mentor? What are the crucial elements of each?