What Is A Mentor? 
Why Do Church Planters Need Mentors?

Mentor, in Greek mythology, was an elderly friend of Odysseus.  He was charged by the king to watch over his son Telemachus and his place while he was fighting in the Trojan War. 

So "mentoring" has its roots in protecting, overseeing and training all of which are needed in a mentoring ministry to church planting leaders.  And of course there are a host of books written on mentoring, both for Christian and secular leaders.

At DCPI we use a very simple definition:

A mentor is someone who has been where you want to go and is willing to help you get there.

By this definition, we've all had mentors.  They may not have helped us in a formal way and they may not have even thought of themselves as mentors.  And perhaps, until now, we haven't even considered them mentors.  But upon reflection, these are the people who have helped us along the way.  We wouldn't be who we are or where we are apart from their help.  They've given of their time, wisdom and experience.  And in one way or another, they've helped us become the people we are today. 

Also, that definition raises an important question:  Do you personally need to have planted a church in order to mentor church planters?  The answer:  not necessarily.  While your credibility will be enhanced if you've been a church planter, there are notable examples of people who have never planted but have done great jobs in mentoring others in staring a dynamic church. 

Christian leaders around the world are rediscovering church planting.  Anyone who has a heart for reaching lost people finds that planting new churches is the most effective means to "make disciples of all nations," in all people groups.  And God is blessing church planting.  Many national church groups have retooled their purpose and mission and have launched an all out, do-or-die effort to proliferate church planting around the country and the world.  The Lord is rewarding their vision and sacrifice with dynamic, disciple-making churches!

But sometimes what is neglected in missions ongoing care for the church planting family.  Church planters are at great risk as they take their position at the front lines of spiritual conflict.  Certainly, we want to win a lost world to Christ and new churches are the best way to accomplish that goal.  But we also want to assure that there is compassion, encouragement and support for the soldiers who are marching forward to engage the enemy in battle.

Church planting families need and deserve quality mentoring.  Not just supervision and accountability and not just the coaching that focuses on developing greater ministry effectiveness.  Mentoring includes these things but has a broader view, a holistic look, at the care of the church planter family.

 For more information on Becoming a Mentor:  Vital to a Church Planter training.

A must read for every mentor and church planter The New Dynamic Church Planting Handbook!