One of Thrive’s priorities is to enable healthy youth and children’s leaders. A key method of achieving this is through one-to-one mentoring. Each of the Thrive team are trained and committed to mentoring leaders. Thrive’s Children’s Ministry Adviser, Fiona Stutton, tells us more.
If you’ve ever been part of youth or children’s ministry, you know it can be a real privilege and full of joy, seeing those ‘wow!’ moments of recognising God at work. Yet it can also feel challenging and isolating, especially when trying to keep afloat as you get through the busy schedule of activities and the church’s calendar.
When people think of youth or children’s work, it’s easy to think it’s discipling and equipping children, but the leader needs support too. That’s where mentoring steps in and it truly makes a difference.
The Importance of Mentoring in youth and children’s ministry
By offering mentoring to leaders we support them during the tough aspects of life and ministry. Thrive provides an opportunity for them to take time out away from their place of ministry to reflect. Acting as a sounding board for leaders gives them a chance to share their experiences and to think through possible steps forward.
Mentoring builds relationships as we walk side by side with leaders, sharing stories, wisdom, and a lot of coffee! It helps them to stay grounded when things get rocky, finding hope when ministry feels overwhelming and cheering them on with the great things they are achieving.
Why do Thrive love to mentor leaders?
Here’s the reason: mentoring is when we pour our hearts into youth and children’s workers. We’re not just helping them, we are investing in everyone they’ll ever minister to. The ripple effect goes on and on, shaping churches, families, and whole communities. In a world that’s always changing, a mentor can be that steady anchor for a leader.
Key Elements of Effective Mentoring Relationships
So, what does great mentoring actually look like? Here are a few must-haves:
• Intentionality: Mentoring doesn’t just “happen”. It takes two people making a real effort—setting up regular times to meet and sticking to them.
• Vulnerability: To be open and honest. Personal mistakes and struggles are not easy, but it helps to use that as a way to learn and can lead to significant growth moving forwards.
• Spiritual Focus: To encourage leaders in their walk with God. The majority of Sundays are times of giving out rather than receiving, therefore ensuring leaders are on track with God is essential for them in their own faith journey as well as their ministry.
• Accountability: Giving them motivation, purpose and a goal to aspire towards.
• Personal growth: To help leaders enhance their gifts to grow in confidence and leadership skills.
• Vision casting: To provide space for leaders to discern God’s leading in what He has for their ministry.
Thrive meets with youth and children’s leaders across our area on a monthly basis, encouraging, supporting and inspiring them to make a difference.
Equipping a leader in a new role
I recently started mentoring a leader who was quite new to her post as a children’s worker. Although excited with possibilities, she faced the realistic challenge of not knowing which way forward to go and how she could make a difference that would grow the ministry. Mentoring gave her the chance to be open, sharing both the blessings she saw and the weaknesses she faced.
Through talking this all through, she was able to see the gaps in the ministry and discern direction for the best way forward for reaching families. Excitedly, she went away to share the steps with her team and put this plan into action. The following month there was a buzz of excitement as she shared how the goal was achieved and a couple of new families came to church. God is awesome!
This is what one of the youth and children’s workers I mentor in Coventry said when I asked her about our mentoring:
‘I really appreciate meeting regularly with Fiona to spend time reflecting on my work and also my life as a whole. She encourages me, challenges me, stretches me, laughs with me and commiserates with me as appropriate. I really value the way she encourages me to always be looking forward and building on past successes or learning from past mistakes. Fiona has helped me think more strategically about my time and how best to spend it. She has also given practical help and support with training for Sunday Club and Holiday Clubs. She is always ready with resources, ideas and suggestions when I’m stuck and lets me talk things through and bounce ideas off her in a safe space.’
Ruth Powell – Foleshill Baptist Church
That’s why we keep on nurturing and empowering the people who will invest and guide the next generation. Through mentoring, our leaders, they don’t just learn how to survive, they learn how to thrive!