Students can Mentor

By Doug Franklin August 16, 2010

I would love to see all students being mentored. I just think great things happen when a young believer spends time talking about important stuff with an older believer. I also think students can mentor. I think when students are spiritually mature they can be some of the best mentors for other students. These mentors are truly student leaders. The formula still stays the same; a older more mature believer pours their life into a younger believer. For student leaders to be successful long-term they need 3 types of mentoring relationships.

First, they have upward mentors that serve as wise, trusted counselors.  These individuals tend to be older, experienced leaders who have already been where emerging leaders have yet to go.

Second, successful leaders are themselves downward mentors to younger, less experienced leaders called protégés.  This mentoring relationship helps successful leaders become leaders of leaders.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, successful leaders have peer mentors.  The Bible explains this relationship clearly and concisely in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT). “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”