Anyone can say they are apostolic or prophetic mentor in the crazy days “of-everyone-is-called-to-do-everything” times in which we live.
Sometimes, however, we need to recognize when mentorship and access to it is a rare gift and a treasure. Can you tell the difference?
Making this statement is not intended to venerate any leader or to position someone for a money-grab. Rather, it is a cry to not make opportunities of up-close and personal mentorship common and unbelievably familiar.
Doing so wastes the time of the mentor and yours as well.
Before moving further, this part must be settled in our hearts and hearing.
Identifying Uncommon Mentors
Within our varying environments and spheres, the Lord has placed some UNCOMMON mentors in our paths. They are not uncommon simply because of the skill set or the resources they bring to the table for our benefit. They are uncommon because of what they can “pull out of us and shape” while carving out places for us to dwell within their lives.
It should mean something to the mentee to have this kind of access when it presents itself. (Read my book, “Apostolic Mentorship: Critical Tools To Help Artisans Identify Their God Ordained Mentor)
Let take a closer look at this.
Mentoring relationships in apostolic/prophetic communities and other denominations are often transactional in this day and time. Some people are not interested in non-transactional relationships; and nor are all mentors able to connect personally with everyone who wants deeper connection.
It is perfectly okay to have mentoring relationships like this.
However, when we have access to more intimate relationships – meaning “those mentors who are willing to share life with us for the purpose of transformation”, a different posture is required. This moves us beyond transaction to hands-on efforts.
1 Thess 2:8 NIV says, “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”
I love this passage. It causes me to recognize the beauty of Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians. In fact, read 1 Thess 1:1-8 to see the depth of those relationships.
From this, mentees can learn to be as attentive to the guidance of the mentor as they would like the mentor to be with their responsiveness to their place of need.
Honoring Uncommon Mentors
For me, rare gifts rest between “people who have overcome insurmountable obstacles to achieve tremendous success” in the areas where I need wisdom and those who “willingly make room for me in their lives” so that I can learn from the wisdom and lessons they release.
Rare gifts do not simply have what you want! They also have what you need, and a tremendous heart for you. That is critical to identifying them as rare and uncommon.
In the last 12 years of my life, I have had the opportunity to sit at the feet of three apostolic giants in the faith. I can earnestly say I did my best to grab hold of each of those opportunities because I knew they were special gifts from God in my life and uncommon. Check out the article, “Wi-Fi & Intimate Apostolic Mentorship”
One has gone to be with the Lord. Two are still very present. I can pick up the phone and call anytime. There are many people WHO CANNOT DO THAT with those who mentor them.
It is an honor and a privilege to have them MAKE ROOM for me in their extraordinary lives.
As apostolic and prophetic people, we should be able to discern such rarity, respect it and honor it within the capacity in which we are able.
How do we do that?
First, we make sure familiarity has no place in us. If it does, EVICT IT. Familiarity happens when we become so acquainted with someone that we misinterpret necessary boundaries that distinguish the mentor from mentee, teacher from student.
Mentors cannot really work with people who do not respect their boundaries for leading, guidance.
Learn To Honor Boundaries
When Jesus walked the earth, the apostles always met him as their teacher, mentor, etc. Those Paul led met him as their teacher, mentor, etc.
Mutuality was at the center. But it was the kind of mutuality that allows the mentor to maintain their role in teaching, correcting, aligning, advising and affirming roles in the lives of those they led. It also sets boundaries around “how mentoring” takes place. Check out the article, “The Significance of Training & Mentorship”
Remember, every mentor has a responsibility to structure the culture of mentorship around them. That includes respecting and honoring other relationships in the mentor’s life – holding them in their proper place.
Without those boundaries, tremendous conflicts of interest can occur and relationships can be critically damaged or destroyed on cascading levels. (I’m writing about this in my upcoming book, The Culture of Apostolic Mentorship.)
Secondly, mentees should never want to waste a mentor’s time. Mentees should practice maximizing every opportunity for fellowship and learning made available within reason. In my relationship with my mentor, I invest in all the mentors materials, teachings, articles, etc. that are publicly made available to me. I learned that this saves time in mentorship and helps maximize my learning.
If the mentee can spend time with their mentor in group or individual settings, make room for it. That incudes adjusting one’s life selflessly to fit those opportunities, access available resources, and make the most of the mentor’s time while it is available.
Implement What You Learn
Finally, practice implementing what you have been taught once understanding comes. Intimate mentorship produces mentees who can walk out the foundations poured into them. They grow to build profoundly on those foundations without hesitation, competition, or comparison.
When you leave the presence of rare mentors, you should do so FULL, CHALLENGED and on the brink of change.
We are living in strange and dark times as it relates to the systems of this world. As such, we must learn to make the most of the time we have with the “rarities in life.”
Life is changing so quickly that the access we have today may be gone tomorrow. I want you to live with no regrets. We can recover a lot of things, but often time – in this sense – is not one of them.
Remember, rare mentors are uncommon, hard to find in many of our spheres.
Seasons, when they come, do not last forever. Make the most of the season you are in.
Opportunities are often temporary – even with the best laid plans and intentions simply because of the curves, changes life throw our way.
Do not miss your day of visitation by failing to maximize the rare mentors in your life. (Like my page, Apostolic Mentorship, on Facebook)
