A Christian mentor is someone you can trust to walk alongside you and lead you forward in your discipleship journey. She leads by example, striving to apply God’s Word to her own life before she ever asks you to apply it to yours.

Merriam-Webster defines a mentor as a trusted counselor or guide — and that’s exactly what a Christian mentor is, too: a trusted counselor or guide, rooted in faith.

So, what is a Christian mentor, practically speaking? She’s a woman a little further along in her walk with God who invests her time in helping you grow — through godly example, honest conversation, and the kind of Christian mentorship that shows up in the everyday moments of life.

When I was a young woman in my twenties, Christian mentorship with any kind of systematic plan for spiritual growth wasn’t really “a thing” yet. I knew, though, that I needed guidance and help learning how to read and study the Bible and grow into a woman of God.

You can read more about my story HERE.

A Christian Mentor is Someone You Can Trust

If you’re drawn to women who gossip, that’s not where you’ll find a Christian mentor. A woman suited for Christian mentorship speaks to and about others with respect, even when she disagrees with their beliefs or ideas.

She’ll listen when you speak — really listen — with a gift of wisdom and understanding, then respond from a place of honesty and truth that lines up with the Word of God.

You can trust that she’s walked through life’s challenges herself and has wise counsel to offer as she guides you to know, live, and share God’s Word. That’s the heart of Christian mentorship: trust that’s been tested by time.

A Christian Mentor is a Leader

Christian mentors come with all kinds of personalities — quiet and reserved, bold and outspoken, formal or informal in how they lead. But one thing tends to stand out: she has “that thing” you find yourself wanting, too.

This woman leads by her own example — grace, wisdom, and respect for herself and others woven into how she lives.

She may be someone you admire, someone who walks through life’s challenges with a quiet, peaceful confidence that only comes from real Christian mentorship over the years.

Who is a Christian Mentor?

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commissions His followers to go and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to carefully follow everything He commanded — promising to remain with them until the end of the age.

All Christians are called to go and make disciples and to demonstrate what it means to be a Christ follower.

A Christian mentor is a resource for wise counsel, but she always points back to God’s Word as the ultimate source of wisdom — that’s what sets true Christian mentorship apart from simple friendship or advice-giving.

A Christian mentor can take many forms: a pastor, teacher, church leader, or Christian counselor — anyone equipped to walk alongside you in your faith.

Why is Biblical Mentoring Important?

The message of the gospel is simple, though never shallow: God loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son as payment for our sin. All who believe in Him will be saved. Following Jesus starts with saying “yes” to His authority as the Son of God — then simply following Him.

When the writer John first encountered Jesus, he began to follow along behind Him. Jesus then invited John to “come and see” — inviting him into relationship, into discipleship, one step at a time. From that first invitation, John grew in faith and went on to become a world-changer, one of the writers of the New Testament.

For any new believer, the first step of growth is simply taking that next step forward in the discipleship process — which is exactly where Christian mentorship comes in.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight. Be willing to invest your time and effort in the process of discipleship. Think about purchasing a daily devotional book. Having a guided reading plan helps set up your discipleship practices and habits. FaithGateway.com or DailyGraceandCo.com are great places for resources.

Just like a baby first learns to talk by imitating sounds, your discipleship journey often begins by watching — imitating the way other Christian women speak, their mannerisms, their actions and reactions.

We all learn by observation, so as you watch other Christian women’s behavior and speech, you’ll find yourself asking better questions. Better questions lead to deeper conversations, and those conversations are what stretch you, reshape your mindset, and grow you into a more mature woman of God.

Eventually, you’ll be the one leading and guiding other women — a wise counselor for someone else’s journey, offering the same kind of Christian mentorship that was once given to you. You, too, will go and make disciples.

The discipleship process takes time, intentionality, and trust.

Ask Someone You Trust to be Your Mentor

Asking another woman to be your Christian mentor gives you a trusted guide who will lead you forward in your discipleship journey.

Consider the Christian women already in your life: What are three things you observe about the way they approach life? Are any of these observations ideas you’d like to apply to your own life? If so, reach out to that woman and ask her for coffee or tea so you can ask her to teach you — that’s often how Christian mentorship starts, with a simple invitation.

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