Recruit and Train Mentors

Why Mentors Matter

When someone commits to following Jesus, the journey ahead can feel daunting. New believers often have questions, doubts, and practical challenges they need to navigate. A mentor provides companionship, wisdom, and encouragement during those crucial early months and years of faith.

Mentors play a crucial role in walking alongside those who commit to following Jesus. They should ideally be present during the introductory course, forming relationships early on so that when the course ends, there's already a foundation of trust and familiarity.

Qualities of a Good Mentor

Not everyone is suited to mentoring, and that's perfectly fine. When recruiting mentors, look for people who demonstrate these key qualities:

• A mature Christian — Someone who has walked with Jesus for a reasonable time and has navigated their own faith journey with honesty and integrity.
• A good listener — Mentoring is not about having all the answers or dominating conversations. The best mentors listen well, ask thoughtful questions, and create space for others to process and grow.
• Comfortable discussing faith — Mentors need to be able to talk naturally about prayer, Bible reading, church life, and what it means to follow Jesus without being preachy or overly formal.
• Non-judgmental and patient — New believers will have questions, doubts, and struggles. Mentors need to respond with grace, patience, and understanding rather than judgment.
• Not easily shocked — People come to faith from all kinds of backgrounds and life experiences. Mentors must be able to hear difficult stories without reacting with shock or discomfort.
• Familiar with church life — Mentors help new believers navigate the rhythms, language, and culture of church. They need to know enough about church life to explain things clearly and introduce newcomers to others.

Recruiting Mentors

The best mentors are often people who have already shown an interest in supporting others. Look for individuals who:

• Have been part of previous introductory courses as helpers or facilitators
• Naturally build relationships with newcomers at church
• Have expressed a desire to support new believers
• Demonstrate the qualities listed above

Approach potential mentors personally and prayerfully. Explain the role clearly, including the time commitment and expectations. Not everyone will be ready or able to take on mentoring, and that's fine. It's better to have a smaller number of committed, well-suited mentors than a larger group who feel pressured or unprepared.

Training Your Mentors

Before mentors begin working with new believers, provide them with training that covers:

• The purpose and goals of mentoring — What you're hoping to achieve through this relationship
• Practical expectations — How often to meet, where to meet, how to handle safeguarding, boundaries, and confidentiality
• How to build trust — Active listening, asking open questions, being present and engaged
• How to handle difficult conversations — What to do when someone shares struggles, doubts, or painful experiences
• When to refer on — Recognizing when someone needs professional support beyond what a mentor can provide
• Supporting faith formation — Practical ways to encourage prayer, Bible reading, and engagement with church life

Consider running a mentor training evening or workshop, and provide ongoing support through regular check-ins or gatherings where mentors can share experiences and pray for those they're supporting.

The Mentor–New Christian Relationship

Once a mentor is matched with a new believer, the relationship should follow a clear structure with realistic expectations on both sides:

What the Relationship Should Include

• Clear boundaries — Establish preferred contact methods (phone, text, email) and availability early on
• Deepening understanding of Jesus — Helping the new believer grow in their knowledge and love of Christ
• Guidance on faith and church life — Answering questions, explaining church practices, supporting spiritual habits
• Welcome and support — Ensuring the new believer feels genuinely welcomed and valued in the church community
• Introductions — Connecting the new believer with others in the church who share similar interests or life stage
• Encouragement to serve — Helping them discover their gifts and find meaningful ways to contribute based on their interests and abilities

Mentoring in Groups

Mentors don't always work one-to-one. In some cases, it may be appropriate for a mentor to support two or three new believers together as a small group. This can work well when:

• The new believers already know each other from the course
• They're at similar stages of faith
• The mentor has capacity for group facilitation

Group mentoring can foster peer support and reduce the pressure on individual mentors, but it requires good facilitation skills to ensure everyone feels heard.

The Follow-Up

After the initial three meetings, schedule a six-month follow-up with the new believer—either by phone or in person. This check-in ensures continued support and allows the mentor to assess how the person is settling into church life.

By this stage, pastoral care should ideally transition to a small group or house group where the new believer can find ongoing community and discipleship. The mentor's role becomes less intensive but remains available as needed.