Mentor Training Program
I am so thrilled that you have chosen to work alongside The Lighthouse as we seek to minister to those who are struggling with addiction. The following guide is designed to make this a safe, productive, and fulfilling journey for you, for those you will be working with, and for The Lighthouse. I am a firm believer that mentoring is a lifelong endeavor and that no matter who you are, you should be in a mentor relationship. There is always something new that you can be learning as well as sharing with someone else (Titus 2).
Before we start, I wanted to review the mission of The Lighthouse to give you a good idea of where we are coming from. Our Mission: The Lighthouse exists to serve those who struggle with a life-altering issues. We provide discipleship (mentorship) and direction for families in crisis. By showing the love and compassion of Christ, we strive to minister to all within our limits with the transforming message of the Gospel.
With that being said, we want to ensure that we are doing what our mission states. This guide will lay the groundwork for an effective mentorship relationship. Finally, I want to turn to Scripture to give us a model of mentorship. There are several mentor relationships noted in Scripture. One that has always caught my attention is the relationship between Paul and Timothy. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul says, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” This is what we are doing today, entrusting you to teach others. It is a HUGE responsibility and one that I don’t want to take lightly.
Please feel free to ask any questions and seek guidance or direction as we seek to fulfill Christ’s commands to “go and make disciples of all nations.” Thank you again for your interest.
By His Grace Alone,
Brandon Bower
Program Outline
-
- Getting Started
- Fill out the Mentorship Application and work with our leadership team in becoming an approved mentor.
- The mentor program is mandatory for all residents of The Lighthouse “Life Recovery Home.”
- The mentor program is optional for their families or significant others.
- The staff of The Lighthouse will set up the mentorship pairings, which will be based on our assessment of each person, their needs, and the strengths of the mentor.
- The mentorship program is also offered to those in our community who need direction and support.
- The Lighthouse will provide as needed training for all mentors as well as personal direction when needed.
- The First Steps
- Take some time to pray about the mentorship process and for those you will be serving.
- Ask questions, and share about your life, your struggles, and why you have chosen to be a mentor. Set the tone for the relationship. Pry, but not too much! You just met; take time to get to know each other.
- The Next Meeting
- Discuss your vision for your time together.
- Make sure that prayer is a part of your time together.
- Continue to build the relationship.
- Mentoring – Discipleship
- Slow and steady. Don’t overwhelm your mentee; he/she has most likely never done anything like this before.
- Consistency, consistency, consistency! If possible, keep the same time each week, make sure you are on time, prayed up, and be ready to go! Your mentee needs stability and consistency!
- Work at a pace that is comfortable for your mentee. If you rush them, they will not learn what they need to learn, and if you move too slowly, they will get bored. There is no time limit!
- Model Christ; show your mentee what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ! Make sure prayer is a part of your time together.
- Give Homework
- Stick to the material.
- Don’t overwhelm your mentee.
- Review his/her work when you meet.
- Reporting
- Reporting helps us keep track of your needs and the progress of the mentee.
- Getting Started
Guidelines (Do’s and Do Not’s)
Part of mentoring is sharing your life, but we want to do this in a safe way. The following guidelines are designed to provide safety for mentors and mentees.
Do:
Introduce them to your family, church, or your circle of friends.
Be an example in word and deed.
Speak truth to them.
Call The Lighthouse staff if you sense anything is out of place.
Offer to pick them up for mentorship activities.
Pray for them.
Optional:
Bring them hygiene items or bring them snacks (they love homemade cookies).
Take them out to eat and pay for their meal.
Buy them a birthday/Christmas gift ($10-$20).
Give them a book or something to help them with their recovery journey.
Do Not:
Bring them into your home.
Give them money.
Lend them your vehicle.
Enable their faulty behavior.
Lie to them.
Have a conversation with them if they are using.
Give them a ride (other than for mentorship purposes).
Your Role as a Mentor
- Be an example of Christ’s love and compassion
- Be available
- Listen actively
- Bring them before the Lord in prayer
- Build confidence
- Be a role model
- Coach
- Share your experiences
- Encourage professionalism
- Maintain weekly contact
- Encourage open communication
- Help problem solve
- Facilitate career planning
- Encourage networking
- Inspire introspection
- Facilitate goal setting
- Maintain confidentiality
- Provide insight
- Offer feedback
- Report monthly
Benefits of Being a Mentor
- Obedience to Christ’s commands
- Leaving a legacy of hope and healing
- Satisfaction of helping others grow and mature
- Eternal rewards
- Personal fulfillment
- Developing new friendships
- Continued learning
Privacy Policy
While it is expected, and even encouraged, that you share with others outside the mentorship relationship about what God is doing in the mentorship process, it is also expected that specific information about your mentee or other participants will NOT be shared with others. A violation of this confidentiality may result in dismissal from the mentorship program.
Here is what you can share:
– Their first name
– That you are working with individuals in The Lighthouse program
– Growth
– Ways you are growing through this outreach
– How God is working in your mentee
– Keep discussion generic
– Opportunities for others to get involved
Here are some items you may not share:
– Personal Information
– Full Name
– Contact Information
– Sensitive information
– Something discussed in confidence
– Information about their addiction
– Knowledge of past abuse
– Information about their past
– Anything that might be embarrassing
Here is what you must share (with The Lighthouse Staff):
– Sexual abuse committed to or by the mentee
– Plans to commit a crime.
– Any current or planned drug / alcohol use
– Any drug / alcohol use in the Life Recovery Home
– Any suicidal thoughts or actions
Finally, all mentors must support our Statement of Faith and agree to stay faithful to these teachings. We do understand that our faith community is very diverse; however, by following this statement we can ensure that consistency is taught as to not confuse those we serve.
Statement of Faith:
- We believe in the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired by God, and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:21
- We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26-27; Hebrews 1:8; Psalm 110:1
- We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary and is true God and true Man. Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:31-35; John 1:1, 14
- We believe that man was created in the image of God–that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also a sinful nature. Romans 3:23;Romans 5:12;Genesis 1:27,31;Genesis 3:6-24;Psalm 51:5;Isaiah 53:6;Ephesians 2:3
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood. Romans 4:25;1 Corinthians 15:3;2 Corinthians 5:21;1 Peter 2:24
- We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there as High Priest and Advocate for us. 1 Corinthians 15:4;Hebrews 4:14;1 John 2:1
- We believe in “that blessed hope,” the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
- We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God. John 1:12;Acts 20:21
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost. John 5:28-29