Leadership Journal

Nobody has time to mentor. In fact, conversations with Christian leaders reveal that the number one reason they don't take on a disciple or facilitate a mentoring program is that they simply have no time.

And yet, the leadership of Richland Bible Fellowship (a 1,500-member congregation in Dallas, Texas, a Palm Pilot mecca that heralds its Starbucks-infused 70-hour workweek) takes the time.

Here are three of their stories.

For more than fifteen years, Mark Engelthaler, executive pastor, has mentored one man per year, and now many of these men mentor others. Almost ten years ago, Mark's wife, Lesa, began a women's mentoring program. In 2004, senior pastor Bill Brewer launched a men's mentoring program. These stories show that mentoring can be adapted to fit your unique circumstances, and most important, that it's worth your time.

As full-time ministry leaders or committed volunteers, everyone feels the time crunch. Bill, Mark, and Lesa are no different. But Lesa points to something Dallas Theological Seminary professor Stan Toussaint, who was one of Richland's first pastors, once said: "Love is eternal. People are eternal. Therefore loving people is eternal."

Consider these stories and remember that mentoring is simply spending time loving people. Everybody has time for that.

Every Sunday Dan sat in the same pew with his family, but he also made it clear that he did not believe in Christ. Dan's academic background in science just didn't allow for the supernatural elements of Christianity.

One afternoon, I received a frantic phone call from Dan's wife, Anne. Dan was in the hospital with heart problems and wanted to talk to me. After intense conversation and much prayer, Dan made it through heart surgery, and during the process, he became a follower of Jesus.

A few weeks later, Dan asked, "Mark, I believe that Christ died on the cross for my sins, and yet I still have a lot of questions about God, creation, miracles, and so many other things. Will you meet with me so I can sort through these issues?"

"Of course!" I said.

Dan and I try to meet each week for an hour in my office. We began with the Navigator study Growing in Christ and added C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. The combination of the two books has spawned great conversation.

Usually God quietly nudges me to approach a potential mentoree, and yet, sometimes, he drops them right into my life.

My commitment to mentor came from a hurt in my life. As a young seminary student, I asked an older Christian man to mentor me, but he was too busy and turned me down. From that experience I prayed that the guys to whom the Lord led me would experience significant spiritual growth.

Often the men I ask to meet with me come from my natural circle of influence, such as the Bible study I'm leading or younger guys on staff with me. I ask them hard questions up front (Do you seriously desire a deeper and more committed walk with the Lord? Can you commit to a couple of hours a week?) to determine ...