Did you realize the Church was designed to provide mentors for us all? In Titus 2:3-5, Paul discusses the idea of older women teaching the younger women. (There are similar passages for men.) God knows sometimes we need someone more experienced than us to figure out what God’s Words look like lived out in every day experiences. He also knows there are some secular topics like nursing, that are easier for us if we have someone answering our questions.
Of course today, we often think we are too smart to need mentors. After all, isn’t that the function of Google? The problem is Google can’t hold your hand or give you a hug when you are upset. Google won’t actively listen to your concerns. Google doesn’t filter its “advice” for whether or not it is godly. Only fellow Christians can help us with those things.
Young people in their teens and twenties for a variety of reasons have often been left on their own to figure things out by themselves or with peers since they can remember. The idea of asking an older person to mentor them or even thinking someone older will really listen and then give something worthwhile to help is foreign to many of them.
That’s why I was intrigued when given the chance to review Face to Face: Discover How Mentoring Can Change Your Life by Jayme Hull and Laura Captari. Face to face walks young women through the concept of mentoring. The author breaks mentoring into five basic concepts to each of which she devotes a section of the book. Hull begins with making the case for the need for having a mentor and then covers how to find one, how to develop your relationship with a mentor, how to be authentic and finally how to become a mentor yourself.
The book is obviously skewed to younger women, I would imagine in their twenty’s to early thirty’s – although much of what she says could also apply to older teen girls. While I understand her focus on those ages, I wish the book had addressed the fact that all Christians need mentors in their life – and they aren’t always older than you.
She does a great job of weaving her personal story in with some scripture and quotes from others. Through her personal stories it is easier for the reader to picture what a healthy mentoring relationship can and can’t provide for you. Each chapter has thought questions at the end, so the book could be used for some sort of group study. I believe if you want it to be a Bible study though, you would want to add more scriptures to the mix. She does quote scriptures (thankfully words and references in one place), but it’s not enough for a true Bible study.
The advice she gives is basically solid. I especially loved the end of the book when she paints a beautiful picture of Christian women supporting each other and helping each other grow spiritually rather than gossiping and competing with each other. I think it’s a message we could all stand to hear more often.
This is a great book if you’ve ever wondered what mentoring is all about or honestly if you have ever considered mentoring someone else. While it’s primarily written for the mentee, the explanations are clear enough that a potential mentor could also learn what they need to do to be a successful godly mentor. It’s one I plan to keep in my reference library.
This book was given to me for free in exchange for my honest review. An affiliate link is included for your convenience. (Please note: I could only find this as an audiobook on Amazon, but Christian Book Distributers may have the regular book.)