Extending a Helping Hand By Becoming a Mentor

Are you an avid Bible reader?  What do you do with the information written therein?  After you ingest what you’ve read, do you find ways to apply it?  Were you really able to learn the lessons that you thought God expected you to?  And finally, can you evaluate the effectiveness of your learning experience?

IF YOU WOULD PERMIT ME, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU EVALUATE YOUR EFFECTIVENESS OF BIBLICAL CONCEPTS.  FIRST, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING 3 QUESTIONS

• Can you identify a set goal you harbor based on your biblical learning experience?
• What bible stories can you mimic in your daily life to show that you understand the godly principles that Jesus Christ displayed or shared?
• How will others be encouraged and transformed by your actions and recognize that it is not you, per se, but the godly attributes in you?

TO TEST OR NOT TO TEST, THAT IS THE QUESTION

How many of you would be willing to take a personal growth and assessment test to see how your biblical knowledge and your expectations measures up to the goals our Creator would be pleased with.

A LAYMAN’S CREDENTIALS

Some year ago, I was asked to design a self-assessment covenant booklet for a female organization at my church.  This women’s auxiliary was not required to be ordained participants, but they did have the awesome responsibility to shepherd and nurture the  female population of the flock that sort them out.

Basically, our Senior Pastor wanted to acquaint himself with the level of dedication and preparedness of the women who were seeking assignments in this role of responsibility.

A CONVERSATION WITH GOD ON HOW TO BECOME A BIBLICAL MUSE

After much prayer and fasting before the Lord, the Holy Spirit meticulously and painstakingly began to communicate with me how laborers in His vineyard could self-evaluate their commitment to keeping their covenant vows to Him.  I tried in vain to reason with the Spirit that I was just a layperson with no formal credentials to take on such a sacred task, but He wouldn’t listen.

So, because the creation of my assessment booklet was so well received not only by the Pastor, but by the participants as well, I have decided to dust it off and present it to my blog readers as well.  (By the way, I would love to receive your comments on the effectiveness of your test results.  So please respond in the comment section below the blog.  Thanks)

LET’S GET STARTED

There are six categories of a servant’s life that can be measured to ‘somewhat degree’ to give an idea as to how one measures up as a true (work in progress) soldier and willing vessel in the service of the Lord.  See if you agree with me by taking the evaluation survey below:

Instructions:  Place an “X” under the appropriate frequency on right for each bullet point.  Instructions provided on tallying the “X”s at the end of article.                            

PARTICIPATION IN                                                             PERSONAL GROWTH                                                           DEVELOPMENT

R  E  G   U  L   A   R   L   Y

S   O   M   E   T   I   M   E   S

S   E   L   D   O   M   E

N  E  V  E   R

Those seeking to mentor others should attempt to acquire more than a casual knowledge of God’s Word by studying and attending outside Bible Study classes.  I have…     

Daily Bible Study or weekly devotions with self or friend(s) or prayer partner(s)
Enrolled in a Bible Study class at a school or church
Participate in Women’s meeting group
Participate in Women’s prayer meeting
Have my car radio set on a religious station  most of the time while driving
Subscribe to one or more religious magazines, websites, or have purchased religious periodicals videos or tapes within the last three months
Read a book from the Church library
Study personal notes from sermons throughout the week
Attend religious workshops and/or conferences

2.      PARTICIPATION IN WORSHIP                                                SERVICES

R

S

S

N

Those seeking to mentor others have an opportunity to show their need for worship experiences by their faithful attendance at Sunday and midweek services.  I attend…       

Sunday School
Early-morning Church services
Mid-morning Church services
Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings
Week Day Bible Study Classes
Special Worship Services: (Check all that apply)                                  New Year’s Eve Watch Night                                                        Easter Sunrise Service                                                                  Thanksgiving Day Services                                                                (Including feeding others)                                                      Christmas Eve/Day Services
Participate in Mission Trips
Volunteer as a worker for VBS

3.      PARTICIPATION AT CHURCH                                                  MEETINGS

R

S

S

N

In many respects, the status of those seeking to mentor others is different from the status of other organizations in the church.  However, each position requires that every participant attend certain business and spiritual meetings held to impart church operational and procedural data.  I would make myself available to attend…

The Monthly Layman’s Meetings Established by Pastor
The Quarterly Church Meetings
The Monthly Worker’s Council Meetings
The Annual Church Revival
Special Retreats or Other Church Functions Applicable

4.     PARTICIPATION WITH OTHERS

R

S

S

N

Those seeking to mentor others must practice unceasing prayer if they are to be able to find fullness of the Christian life for themselves and if they are to be leaders among people.  When counseling others, I…

Often pray for them (calling them by name) and their situation either right then or later
Instruct them to pray for their own situation either right then or later.
Instruct them to seek another spirit-filled person to help    them
Just talk with them relating my own experiences, very seldom closing in prayer
Offer them a variety of scripture
Mostly, listen

5.    PARTICIPATION IN THE CHURCH’S                                  OUTREACH MINISTRIES

R

S

S

N

There are a number of ways a person seeking to mentor others can express their dedication to his or her calling.  You can depend on me to…

Volunteer to work with the Vacation Bible School
Accompany others to support the Prison Ministry          programs
Contribute cheerfully and regularly to the                        financial support of the church ministries
Make at least 2 hospital trips to visit the sick               within 6 month interval
Assist in the youth Ministry
Support Nursing Home Projects
Work with Shelter Projects or other non-profits
Make at least 2 home trips to visit the sick and                         shut-in within 6 month intervals

SCORING OF QUESTIONS:

Each section should be treated as an individual area of growth and development.   Points To Be Applied:

“REGULARLY” = 10 POINTS:  “SOMETIMES” =  7 POINTS:  “SELDOM” =  3 POINTS:  “NEVER” = 0 POINTS

RESPONSE TO TEST RESULTS FOR PART ONE:

• A SCORE OF 41 TO 50 INDICATES THAT YOU ARE APPLYING THE JESUS PRINCIPLE EXTREMELY WELL IN THIS AREA.
• A SCORE OF 31 TO 40 INDICATES THAT YOU ARE APPLYING THE JESUS PRINCIPLE MOST OF THE TIME IN THIS AREA.
• A SCORE OF 21 TO 30 INDICATES THAT GOD KNOWS YOUR WORKS, BUT SOME AREAS LACK A TOTAL COMMITMENT.
• A SCORE OF 11 TO 20 INDICATES YOU LACK A TOTAL COMMITMENT IN THIS AREA AND PERHAPS NEED TO SEEK ANOTHER MENTOR AS YOUR MENTORING BUDDY.
• A SCORE OF UP TO 10 INDICATES THAT YOU SHOULD PERHAPS RE-EXAMINE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS ASSIGNMENT AND BECOME A MENTEE                                  

6. BONUS SECTION:  CHARACTERISTICS OF A MENTORING WORKER

R

S

S

N

1. Serious but happy person
2. Sensitive to the feelings and concerns of others
3. Polite and courteous
4. Accept Jesus’ lordship in all areas of my life
5. Build up and encourage others
6. Set aside willfulness and self-pleasuring for the sake of building up the body of Christ
7. Pursue Christian duties just as diligently as secular duties
8. Recognize the Bible as the Word of God and exercise faith in areas of controversy.
9. Read the Bible diligently each day for meaning and guidance in my daily life
10. Genuinely concerned about how the church ministers to me and the life of the community
11. Abstain from the use and sale of intoxicating beverages
12. Encourage others and family members to seek the Lord
13. Give tithes and offerings to the support of the Church and it’s ministries
14. Avoid backbiting and gossip
15. Pray unceasingly

RESPONSE TO TEST RESULTS FOR PART TWO:

Special Individual Scoring for CHARACTERISTICS OF A MENTORING  WORKER Points to be applied: “Regularly” = 3 Points; “Sometimes” = 2 Points; “Seldom” = 1 Point; “Never” = 0 Points Evaluation of Scores in this section: For a Score of 17 to 24 SEE Response to a Score of 31 to 40 For a Score of 7 to 16 SEE Response to a Score of 21 to 30 For a Score of 1 to 6 SEE Response to a Score of 11 to 20

***********END OF TEST***********

Scripture Lesson:  ³⁵ Jesus [My Pastor] went through all the towns and villages [Church Congregation], teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing [with the aide of the Holy Spirit] every disease and sickness . ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples [Pastor’s Mentors], “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers [Mentors]into his harvest field.”  Matthew 9:36-38  [Scripture embellished by me.]

Click http://www.tgifmasterminds.com every Friday for a new post from the Master’s servant manager…ME!