For only $9.95 a month you can have your own Christian mentor. She’ll email you once a month and for additional fees talk by phone. There’s a free e-book Bible study with secrets of Biblical mentoring along with subscriber-only access to her website. Susie Mentor is available right now!
Ridiculous, isn’t it? But in reality, I’ve seen sites charge over $600, so $9.95 would be cheap!
Being a mentor is not about money. We are called in Titus 2 to teach and train, not charge and sell. Jesus did not take kindly to those who set up shop in the temple selling cheap (but overpriced) goods. Putting a price on Christian mentoring is akin to selling cheap beads in the temple to make a quick buck.
* Money should not change hands in a mentoring relationship.
Godly mentors have one purpose–seeing you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. It’s never about money. While mentors should not charge a fee, a mentoree should not expect or ask a mentor for money either. This kind of mentoring could lead to dependent or enabling relationships which are ungodly.
What is acceptable is taking a mentor out for coffee or a meal to chat. It’s still mentoring even if we meet only once. We deceive ourselves when we think mentoring is a prolonged process covering weeks and months. That does happen, but more often than not it’s short and sweet. Author Elizabeth George shares how it was one godly lady who spent mere minutes with her that led to all the mentoring books she has written. Now that is powerful mentoring!
* What about a mentor making a living?
Biblical mentoring is not a money-making job–it is doing what we are called to do. Lines between godly service and money-making opportunities for some have unfortunately become blurred. We must be wise and not allow impatience with God’s timing to get us into pick-pocket situations. Just because they come in the name of Christ does not make it acceptable. Sadly, it’s easy to discern motives–stop the cash flow and services are terminated.
* My mentor wants me to purchase a book / Bible study. Is this wrong?
No. Often a mentor will recommend certain books to help mentorees grow in knowledge. If your mentor asks you to read a book or do a Bible study together, purchasing materials is acceptable.
What is not wise is paying for mentoring sessions in person, online, or via phone. That is not mentoring–it is either direct sales (they have a product to sell) or consulting. Consultants or direct sales people are not bad in themselves–but it is wrong to use these methods in Christian mentoring.
* Trust in the Lord’s timing.
We all get desperate at times and want a mentor to show up immediately. While this post may seem a bit strong, I hope it gives those searching for a mentor some guidelines to keep in mind. There are steps you can take to be proactive in finding a mentor. You can read about them here.
Do you have any advice to share about looking for a mentor?
About Kellie Renfroe
Kellie and her husband Greg have been married 32 years and have four children ranging in age from 17 to 28. She co-founded Mentoring Moments for Christian Women in 2005. Kellie is a homeschooling mom who enjoys reading, studying the Bible, writing, photography, and learning how to cook.
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