Issue No. 145 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting asks if you’re ready to raise the bar on spiritual mentoring in your organization. Do you want activity or transformation? And this reminder, check out my Management Buckets website with dozens of resources and downloadable worksheets for your staff meetings.
Quick Fix or Transformation
Wow. With all the trendy stuff out there on mentoring, coaching and counseling—it’s easy to be confused and do nothing. Ele Parrott has a simple—but profound—question she asks women who come to her for help or mentoring. “Do you want a quick fix, or do you desire to be transformed by Jesus?”
If the women on your team (and in your church) are tired of activity-driven programs, fill-in-the-blanks “Bible” studies and “8 Steps & 8 Weeks for Becoming a Spiritual Giant,” you’ll like this book. Actually…you’ll have a personal gut check first. Then you’ll buy copies for friends. Serious-minded friends. It’s written for women—but it touched me.
The author’s transparency sets the tone. After her missionary husband, Don, got his dream job volunteer assignment (the pastor’s inner circle) at their home church in Argentina, Ele proudly presented her substantial ministry credentials to the pastor. His response, “Los banos de la iglesia estan sucios.” Translation: “The church bathrooms are dirty.” That’s where she started—scrubbing toilets for Jesus in South America. And that’s when she seriously listened to God and her mentoring journey began.
Her definition of mentoring will stop you in your tracks. “Spiritual mentoring is coming alongside of and partnering with who the Holy Spirit is being in the life of another person and infusing truth into that person’s reality.” Read it again and think what “infusing truth” could look like if you have the heart and calling to be a mentor.
Ele Parrott shares God-honoring principles and memorable real-life mentoring stories. Our activity-driven programs that don’t ignite transformation (we’ve all done them and led them) quickly pale when contrasted with the richness and potential of authentic spiritual mentoring.
This book is a keeper. It’s wisdom layered upon wisdom. It’s not a formula book on mentoring, yet it’s very practical and highly motivating. The chapter on learning to be an active listener by not inserting my story into the conversation—and thus devaluing the mentee—was a big, big wake-up call for me.
Imagine what could happen in your church or Christian organization (and your own life) if you set the bar high and focused on spiritual transformation, not spiritual activity. To order this week’s book from Amazon, click on this title: Transforming Together: Authentic Spiritual Mentoring, by Ele Parrott.
Your Weekly Staff Meeting Questions:
1) The author notes that Jesus was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Then she asks, “What are you full of?” Ask family members and close friends to suggest two or three words that describe what you are full of!
2) Have you ever had a spiritual mentor? What happened?
It’s Not About You - Insights from Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Nonprofit
One of the big ideas in the Hoopla! Bucket, Chapter 10, in Mastering the Management Buckets, is to ensure that you have a hoopla! champion, with a budget and a nose for fun and affirmation.
This month I read about a hoopla! team that interviews every new staff member and makes a list of their favorite cartoon characters, food, movies, music, etc. Then when it’s time to celebrate or affirm a team member’s contributions and achievements, the celebration is customized to the unique joys and quirks of that person. Example: the person’s cubicle is decorated early morning with Dilbert cartoons and Twinkies are served at the break. (The food favors the team member—not the party planner. What a concept!) Simple idea, but what a profound way to show you care.
For more help, check out the Hoopla! Bucket page at my Management Buckets website and note the book recommendations including The Carrot Principle, which lists 125 ideas for giving recognition in the workplace.
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