Mentoring Groups

Well, it's been a year and a half since I blogged. I was reading a blog today and it hit me - I have so much I want to share but no one to listen. So I'm writing it down and maybe someday my great-grandkids will wonder "What do you think Granny thought about this?" and will look at the long forgotten blogs. By then they'll have some futuristic name for it, I'm sure. One of the things I'm working on right now is loosely organizing a mentoring group at our church. We have started small with only a few groups who are meeting a few times a month to get to know each other. We began in January (sort of) and then more officially in March. We will go on with our groups until December and then evaluate how it has gone. The purpose of these groups is to develop relationships between women to have someone on your side as you walk through this year of life. Some of the women are "older" women and some are just a little bit age-difference. So, to help on this mentoring group, I attended a conference in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago sponsored by the Network of Christian Mentoring or something like that. It was held at Glen Eyrie (The Navigators) at the back of the Garden of the Gods. It was exciting enough just being in the beautiful spot, but the conference was very well done and very practical. I found that the plans and organizing we have made so far are right on track. We are not "over-structuring" or trying to manage these groups, but allowing God to develop the relationships Himself - with our willingness only. The one thing that we need to do now is find a goal for each group. Or rather, they should find their own goal. How will you know if you were effective if you don't have something to move toward? Some need spiritual disciplines and accountability. Some need to know God in a way that shows His involvement in everyday life. Some have major problems. Some have minor problems. Everyone has a need for a mentor - or to be a mentor. This is a function of the church body. I'm glad to see ours moving that way. If you are in one of our mentoring groups, let me know how it's going and if you need help in developing goals. We will be having a "group-wide" fellowship toward the end of June. I hope we have lots to talk about then. Until the next coffee break - "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength - and your neighbor as yourself."