Jacob’s Well realizes that just as small groups like LIFEGroups are better at creating contexts for sustained life transformation and personal growth than large corporate worship settings on Sundays can be, mentoring and/or coaching relationships are better than small groups. We see Jesus teaching to the masses regularly. Likewise we see Him teaching and shaping the lives of His 12 Disciples. But even in that group it is evident that He spent even more time with 3, namely Peter, James and John and among them, one…Peter.
Jacob’s Well seeks to create this variety of environments as well. Each has their strengths and weaknesses but taken together all strategically important to one’s overall goal of sustain spiritual growth and life-transformation. To this end, in addition to more standard offerings of corporate worship and small group gatherings Jacob’s Well intentionally invites individuals who are seeking to go deeper yet to inquire about the availability of a mentor &/or coach.
A mentor is one who pours into another out of the lessons God has taught them so far in His word and in the ups and downs of their life. A mentor is someone who is where you want to be and who is willing to help you get there. A Coach is one who pulls out that which they can see inside the one they are coaching. Instead of pouring in through counsel, mutual sharing and informal instruction they listen and become a student of the coach’s life. Through strategic questions and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit over time they are able to help the coach discern what their challenges are as well as what solutions might address them. Of course, sometimes a relationship develops that can be a hybrid of both a mentoring and a coaching relationship.
In the end what is important is that EVERYONE has at least one mentor and one coach and preferably multiple individuals who may specialize in certain areas (financial, physical, emotional, marital, leadership, spiritual etc.). Yes, we said EVERYONE. For some of us in healthy family structures that should include our parents and/or other family members. For those in these healthy structures as well as those without this benefit we can also turn and look among friends and leaders who may attend Jacob’s Well or perhaps even another congregation. Still yet, for others there may be times or topics that the best we can find are mentors and/or coaches via books, podcast and conference talks. Regardless of the means you utilize to be mentored or coached (some would also us the term discipled interchangeably) it is essential you pursue this component or your pursuit for sustained growth and transformation will most likely either fail or at best, be very frail.
To find out more about how Jacob’s Well can help you get connected with a potential coach and/or mentor here locally and/or help you locate one via other means simply contact Pastor Rob or Jeff Cole