Become A Spiritual Mentor
Ascending
Lights Spiritual Mentors are wiser and more experienced members
of a church community who are willing to help our students
deepen their faith and develop their skills as leaders in
church ministries. In this context, the Spiritual Mentor serves
as a friend, an advisor and a coach to the young person. The
functions of the Spiritual Mentor include faith sharing, studying
assigned spiritual topics with the student, and helping to
educate the student in Christian leadership behavior. The
Spiritual Mentor attends the quarterly Christian Leadership
training seminars with the student. Finally, the Ascending
Lights Spiritual Mentor functions as a vital link between
our program and the studentís pastor. Please see the
Spiritual Mentor Job Description
for detailed mentoring procedures. Being an Ascending Lights
Spiritual Mentor is fun, educational, and tremendously rewarding!
WHAT
WILL THE SPIRITUAL MENTOR DO?
The most important thing that the Ascending Lights Spiritual
Mentor will do is to help the student grow in the understanding
and application of the Christian faith to the challenges facing
urban leaders. Secondarily, the mentor will reinforce the
connection between the gifts that the student is receiving
from the church in the form of Ascending Lights scholarship
benefits and the gifts of volunteer service that the student
has given, and continues to give, to the church. This process
begins with learning that we are all called to service. It
continues with the identification of our own unique skills,
which can be put to work for the greater glory of God. It
moves through a process of refining these skills and acquiring
new ones. It concludes with a desire to seek excellence in
serving Jesus Christ as we find Him in the broken and marginalized
around us. The specific duties of the Ascending Lights Spiritual
Mentor include:
- Meeting
with the student once a month to conduct a Spiritual Exercise.
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Arranging for the student's four hours per month of volunteer
activity in the church.
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Insuring that the student attends church regularly.
Attending quarterly leadership training seminars with the
student.
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Representing the pastor of the sponsoring church to the
student and to Ascending Lights staff.
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Reporting to us the progress of the student in spiritual
studies and in service.
The Spiritual Mentor should be prepared to commit to work
with the student for a period of two years. After that period,
the mentor may choose to continue for an agreed upon period
or pass the responsibilities to another individual. Students
generally require from three to five years to complete the
Ascending Lights program.
WHO
CAN BECOME AN ASCENDING LIGHTS SPIRITUAL MENTOR?
Any mature, caring member of the student's church community
who has enough time and energy in his or her life to share
with a young person can become a mentor. Mentors should be
men or women who have demonstrated achievement and proven
their abilities to successfully cope with lifeís problems
in a Christian manner. To be a mentor you must enjoy sharing
knowledge, skills, abilities and insights with younger people.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS FOR A SPIRITUAL
MENTOR?
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No formal religious education is required. However, you
should have a good understanding of your Christian faith
and how it has helped you in your life.
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Your pastor must recommend you.
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You must be 25 years of age or older.
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You must own a car and have it properly insured.
Personal characteristics:
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You have no history of substance abuse over the last five
years.
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The pastor and the church community see you as a person
who lives according to Christian values.
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You are interested in a variety of activities.
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You like and are interested in young people.
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You speak English.
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You must provide a current driverís license number
and agree to a DMV check.
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You must provide evidence of a current car insurance policy.
WHAT ABOUT TRAINING AND SUPPORT?
Each Ascending Lights Spiritual Mentor will be trained and
supported by our Program Vice President. He will maintain
regular communications with you, keeping you abreast of the
progress your assigned student is making in our program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO APPLY FOR A SPIRITUAL MENTORING POSITION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Gary Krauss
President
877-445-4244
justintch@aol.com |