Marriage Mentoring Part 2

So what are the critical success factors in marriage mentoring?

1. Be growing and maturing personally in Christ. Do you walk through the Bible personally and are you encouraged by believers? If you need discipling help look at One on One with God.

2. Be growing as a couple. Do you date? How is your love tank as Gary Chapman would remind us?

3. Be growing as a family, as parents. Not perfect by any means (with any of these areas) but certainly doing your best with the Lord’s help. Simply, what is your story in parenting.

4. Be aware. Watch for young couples to invest your lives in. For those who you consider your mentors, you probably did not sign up for their “class,” but somehow you spent time with them…dinner, helping in moves, church activities. They influenced you. Go and do likewise. Invite someone over, listen for needs, be a Small Group/Sunday School leader.

5. Be genuine, transparent, but don’t lecture. In other words, run with the lessons that you know are critical (how to keep love alive, dos and don’ts in parenting, keys to personal growth in Christ), and shall I say covertly, make sure you address these things. And always be ready for questions. Answer with the “here’s what we’ve experienced” or “here’s what has been a blessing (or disaster) for us.” As the relationship and trust is built, who knows when you may get the “I need some help here” phone call.

One of the biggest keys…go for it! If you wait until all your ducks are in a row, you’ll never start. I will say a word of caution again though, please make sure you are healthy personally and as a couple. Not perfect, but growing. Take a time out to really check your motives in wanting to mentor. Ask the Lord to affirm this desire, and then ask Him to send just the right opportunity for you to spur on young couples to experience all of God’s goodness!

What keys are important to you in mentoring?