Almost every week, I get a request from someone looking for a mentor. Frankly, I always find it difficult to say “no.” I think this is probably because I have profited so much from the various mentors I have had throughout my life and career. I also know how difficult it can be to find a good mentor.
As a result, I have been considering starting a mentoring group for several months now. My goal is to impact the lives of younger men in a way that points them toward an integrated Christian life. I believe you can be a devoted Christ-follower, loving husband and father, successful businessman, dedicated church member, caring friend, and serious disciple-maker, while taking care of yourself physically—all at the same time. From my perspective, helping people do this is what mentoring is all about. I should quickly point out that this is NOT because I have life all figured out. I don’t. I continue to struggle and fall. But I have learned a few things along the way and want to share those with a few good men. As I mentioned in my blog on Monday, after months of thought and prayer, I had developed a really detailed mentoring plan. I was just about to announce it when—thankfully!—someone told me about Mentor Like Jesus by Regi Campbell. As a result, I changed some of my thinking and decided to adopt his program, Next Generation Mentoring (NGM), as my own. I plan to start my group this coming January. If you are interested—and live in the greater Nashville area—please continue reading. I will outline the details for you. If you are a leader, thinking about starting your own group, this will give you an idea of what is involved in starting an NGM group. We will spend significant time on understanding who we are from God’s perspective and how we can excel in our work and in our communities. We will work on establishing priorities, work/life balance, dealing with sexual temptation, making good decisions, leadership, and godly character. We will spend time on relating to our wives and raising our children. We will especially focus on what it means to have a vibrant, living relationship with Jesus Christ. Who is this mentoring group for? I am looking for eight men who meet the following criteria: The program involves a monthly meeting (from 7:00–10:00 p.m.) at my home, one extended session (approximately six hours), one weekend retreat, ten significant reading assignments and memorizing about twenty scriptures (two per month). We will begin with a launch event on Tuesday, January 12, and end with a weekend retreat of celebration at the end of the year. (This is a one-year program.) The meetings aren’t optional. The group will settle on a schedule and stick to it. A premium is placed on timeliness, preparation and respect for everyone else in the group. You will likely have to make some tough business and family decisions in order to honor your commitment to me and to the group. If you are involved in graduate studies, or already overextended in other commitments, then you should probably pass on this opportunity. Although not onerous, the requirements are consistent and they will take focused time, both to attend the sessions and to do the reading and memory work. The cost of the materials and books is $200. The cost for the retreat will be divided by the members of the group. (I have yet to finalize the plans for this.) The $200 will be due to Next Generation Mentoring at the kickoff, which, as I mentioned previously, is planned for January 12. You MUST attend this launch event in person in order to participate in the program—no exceptions. Really, really think about this. Pray about it. Talk to your wife. She will be asked to sign the covenant with you, committing her support as you attend the sessions and retreat, read the books, and do the homework assignments. If you are lukewarm, don’t pursue it; you will be taking a slot that someone else might really want and need. If you conclude that you are interested, click on this link to apply. The application process will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Once you’ve begun the application, you cannot leave it and return. You’ll need to finish it at one sitting. You will be asked to indicate your acceptance of the NGM Covenant as part of the on-line application, as will your wife. So it’s important that you talk through the commitment with her before you begin the application. You can download a PDF copy of the covenant by clicking here. (Please read both pages.) The deadline for applications is Friday, December 18, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. CST. This is a firm date so apply as soon as you and your spouse are together on the commitment. Once I get all the applications in, I will prayerfully review them. I will then select eight men to be part of the group. I will notify you via email by December 31, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. CST whether have been selected or not.
Building Champions has been coaching me since 2002. They have taught me to be more proactive and intentional in both my business and personal life. Visit their Web site to learn more and see their special offer for my blog readers. Related posts:
Purpose of the Group
Criteria for Participating
Format of the Program
The Cost to You
The Application Process
Acceptance
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What a wonderful idea! I wish something similar had been available to me as a young man. Having attained geezer status, I can look back and see how much easier my life might have been if I hadn't had to learn everything in the school of hard knocks.
I also like your idea of replication: Jesus made disciples and the disciples replicated by making disciples. Your plan for replication will, over time, change a lot of lives for the better.
All the best in this endeavor.
Andy, perhaps you should consider starting a group yourself. One thing I hope to accomplish with this post s to encourage others to be mentors!
My thoughts exactly! Could you mentor us who have attained "geezer status" on how to mentor? I believe God has called me to mentor younger leaders during this next season of my life. I've been reading everything I can find on mentoring.
Blessings on you Michael!
Dave
No, but Regi can! (See my post from yesterday.) His book, Mentor Like Jesus, will convince you can do it!
Will do. Thank you!
Dave
Very cool, Michael. I love your heart for pouring into other people. If I lived in the Nashville area I would be filling out the application instead of typing this comment.
I echo Paul's sentiments. This sounds like such a great experience! I think I meet all of your criteria except living in the Nashville area…I really admire your willingness to take on a project like this, and wish you and the men you're going to mentor the very best. Please keep us updated on how things go.
Will do. I'm sure I will be writing about it from time to time.
wow! this is great!
Michael,
Awesome! Glad to see you put something like this together. What about folks who are not in the Nashville area? Any chance of getting connected in some way?
You might check with Next Generation Mentoring. They may know of something. One of the things that really motivates me is raising up the next generation of mentors, so that people have more options.
I have been part of a mentoring group in Moultrie, Ga….a wonderful book has been written "Multiplying Disciples" by David R. Hopkins ….tells the story of an explosion of mentors in this small town…..excellent reading for someone wanting to be mentor or to be a mentoree….this book can be purchased from David Brown of Good Samaritan Couseling – Moultrie, Georgia….only 160 pages.
This is one of those times I wish I was a guy. :) I love that you are doing this. Thank you for investing in the lives of others in such a big way!
I know. Limiting it to guys was a difficult decision—especially since I have five daughters!
I've researched all the ways I could pull off a weekly commute from Phoenix, but have come to the realization that my wife would never sign off on that! :)
This sounds like a tremendous opportunity. I wish you the best.
It would only be monthly!
See, now you're just toying with me.
I stand corrected, but my wife still stands unpersuaded.
Michael, I love this. I have been involved in mentoring relationships for many years and have benefited from them greatly. My first mentor made me promise that he would mentor me only as long as I committed to mentoring others. I have tried to honor his request over the years.
With this new focus on coaching networks and mentoring groups such as you are doing, I, too, have been praying through this. I haven't read the book, but plan to soon. Your format is exactly what I would choose. I think it is hard to mentor people in places you haven't personally been.
Thanks for investing in others and being a true Kingdom-builder. You have personally invested in me beyond what you will know. I do not know of a successful leader such as yourself that is as approachable and intentional about helping others as you are.
God bless,
Ron
Thanks, Ron. I appreciate SO MUCH your kind words. You would be an awesome mentor to anyone.
It would be wonderful to partecipate in this program….
Hope I will find a mentor in my "country" soon.
Just want to share my appreciation for your idea and your vision.
God bless you!
Michael: I have been following your posts and tweets foreshadowing this opportunity. As I was driving home from work last night, I wondered what the "opportunity" would be and how I would respond. I questioned: Where am I in each area of my life (faith, family, career, community)? What are my strengths? Weaknesses? Where do I want to be in 1,5,10 years? Having now seen the details, I am excited at the chance to join your group. My wife and I will be having some long talks and prayer time over the next couple of weeks to see if this is right for us. Thanks for your leadership.
That's awesome, Mark. Yes, do pray about it. If I can answer any questions, let me know. You might also watch the videos on the Next Generation Mentoring Site.
Wow. What a great opportunity to impact some young lives. I pray that the experience is rewarding for all parties involved. God is building His kingdom. May the Lord bless you for donating your time and talent to His cause.
Donald James Parker
Author of Homeless Like Me
OK, in reference to the first two comments, at what age does one officially reach "geezer status"? And when does one then graduate to "wheezer" status?
Your post has me rethinking my mens Bible study. I called it Kindlers with the idea of "keep the fire burning" from 2 Timothy 1:7, but the last few meetings the fire has been waning. Your post is getting me thinking about rethinking the purpose of the group. I feel like I need a mentoring group to keep my fire burning, too, but at 58 I know it's time to take whatever God has put into me and begin investing it in the lives of younger men. I need to spread the flame (thanks to Greg Stielstra for the metaphor). Thanks for the example and the encouragement. I'll be reading Regi's book.
I'm not sure when those stages begin. I have been 30 years old for about 24 years now. ;-)
This is great Michael. Thanks for all you are doing for the Kingdom!
This is great, Mike. Go for it.
My mentoring work has been with welfare mothers. It has been wonderful because no one is more desperate for change, more eager to do well with their children, and more hungry for God than these women. It takes years and the growth is slow…but powerful and satisfying.
I wish more women would become mentors. These single mothers don’t need money nearly as much as they need a good friend who spends time with them and points them to faith. The key is learning to trust in a God who is in charge and is in the business of binding wounds and lifting people up. Walking, talking, and doing laundry together is a healing and nurturing ministry–for everyone involved.
Gretchen, I love that you are doing this with welfare mothers! Wow! This is the Gospel in action. Love it!
Great idea, Michael! I plan on applying for one of the eight spots.
Awesome, Aaron!
This is great to see and read.
The men that are going to be apart of this group are going to be blessed by your mentoring and you also will be blessed by mentoring them and will learn right along with them.
My hope is that people will read this and realize that they have the tools to mentor and get out of the seats and into the game.
My dream: that one day everyone will have a mentor guiding them in life.
That's my dream, too. Ideally, it would start with dads. Unfortunately, families are so broken today that that rarely happens.
You are exactly right. I have heard several dads complain about how their kids do not know how to spend money or take any responsibility and my normal response is "well usually they learn that from their parents."
It starts in the home and moves into the church. Sometimes the church plays the father to the fatherless.
I am working hard on making this dream a reality.
I was part of the NGM pilot program at North Point Church in Atlanta this year. This is a phenomenal program. If you have the opportunity to get involved, I can't recommend it more highly.
That is GREAT to hear. Thanks for sharing.
Splendid idea Michael, it stirs my heart when I hear of men willing to make the time to walk along side (and open their home to) other men.I never knew my father but I thank God for a core group of men around me, to whom I look to for advice and mentoring. My mom did the best that she could and I think I turned out ok, but I sincerely believe that there’s just some lessons in life that only men can impart to other men.The last few years for me has been a huge learning curve, with God helping me to to re-define my ideas of masculinity, leadership, integrity etc. My prayers are with you and the fortunate eight.
What a fantastic idea. I love your servant heart. Thanks for all that you're doing! You've motivated me to take steps for setting up a similar program with some younger guys I have been praying for.
If there is anyone in Las Vegas, NV willing to do this I would jump on the opportunity. I need a season in my life where I can be mentored. God please allow me to connect to some new mentors.
Mike,
Can you find me a home in the greater Nashville area and a job, so I can apply?
The home part, yes. The job part, may be a bit tougher!
Mike,
NO! I don't believe that the great Michael Hyatt is limited…
Surely you know of a career job somewhere that I could do
Maybe I could plant another house church out there and work as a pastor!
Seriously though, I have been astounded this year by your leadership, openness, responsiveness and great attitude online. I wish I could be there to apply for your group, but it's obviously not what God has planned for me right now.
I have benefited and continue to benefit greatly from the wisdom, understanding and experience that you share online and can only imagine what an impact you're going to be able to have in the lives of your mentorees.
I pray that God blesses you and them as you learn and grow together!
This sounds like an amazing opportunity, too bad I don't live in the Nashville area and I am not married. Thanks for your leadership in this area. Blessings.
This post was an instant tear gusher–as in sobbing. As a single mother who longed for a godly man to mentor my sons, I pray that some of the men in your group come from single-parent homes, because our children ARE NOT DOOMED. God promises everyone who loves him a future and a hope.
Scoti,
Wow, when reading through these responses, yours was totally not what I expected to read on a post like this.
I can't even begin to know how it feels to be a single mother but your heart is obvious.
I LOVE the Church… it's such a diverse and amazing group of people – and you're one of them!!!
Mike – Thank you for answering this calling from God on your life.
Glad you are doing this. I look forward to your posts about the progress.
Michael, How do you define "broken men"?
Matthew, great question. By “broken men,“ I mean guys who don’t have it all together. Men who have experienced pain and defeat.
Does that help?
It does, thank you. I suppose I expected something like that, but I just thought that 'broken men' sounded so harsh/derogatory, and potentially risked pushing away interesting, or interested candidates.
This is great, Michael. Praying about this.
Thank you for your willingness to do this. I don't qualify on a number of counts (including too much snow and a Continental Divide), but will pray (that means, actually pray!) for God's guidance for your mentoring.
Thanks, Randy. I appreciate that!
Mike,
I’m with Randy. I fit all but one of the criteria: I live in New York. But I will keep you in prayer.
You could fly in!
I could. You are tempting me aren't you Mike:)
Makes me wish I was a man who lived in the Nashville area! Whoever does get to do this will be changed and blessed I'm sure! =)
wow. i wish i could participate in something like this…
sounds like an incredible opportunity, I wish I lived closer!
Wonderful plan Michael, and I am so glad you are doing this in the greater Nashville community. I live in Siberia and work with a number of guys (about 20) in various mentoring/disciple making relationships. Almost all the guys are in their 20's and 30's. Our challenge is developing 40 & 50 year old men willing to share their success AND failures. I have ordered the book and look forward to seeing how your group goes in Nashville. Thanks for challenging others.
Of course a lot of us applaud what you are doing. I think the world is filled with people who want mentors. But might I suggest humbly that many (maybe most) people want relationships more than formal programs. I think this is especially true of people in their twenties and thirties. I have been doing this for more than 50 years, meeting in coffee shops and talking about life. I call it journeying, two guys walking on the road of life together – encouraging, challenging, grappling with decisions, learning from each other. I meet every week, one-on-one with several younger leaders like this. It keeps me sharp and it's something that can be done anywhere, without formal programs. Do you agree?
I am honored that you would post a comment here. Yes, I enthusiastically agree that people in their 20s and 30s want relationships more than formal programs. In fact, I think that is true for almost anyone. If a program like I am starting doesn’t lead to this, then it will have failed.
I have done much of the informal kind of mentoring, too. It can be very effective. I don’t plan to quit. This is just a slightly different tack. You might want to read Regi Campbell’s book, Mentor Like Jesus to see the distinction. I posted on it earlier this week.
Though as a woman I don't qualify for your parameters (and rightly so), I do appreciate what you are starting. I follow your blog regularly because as the new president of Full Spirit Magazine, I need others who have gone before to watch, learn from, and emulate. Your blog is a blessing.
Angie Breidenbach
Awesome, at the same time I was reading the blog and comments …. the person who "introduced" me to your blog just now twittered that he is applying for this opportunity.
@joshuawhitehead Just put in an application for @MichaelHyatt's mentoring group. If you haven't heard about it, you can read more at: http://bit.ly/5DYn8C
I love your servant's heart. I would love to be a part of it but I do have graduate studies for my M-Div.degree. God bless you our dear brother in Christ.
Hi Michael. Just to confirm re: the criteria – I am single. Is this a dealbreaker? :) Would I have a chance of being selected? Thanks for doing this – please let me know your response. Best, Geoff
I’m afraid it is for this first round. I would love to start a group that for single guys, but for right now, I feel called to help married men. Thanks.
Oh, how I wish. I agree that Skype just isn't the right way to manage something like this.
I don't think I'm going to ask Dina if we can move to Tennessee.
I'm not envious, but I am remarkably excited and thrilled for whatever men get to glean from your guidance.
(And I suspect you won't even be out here to California as much anymore, either. Does the warehouse move to the midwest mean that the whole kit and conciliarboodle is relocating, too?)
This is a one-year program. Thanks.
michael, how long does the program last? 6 mo, 12 mo, year?
Mike-
I sent in my app (my wife looked and said "Go!") … as a father of 4 girls (2 with us, 2 gone before us), all I know are girls…HELP!
I hope to fill a spot and work through my brokenness. Thanks for offering this opportunity to me and my generation of husbands/fathers/leaders!
Randy Miller, Columbia TN
You are welcome, Randy.
Thanks Michael for posting this. I'm a pastor who just began at a new church in New Mexico in July. When I interviewed for the position I told the committee that one of my priorites would be men's discipleship. I've been wrestling with a structure/curriculum for this emphasis and I believe I've now found it! I spoke with Chris Hornsby of Next Gen Mentoring today and am taking steps to begin a group in January, D.V. If by any remote possibility anybody reading this is from the Espanola area and would like to apply for the group, eamil me at pastor@fbcespanola.com.
My recent post Are You in the Giving Spirit?
This sounds absolutely awesome! My only questions would be could this program be adapted for a group of women? Or is there something else you might recommend for women wanting to mentor/be mentored?
My recent post Stop beating yourself up
Yes, I definitely think it could be adapted for women. You might want to check with NextGenMentoring.com and see what they have. Thanks.
If men of all ages are looking for another option you might consider Christian Leadership Concepts (CLC).
CLC is a two year discipleship program that equips men to be better leaders in their homes, their church and their community.
You can learn more at http://www.christianleadershipconcepts.org/index….
Dan Ryan
@that_danryan
My recent post What should we be doing about unemployment? The small business view
Mr. Hyatt, is there any consideration to reviewing applicants outside of the area. i would be wiling to commit and come from Dallas.
My recent post 25 Days of Giving – Day 8
I don't think so. Honestly, I think that puts additional pressure on me, and I also think you would do better to find a mentor in your area. Sorry.
Wow! I wish I lived in Nashville, was male, and young! I am not any of those, but wish you the best and will definitely read "Mentor Like Jesus"!
Michael,
Is there a way people who don’t live in the area or fit into the other criteria can follow what’s going on. By going on I mean the subjects, ideas etc…
Patrick
Not really. The only think I can suggest is to check out NextGenMentoring.com. I am using their curriculum. Thanks.