I grew up during the Karate Kid era. Kids my age were tying bandanas around our foreheads and doing crane kicks all the time. And. Karate. Ruled. Life.
What was so appealing about the Karate Kid story? Aside from the board-breaking and Joe Esposito Karate Kid anthem, what hooked me was the amazing mentoring that Daniel-San got from Mr. Miyagi. Imagine meeting this short Japanese man, wanting to learn Karate and then being forced to do manual labor in hopes of one day getting some “real” training. And then BAM, you find out you’ve been training this whole time, and that Mr. Miyagi is basically the smartest guy you’ve ever met.
Mr. Miyagi was a great mentor. Some of his methods may have been unorthodox, but he guided Daniel from awkward to awesome. And we may not all be in the middle of an adolescent drama, but we all need guidance from people who have gone before or at least can show us the way.
- Mentors give you outside perspective. One of the worst thing about being a rookie is that you’re seeing everything for the first time. In one sense, it’s an exciting thing because everything’s new. But that means that you’re having to figure out every challenge without any experience or reference material. This is where a good mentor is great. They can provide an outside perspective that hopefully involves some experience, some history.
- Mentors give you balance. Another thing about being a rookie is that it’s hard to stay balanced. And in youth ministry, there are so many things that you can focus on, that it’s not hard to get unbalanced quickly. Relational ministry. Adult leadership. Bible study. Parent involvement. Environment. All these things can be come “the thing,” causing the ministry to get unbalanced. A mentor helps to break the tunnel-vision so that you can see all the areas that need focus.
- Mentors are an encouragement. One thing I’ve thoroughly enjoyed has been the opportunity to rub shoulders with youth leaders who have experience. Whether they’re giving advice or offering critique, it’s encouraging to know that you’re not in the boat alone. It’s valuable to have other people in your boat.
I’m thankful for the mentors who have guided me and continue to guide me.