THE CHURCH IN NIGERIA AND MENTORING OF FUTURE LEADERS

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

            Mentoring research is critical in the growth of church leaders today. Mentoring is still the primary learning method in our century's society, where mentees learn not just the mathematics of a function, but also the way of life that surrounds it. "A facilitated mentoring process's principal goal is to methodically increase the abilities and competencies of less experienced persons" (Murray, 2001:5). The purpose of this thesis is to describe and justify mentoring as a strategy for church leadership development.The word "mentor" first appeared in Homer's Odyssey when Ulysses hired a wise man by the name of Mentor. Ulysses need a tutor for Telemachus while he was away in the Trojan War. The youngster should be taught "not just in book study, but also in the wiles of the world," he ordered Mentor (Engstrom, 1989:3).

            Mentoring has existed throughout time. It has its roots in Greek writings and is related to the ideas of discipleship, education, and accompaniment. Mentorship is closely related to coaching, counseling, or sponsorship in a more secular context. The traditional way for dads to impart wisdom and knowledge to their sons was through mentoring. It fosters the growth of leadership qualities, enhances interpersonal relationships, and gives the mentee a strong foundation in both their job and their community. It is a concept that has theological applications. In the context of Christianity, mentorship and discipleship go hand in hand. The idea of taking someone else's advice is implied by the Greek term "manthan," which means to learn.           

            When someone is being mentored, they are being prodded with questions in an effort to better their understanding and emulate their teacher. In this instance, a mentor is to be replaced by a follower of Christ. The succinct definition of mentoring is having a significant person in your life who is prepared to offer advice or assistance. This explanation comes from the biblical implications of mentorship. It is "a process of sharing our lives with others, a process of living for the future generation, and a process of opening our lives to others" (Davis, 1991:19). As a result, a mentoring relationship is characterized by openness. A life of walking in the light with one another (1 Jhn 1:17). It is a long-term partnership in which two people put aside their separate masks of their personal and professional lives in order to interact more deeply. According to Biehl (1996:22), "it is just two people who appreciate each other and wish to see one other succeed, lending a hand over time. Their friendship is characterized by companionship, camaraderie, correction, and straightforwardness. In a mentoring relationship, jealousy and doubts have no place. The ideal scenario is one in which both the mentor and the mentee emerge as gems for God's kingdom. The process of helping someone reach their full potential in Jesus Christ in every vocation is known as mentoring. (Engstrom 1989:4).

            Being a mentor is a practical way to teach new Christians or churchgoers important lessons. It honors the mentee's character, dedication, and abilities as well as the practice of Christian discipleship. Additionally, it enhances Christian leadership, making it not only competent but also admirable and appealing. It is justified to claim that mentoring is a form of leading by example. It cannot be imposed on the mentor or mentee or formally created. It develops organically and maintains a strengthening link that benefits both the mentor and the mentee. This essay seeks to confirm the relationship between the church in Nigeria and leadership mentoring.

            Particularly in the context of the Church, mentoring can be used as a technique to improve interpersonal connections and leadership development. Numerous religious officials hold their offices by default. Church leaders are pushed into the fire without any feeling of support or accountability. Church ministry has become into a lonely endeavor. Mentoring programs help alleviate feelings of loneliness, inadequacy, and relational shortcomings. It is a technique that may encourage, equip, and free the mentee to take the form that God has planned for him or her.

Through mentoring, we can transfer values, abilities, and other traits from one generation to the next. If the church can take mentoring seriously, the Christian faith can have an impact on future generations. It is necessary to change church culture and leadership development practices so that church staff can be shaped not only in terms of abilities but also in terms of character. One will encounter the biblical principles and theological significance of mentoring in the pages that follow. The main goal of these pages is to help the reader understand mentorship as a good theologically strategy for ecclesiastical empowerment, particularly in the area of leadership.Either mentoring or mentorship will be used to describe the system. Either mentors or mentees are used to describe the people who are participating in mentoring. I have purposefully stopped using words like "protégé," "sponsor," "coach," and "counselor," unless another author is being mentioned