Community Group Mentor

A community group mentor is a “leader of leaders” and serves as a supporter and encourager in the life of 4-5 community group leaders. There are two different types of leaders:

  • New leaders (have not serve with our community before) who will potentially require more consistent support and training from their mentor.
  • Seasoned leaders (have served for a year or more with our community), who won’t require as much training and consistency, but will be prayed for and encouraged by their mentor/supporter.

The community group mentor’s ministry is to encourage each of their CG leaders through the challenges and joys of leading a group, as well as to further the leadership development of each new leader. Mentors cast vision for, connect with and offer advice to the CG leaders. They help train the new community group leaders in leadership skills, bible study and interpersonal communication. Mentors are also available to offer resources to their leaders- both in bible study and for difficult/crisis situations that leaders may encounter with members of the group.

Generally, two mentors (one male and one female) will work together in a team, to support and encourage each other, as well as to meet the gender specific needs of the leaders assigned to them. Many times, CG mentoring teams and CG leaders will be assigned to each other based on specific life-stage needs: for example, a mentoring team with two single 30-somethings would be paired with single people leading college age and 20-something groups and married couple mentoring teams would be paired with married couple leaders. However, there is flexibility in this system, should certain accommodations be needed. For example, if a younger leader needs insight that requires someone with more life experience, an older mentor would be available to speak to that leader. The ultimate goal is not to compartmentalize the leaders into age and life-stage categories, but to strive toward having the healthiest possible group of leaders we can.

Requirements to be a mentor:

  • Mentors are expected to be seeking spiritually maturity, striving to follow and obey Jesus in all areas of their lives.
  • Mentors must be committed to the vision and mission of VFC and regularly participate in the life of the VFC community.
  • Mentors must fill out an application and go through an interview with someone on pastoral staff at VFC.

Responsibilities of a mentor:

  • Commit to serve as a mentor for a season (6, 9, 12 months)
  • Call and meet with the leaders they are assigned to twice a month, either by phone or email.
  • Help teach in community group training sessions.
  • Offer insight into the general community group ministry.
  • Be part of the community groups “steering team”, which meets twice a month and consists of all the CG mentors and the CG director.