7 Reasons Why Christian Young People Want a Mentor (and Why You Should Choose to Mentor One of Them)

I’ve been a Christian for almost 51 years. Looking back, I realize now how important a mentor would have been for me in my early Christian walk. No one in my home was a believer, and I struggled to follow Christ passionately and obediently—often because I was trying to “do right” on my own. I really needed someone to model faith for me and hold me accountable to godly living.  

Those years were a long time ago, but the need for young people to have mentors has not lessened. In fact, finding a mentor has been the most common request I get from students I’ve taught in my almost 30 years of seminary teaching.  Year after year, young people preparing for ministry seek someone to walk beside them.  

That desire, I’m certain, is not limited to young believers entering ministry.  That’s why I’m continuing this series this week with a look at why young people overall want mentors. 

In some ways, I’m writing to older believers this week—though I welcome younger believers to “eavesdrop” on this conversation and evaluate my conclusions. My prayerful goal this week is that some mature Christian will reach out to a younger believer and invite him or her into a mentoring relationship that will strengthen both of their Christian walks in the long run.  

So, here are some reasons Christian young people want a mentor: 

1. They’ve often not had an older Christian invest in them. In many cases, they’ve not had a Christian parent or grandparent genuinely invest in them spiritually. Their families have met other needs—including, often, raising them in church—but no one has deeply poured into them spiritually. Nor, regrettably, has any church leader given them one-on-one shepherding. These young people are often unsure about how to ask for mentoring, but they know they want it.  

2. They understand the value of teamwork and collaboration in general. I’m thinking particularly about young people I work with today, many of whom don’t want to face spiritual battles alone. My generation tended to be much more individualistic, but the young people I know want to be part of a team. They want others to give them time, offering them input into their lives while also challenging them toward growth.  

3. They long to see genuine faith lived out. Authenticity is a huge deal for this generation. They’ve had enough of surface-level, cultural Christianity, and they’re looking for models of deep faith. That’s one reason why many of their spiritual “heroes” are surprisingly online heroes—leaders whose ministries seem strong, whose teaching is biblical and clear, and whose example seems credible. When these young people have seen too many failed role models up close, it’s no wonder they find their examples elsewhere.  

4. They want to see faith in action in all of life. They want to know how to be a Christian in a secular work environment, how to love their spouse, and how to raise their kids in the Lord. They know that genuine faith should be evident in every area of their lives, but they haven’t often seen the kind of faith they want to live. They’re looking to share life with another believer—not just meet occasionally.  

5. They’re sometimes afraid they’ll fall if they try to follow God alone. Think about all they face. Often, few people have ever really invested in them. Many come from broken homes that have left them vulnerable. Temptation now comes to them via an uninvited email or an alluring website name. They’ve grown up in a culture where the fall of ministers of the gospel is often quickly public. When you’ve seen and experienced enough failure, you fear your own weakness—and you don’t want to walk alone.  

6. They’re often already dealing with questions and anxieties about their faith. More and more, I hear of young people who’ve chosen to walk away from the faith of their upbringing. A common refrain from these young people is something like this one: “I had questions about why I should believe Christianity, and nobody was willing to help me think about answers. They just told me to believe.” On the other hand, I’ve known young people who grew in their faith because a mentor helped them think through their questions. Someone who respects their questions and still challenges them can help them in their faith.   

7. They want someone to teach them basic life skills. Over the years, I’ve been surprised by requests I get from young men I mentor. Sometimes they’re as simple as helping them develop a budget, make insurance choices, decide on a home purchase, paint a room, or work on their car. Likewise, I’ve learned from Christian sisters investing in young women that their questions are different, yet often similarly practical. Few of us can address all these issues, but we can connect these young people with others who can help them with basic life skills.  

In last week’s post, I challenged believers who want a mentor to start the process of seeking one. I urged them to ask—and to keep asking—until they find someone to walk with them. This week, I’m challenging mature believers who should be mentoring others to take a step in that direction. God has led us older believers and blessed us along the way, and we have something to offer to a younger generation already asking for help.  

Older brothers and sisters, prayerfully look around to see young believers who might welcome some time with you. Invite them to lunch. Get to know them. Learn their needs and interests. At least start the process, and see how the Lord might connect you with someone who needs your example. In this series next week, then, I’ll offer some ways you might spend time with the young people God puts in your life.