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Deep Mentoring: Guiding Others on Their Leadership Journey
"God is in the business of raising up leaders." —J. Robert (Bobby) Clinton When good leaders are needed, when the work is urgent, our immediate reaction is to enlist new leaders. Instead we are called to invest in new leaders. Good leaders are developed in and through slow, deep mentoring. To think otherwise is to embrace the myth of the quick fix. We proceed, instead, by paying careful attention to and joining in the work God is already doing in people's lives. This book is designed to help you know better how to come alongside others as a guide and a friend, to invest in their spiritual formation and leadership. If you want long-term impact on the lives of future leaders, how you guide must be as important as the content you impart. Only then will youl see lifelong change and empowerment in those you mentor. Randy Reese and Robert Loane show you how to make the most of this crucial ministry. They offer a biblically grounded approach that also draws on the research and teaching of Bobby Clinton as well as their own experience in resourcing churches and Christian organizations. Jesus Christ still calls people to become leaders in a lifelong journey of conforming to his image. Join him as you guide others through deep mentoring.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2012
49 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Randy D. Reese
3 booksRandy D. Reese (D.Miss., Fuller Theological Seminary) was president of VantagePoint3, a ministry seeking to foster renewal and maturity in local communities through the development of lifelong approaches to Christian leadership formation.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 16, 2024
I had to read this for my Masters program. I honestly wasn't excited about it but I was pleasantly surprised. In a lot of ways this book thinks through how one should prepare to be a mentor. And it had a lot to do with the condition of our own hearts. I really do believe that in order to help others we must know our own weakness. To be vulnerable and allow others to be vulnerable. (see the plank in our own eye first)
Mentoring and discipleship could be interchangeable. While the authors might see a distinction - especially in regards to guiding people into leadership/drawing out leadership qualities - I really see them as one in the same. Certainly there was a look toward building up leaders and empowering people - and that's important as well.
I appreciated the vignettes on people/ministries that either didn't get support but flourished due to finding guidance elsewhere or saw the need to build up people to continue the work. You saw both sides of what it looked like to neglect or to prioritize this "apprenticing".
Overall it was a challenging and encouraging book. I found this helpful to my own heart in ways I honestly didn't expect. If this idea of sharing life or investing into lives/the future interests you in ways that keeps Christ at the center - I recommend it.
Mentoring and discipleship could be interchangeable. While the authors might see a distinction - especially in regards to guiding people into leadership/drawing out leadership qualities - I really see them as one in the same. Certainly there was a look toward building up leaders and empowering people - and that's important as well.
I appreciated the vignettes on people/ministries that either didn't get support but flourished due to finding guidance elsewhere or saw the need to build up people to continue the work. You saw both sides of what it looked like to neglect or to prioritize this "apprenticing".
Overall it was a challenging and encouraging book. I found this helpful to my own heart in ways I honestly didn't expect. If this idea of sharing life or investing into lives/the future interests you in ways that keeps Christ at the center - I recommend it.
August 20, 2015
Summary: Deep Mentoring proposes that the development of Christian leaders of integrity is a lifelong, God-driven process that mentors play a crucial part in through attentiveness and focus on the spiritual and character formation of rising leaders.
We usually become aware of our need for leaders of spiritual depth, character and skill when we don't have them. And far too often, our response is the crash, leadership course and filling positions with warm, and maybe willing, bodies--only for the whole thing to end in many cases with disappointment.
Reese and Loane contend that spiritual leaders of character and skill are developed over time through the deep work of discipleship and the attentive guidance of mentors. The book is broken into three parts. The first begins with "noticing God's already present action." Informed throughout by the leadership development work of J. Robert Clinton, they believe God calls leaders but that critical in the work are attentive mentors willing to engage in the slow, deep work of leadership development eschewing superficial, one-size-fits all, ends over means, hurry-up approaches. And what do mentors pay attention to but the stories of persons recognizing the three critical formations of character, skill, and strategy that are worked out in the course of our lives.
The second part focuses on four seasons of our life stories. These are:
1. Foundation. In leadership development, consideration needs to be given to how God has been shaping a person from their earliest years and also the "family of origin" influences that shape us for good and for ill.
2. Preparation. This ten to twenty-five year period is focused around growth in holiness while discerning and cultivating one's gifts and the skills necessary to effective leadership.
3. Contribution. If one has prepared well, this is the season in which character, gifts, and skill come together in service that has spiritual authority. It is the season of one's maximum impact.
4. Multiplication. In this final phase, the focus shifts from one's own leadership to developing the leadership of others while continuing to grow spiritually.
Part three goes further with this last phase, which in some sense is involved in helping with the development of others through the four phases. It looks at how Jesus came alongside others in a way that was deepening, particularizing, hospitable and patient and then in the succeeding chapter how mentors might do the same.
Five premises serve as bookends to the book:
1. Shape the person and you stand a much greater chance of shaping everything else.
2. Discipleship and Christian leadership development are inextricably linked and together make a slow and deep work.
3. Igniting a grassroots way toward renewal is possible. It doesn't have to be top-down.
4. A Christian approach to leadership formation requires a ministry of paying attention.
5. Conditions can be cultivated in order for local communities to become significant places of learning and growth.
The book concludes with several appendices. "Lessons from those who come before us" is worth the price of admission as they discuss both why leaders finish badly and well. Three other appendices include one on lifelong perspective in developing leaders, observations from Clinton's leadership emergence studies, and five practices to sustain long haul leadership.
I appreciated the book's character-driven, developmental perspective and the practical counsel throughout for those mentoring or being mentored. Working in collegiate ministry where one often thinks of the academic year or the four to six years students are with us, the slow and deep perspective can be challenging. Two things seem of importance. One is to never neglect the dimension of investing deeply in people simply to get things done. In our work, we need to think how leadership activities not only accomplish goals but develop people, and make sure they do. Second is to realize that the most important things we do is lay down the preparation for a lifetime of leadership, and a contribution phase still to come.
This is a good book for anyone thinking about leadership development, but is far more than the typical leadership book in thinking of how leaders are formed and of the depth of attention required of those who engage in this work.
We usually become aware of our need for leaders of spiritual depth, character and skill when we don't have them. And far too often, our response is the crash, leadership course and filling positions with warm, and maybe willing, bodies--only for the whole thing to end in many cases with disappointment.
Reese and Loane contend that spiritual leaders of character and skill are developed over time through the deep work of discipleship and the attentive guidance of mentors. The book is broken into three parts. The first begins with "noticing God's already present action." Informed throughout by the leadership development work of J. Robert Clinton, they believe God calls leaders but that critical in the work are attentive mentors willing to engage in the slow, deep work of leadership development eschewing superficial, one-size-fits all, ends over means, hurry-up approaches. And what do mentors pay attention to but the stories of persons recognizing the three critical formations of character, skill, and strategy that are worked out in the course of our lives.
The second part focuses on four seasons of our life stories. These are:
1. Foundation. In leadership development, consideration needs to be given to how God has been shaping a person from their earliest years and also the "family of origin" influences that shape us for good and for ill.
2. Preparation. This ten to twenty-five year period is focused around growth in holiness while discerning and cultivating one's gifts and the skills necessary to effective leadership.
3. Contribution. If one has prepared well, this is the season in which character, gifts, and skill come together in service that has spiritual authority. It is the season of one's maximum impact.
4. Multiplication. In this final phase, the focus shifts from one's own leadership to developing the leadership of others while continuing to grow spiritually.
Part three goes further with this last phase, which in some sense is involved in helping with the development of others through the four phases. It looks at how Jesus came alongside others in a way that was deepening, particularizing, hospitable and patient and then in the succeeding chapter how mentors might do the same.
Five premises serve as bookends to the book:
1. Shape the person and you stand a much greater chance of shaping everything else.
2. Discipleship and Christian leadership development are inextricably linked and together make a slow and deep work.
3. Igniting a grassroots way toward renewal is possible. It doesn't have to be top-down.
4. A Christian approach to leadership formation requires a ministry of paying attention.
5. Conditions can be cultivated in order for local communities to become significant places of learning and growth.
The book concludes with several appendices. "Lessons from those who come before us" is worth the price of admission as they discuss both why leaders finish badly and well. Three other appendices include one on lifelong perspective in developing leaders, observations from Clinton's leadership emergence studies, and five practices to sustain long haul leadership.
I appreciated the book's character-driven, developmental perspective and the practical counsel throughout for those mentoring or being mentored. Working in collegiate ministry where one often thinks of the academic year or the four to six years students are with us, the slow and deep perspective can be challenging. Two things seem of importance. One is to never neglect the dimension of investing deeply in people simply to get things done. In our work, we need to think how leadership activities not only accomplish goals but develop people, and make sure they do. Second is to realize that the most important things we do is lay down the preparation for a lifetime of leadership, and a contribution phase still to come.
This is a good book for anyone thinking about leadership development, but is far more than the typical leadership book in thinking of how leaders are formed and of the depth of attention required of those who engage in this work.
February 6, 2020
This is a deep yet accessible book on the mentoring of leaders especially in their spiritual formation. It rightly assumes the priority of God's work in the lives of people actively shaping them into Christ- likeness. The work of the mentor is to pay attention to God's already present action and walk alongside individuals and help them discern and co-operate with God's formative work. Since each person is unique the author eschews the 'one size fits all' , 'skimming the surface' and 'faster is better' approach that characterize our modern age obsessed with speed and mass production.
Leadership formative process is a slow deep work where nothing seems to be happening for a long time. The illustration of the Chinese bamboo is apt: you only see the bud and tiny shoot for the first four years because most of the growth happens underground in the initial stage.
There is the call to reflect on our lives as a story and what makes the story a meaningful one is *who are we becoming* in the process. Leadership is essentially living out of who we are in relation to the big story of God.
While there are many well trodden paths that others have taken from which we can draw much inspiration and instructions, the one that each person treads would be unique and non replicable.
As one matures, one begins to enter the 'multiplication phase'。Again, no cloning or cookie cutter approach. The process will involve much patient discerning of where God's leading that person we come alongside. The path is usually found between the pains of the world and our gifts with which we can make a difference. It challenges us to a reflective, faithful and courageous living.
Discussion of the boundary/liminal times in which one grows from one phase of the journey of growth to another is exceptionally insightful. These transitional periods can feel disorienting and troubling. But having a mentor who knows what's going on and are able to point these out as necessary parts of growth will provide the needed assurance to be patient and calm in 'holding anxiety' and 'living with ambiguity' and resisting the urge to charge forward or commit to a premature decision. Liminal times are times of intense learning and radical transformation, even as it is commonly accompanied by 'conflict', 'crisis' and 'uncertainty'. The author offers valuable guidance in walking through it patiently and reflectively, keeping an upward gaze towards God and a backward glance to where we have been.
The book also provides useful tools in the appendixes for self-reflection and conversation with others. Written in clear, engaging prose and interspersed with useful anecdotes and quotes, this book is a pleasureable and rewarding read. Presently I find myself in one of those liminal places the book talks about so reading it has never been timelier. So thank you brothers.
Leadership formative process is a slow deep work where nothing seems to be happening for a long time. The illustration of the Chinese bamboo is apt: you only see the bud and tiny shoot for the first four years because most of the growth happens underground in the initial stage.
There is the call to reflect on our lives as a story and what makes the story a meaningful one is *who are we becoming* in the process. Leadership is essentially living out of who we are in relation to the big story of God.
While there are many well trodden paths that others have taken from which we can draw much inspiration and instructions, the one that each person treads would be unique and non replicable.
As one matures, one begins to enter the 'multiplication phase'。Again, no cloning or cookie cutter approach. The process will involve much patient discerning of where God's leading that person we come alongside. The path is usually found between the pains of the world and our gifts with which we can make a difference. It challenges us to a reflective, faithful and courageous living.
Discussion of the boundary/liminal times in which one grows from one phase of the journey of growth to another is exceptionally insightful. These transitional periods can feel disorienting and troubling. But having a mentor who knows what's going on and are able to point these out as necessary parts of growth will provide the needed assurance to be patient and calm in 'holding anxiety' and 'living with ambiguity' and resisting the urge to charge forward or commit to a premature decision. Liminal times are times of intense learning and radical transformation, even as it is commonly accompanied by 'conflict', 'crisis' and 'uncertainty'. The author offers valuable guidance in walking through it patiently and reflectively, keeping an upward gaze towards God and a backward glance to where we have been.
The book also provides useful tools in the appendixes for self-reflection and conversation with others. Written in clear, engaging prose and interspersed with useful anecdotes and quotes, this book is a pleasureable and rewarding read. Presently I find myself in one of those liminal places the book talks about so reading it has never been timelier. So thank you brothers.
June 13, 2019
In Deep Mentoring, I learned how God shapes me through a Christian leader who walks beside me; and, God works to develop maturity through life events that is unique to my story, and to develop me in to a leader who is prepared to mentor another.
In brief, Deep Mentoring explains: “This book, however is about leadership formation.” Page 21.
I bought this book several years ago. It sat on a shelf forgotten. This summer I’ve been pulling books off the shelves, dusting them off, and trying to read a few. Deep Mentoring is the first book read from that old to be read stack.
This book is not for everyone looking to read a book on mentoring another Christian, because the book requires a disciplined approach that starts with self. Self is the first point to address before walking alongside another person in their Christian growth.
Another reason this book may not be for all readers is this book requires homework. Several questions are dispersed in the chapters and at the close of the chapters. These questions are to help us reflect on our lives. The reader will need a notebook to answer them.
The best of part one is learning about the significance, and how to create a timeline, of our story. It’s a timeline or study of our lives. We are to analyze our lives in respect to how God has been at work. And, some of the questions to ask: How is God growing me up in that life? What is my response to God’s work?
We are challenged to be like a detective. “Detective work is a slow process requiring focused attention;” Page 46.
Do you look at your life as a preparation for God’s Work?
How is God preparing you to serve Him?
As an example, the story of Mother Teresa is given, and how God prepared her for a life of mission work.
Five signs are given as examples that God is readying our lives. For example, “An increased yearning for intimacy with God.” “A Growing recognition of the importance of holiness.” Page 104.
Deep Mentoring takes us through problems we will encounter during the development of our service. In addition, faithfulness, dependence on God, character formation, legacy, boundaries, and a time of testing.
The last part of the book is on the formation of others: our mentoring of another person. Mentoring means to walk alongside another person. Examples of those in the Bible who mentored another, like Elijah who mentored Elisha. And, how Jesus mentored others. This last point is taught in chapter seven.
When I began reading this book I thought its emphasis was mentoring others. I love it that it began by how leadership is crafted in me!
In brief, Deep Mentoring explains: “This book, however is about leadership formation.” Page 21.
I bought this book several years ago. It sat on a shelf forgotten. This summer I’ve been pulling books off the shelves, dusting them off, and trying to read a few. Deep Mentoring is the first book read from that old to be read stack.
This book is not for everyone looking to read a book on mentoring another Christian, because the book requires a disciplined approach that starts with self. Self is the first point to address before walking alongside another person in their Christian growth.
Another reason this book may not be for all readers is this book requires homework. Several questions are dispersed in the chapters and at the close of the chapters. These questions are to help us reflect on our lives. The reader will need a notebook to answer them.
The best of part one is learning about the significance, and how to create a timeline, of our story. It’s a timeline or study of our lives. We are to analyze our lives in respect to how God has been at work. And, some of the questions to ask: How is God growing me up in that life? What is my response to God’s work?
We are challenged to be like a detective. “Detective work is a slow process requiring focused attention;” Page 46.
Do you look at your life as a preparation for God’s Work?
How is God preparing you to serve Him?
As an example, the story of Mother Teresa is given, and how God prepared her for a life of mission work.
Five signs are given as examples that God is readying our lives. For example, “An increased yearning for intimacy with God.” “A Growing recognition of the importance of holiness.” Page 104.
Deep Mentoring takes us through problems we will encounter during the development of our service. In addition, faithfulness, dependence on God, character formation, legacy, boundaries, and a time of testing.
The last part of the book is on the formation of others: our mentoring of another person. Mentoring means to walk alongside another person. Examples of those in the Bible who mentored another, like Elijah who mentored Elisha. And, how Jesus mentored others. This last point is taught in chapter seven.
When I began reading this book I thought its emphasis was mentoring others. I love it that it began by how leadership is crafted in me!
March 8, 2023
Good book on spiritual mentoring. 2/3rds is an overview of J. Robert Clinton's Leadership Emergence Theory, but with a bias towards mentoring and being mentored. But 1st and 7th and 8th chapters provided bigger picture insight on mentoring in terms of spiritual alignment to God and depth of person and character. Found a lot of it really valuable. For me personally, the chapter on contribution filled my soul and I was very grateful for that one. Helpful resource for ministers or Christian lay people who want to come alongside others in such a way.
April 23, 2020
This book is a gift. I think that every Christian leader should read this book. The authors draw from a vast and rich storehouse of knowledge in regards to Christian leadership and spiritual formation; moving the reader through how God is at work in different stages of a leader's development and how leaders can make an impact as they journey through life. It's both very deep and very practical... which is rare!
September 10, 2022
This is a "greatest hits" of all of Dr. Clinton's leadership development and mentorship work coming out of Fuller. If you've read any of Clinton's books like Starting Well you will feel a sense of deja vu.
July 28, 2025
Some good nuggets to think about. Like many other books of its kind, I think it could have been half as long and still accomplished what it intended to. I had to buy it to read it but otherwise would not have purchased…good book to borrow.
October 2, 2017
Just finished reading “Deep Mentoring” and found it very helpful and challenging . A must-read for anyone interested in investing in the development of leaders as well as personal growth.
June 12, 2018
Great practical mentoring stuff.
January 22, 2021
Outstanding work that stands in contrast to the church growth machine that raises leaders for the sake of themselves.
November 14, 2023
A fantastic resource on mentoring and adult discipleship. Having participated in VantagePoint3's course, Walking With Others, much of the material was regurgitated here but I found it helpful to have all the information in one small book rather than three workbooks as in the Walking With Others course.
Reese and Loane view discipleship as a journey, primarily. They emphasize the 'process' of walking with others, listening to their stories, and paying attention to what is being said (or left unsaid). They carry the reader through the four phases of spiritual development: Foundation, Preparation, Contribution, and Maturation. In order to mentor well, we must pay attention to these phases of development in the lives of those we mentor. The authors write clearly and concisely. This will be a resource for years to come.
See https://katelynentz.com/smart-books/a... for a more complete review.
Reese and Loane view discipleship as a journey, primarily. They emphasize the 'process' of walking with others, listening to their stories, and paying attention to what is being said (or left unsaid). They carry the reader through the four phases of spiritual development: Foundation, Preparation, Contribution, and Maturation. In order to mentor well, we must pay attention to these phases of development in the lives of those we mentor. The authors write clearly and concisely. This will be a resource for years to come.
See https://katelynentz.com/smart-books/a... for a more complete review.
March 11, 2014
Even though the subject matter interested me greatly, I got bogged down with details. They tried to pack too many concepts into this book. I felt it could've been simplified a great deal and more user friendly. I hear they have another book out on this same topic that is just that. My take away from this is that walking alongside someone is a slow, deep work. God's transformation of us is also a slow deep work. Neither can be rushed. The last half of book was better than the first.
November 14, 2020
Not your average leadership book. Goes for the heart and soul and leaves behind most if not all of the stuff being churned out by the leadership industry.
Based in part on Robert J. Clintons research and practice. This is a must-read for anyone who desires to effectively mentor and disciple.
Based in part on Robert J. Clintons research and practice. This is a must-read for anyone who desires to effectively mentor and disciple.
August 16, 2016
Best book on mentoring others I have read. Builds a lot on Dr. Bobby Clinton's Leadership Emergence Theory
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews