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Organic Mentoring: A Mentor’s Guide to Relationships with Next Generation Women
We are experiencing a mentoring crisis today. One key reason is that too many women cling to an outdated formulaic idea of what mentoring is all about. When we hear the word "mentoring" we conjure up a picture that fit our experience decades ago. Then we look in the mirror and don't see an adequate mentor staring back at us. Our preconceived ideas about what today's young women want in a mentor convince us we are not qualified to be mentors--but we are wrong. What we don't realize is that younger women today are far more likely to want a relationship with that woman in the mirror than the conjured-up perfect mentor in our head.
Organic Mentoring explores foundational issues that explain why beloved but outdated mentoring methods are no longer effective. The book looks at the cultural changes and fast-paced digital advancements that shape young thought and behavior but weaken the link between generations. It walks through the new values, preferences, ideas, and problems of the next generation and how these issues impact mentoring. Then the authors guide the reader through landmines to avoid and approaches that work today.
Organic Mentoring explores foundational issues that explain why beloved but outdated mentoring methods are no longer effective. The book looks at the cultural changes and fast-paced digital advancements that shape young thought and behavior but weaken the link between generations. It walks through the new values, preferences, ideas, and problems of the next generation and how these issues impact mentoring. Then the authors guide the reader through landmines to avoid and approaches that work today.
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2014
9 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Sue Edwards
52 books11 followersI am an assistant professor of Christian education at Dallas Theological Seminary, specializing in Women's Studies. I also love to write as a way to share my love for people and God's Word. I have authored 6 books with two more in the works. Each book is a tool to help women and men sharpen their ministry skills and serve others more effectively."
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 17, 2019
An excellent look at the differences between generations of women. As I find myself somewhat in between the Modern and Postmodern ages, I easily saw the thinking on each side but found myself slipping one way and then the other on which way I lean. Regardless, this book was a good read and helped me to more clearly understand both sides. Additionally, I liked the discussions on how to bring everyone together into intergenerational relationships and groups that encourage everyone to grow together in Christ.
August 25, 2024
great resource!!! the first half felt quite redundant, but the material was good. the second half is where the money is at. would recommend to anyone in women’s ministry or discipleship ministry!
September 18, 2014
Are there any significant difference between those who grow up in the modern and post-modern era? I’m sure most people will say yes to this question. But what if I asked you, whether there would be any difference between the way we mentor those living in the modern and post-modern times? Would you be able to separate out the differences? How would your mentoring method be different? Sue Edwards and Barbara Neumann is here to show us the differences and the changes we will need to make in order to better mentor the current generation.
The book is spilt generally into 2 parts, first it explains and shows why there is a need for a new method of mentoring. This half is generally descriptive, telling us about the post-modern generation and how it is different from the modern generation. In the 2nd part, Edwards and Neumann then shows how their new approach of mentoring looks like and what they would potentially accomplish.
On the whole, I felt that the first half of the book could have been shorter, and although Edwards and Neumann does show their depth of research, based mostly on qualitative research findings for the entire book.
One big drawback of this book is the lack of deep biblical teaching. Biblical teaching on mentorship only start substantially at almost halfway through the book, and even so mostly are not exegetical in nature, and deriving application from there, but it seems to be more of this is what the bible say and how we think it fits our model.
However, nearing to the end the book, on the chapter of digital connections, the authors did a superb job in handling this chapter. First they gave a description of how the post-modern generation has been shaped by the digit gadgets they use everyday. Next they showed how the modern generation ought to understand and even use such gadgets to their advantage in mentoring, and lastly the dangers of such gadgets for the post-modern generation. I felt that this was the most well-written chapter in the whole book, it was written in a balance way, highlighting the pros and the cons of the particular topic. Other chapters were more or less tilting to the side of pros and the cons were not well elaborated.
Overall, if you’re interested to have a better idea and picture about how the current generation is different from the previous generation, do read this book. But if you’re looking and hoping to find deep biblical truth in support of it, you will need to supplement it with other books.
Rating: 3 / 5
Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The book is spilt generally into 2 parts, first it explains and shows why there is a need for a new method of mentoring. This half is generally descriptive, telling us about the post-modern generation and how it is different from the modern generation. In the 2nd part, Edwards and Neumann then shows how their new approach of mentoring looks like and what they would potentially accomplish.
On the whole, I felt that the first half of the book could have been shorter, and although Edwards and Neumann does show their depth of research, based mostly on qualitative research findings for the entire book.
One big drawback of this book is the lack of deep biblical teaching. Biblical teaching on mentorship only start substantially at almost halfway through the book, and even so mostly are not exegetical in nature, and deriving application from there, but it seems to be more of this is what the bible say and how we think it fits our model.
However, nearing to the end the book, on the chapter of digital connections, the authors did a superb job in handling this chapter. First they gave a description of how the post-modern generation has been shaped by the digit gadgets they use everyday. Next they showed how the modern generation ought to understand and even use such gadgets to their advantage in mentoring, and lastly the dangers of such gadgets for the post-modern generation. I felt that this was the most well-written chapter in the whole book, it was written in a balance way, highlighting the pros and the cons of the particular topic. Other chapters were more or less tilting to the side of pros and the cons were not well elaborated.
Overall, if you’re interested to have a better idea and picture about how the current generation is different from the previous generation, do read this book. But if you’re looking and hoping to find deep biblical truth in support of it, you will need to supplement it with other books.
Rating: 3 / 5
Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2019
I learned so much from this book and it also confirmed things I have learned in spending time with women younger then myself. I appreciate the differences and I feel comfortable with change and relating in new ways. The book was very helpful for me to understand the why and better set up my expectations and relationships. I want to love the next generation and grow in my listening and discerning abilities. I liked the reference to "wholly listening, holy listening, and holy seeing."
"Next generation women do not intend to be difficult-they were simply born into a prominently postmodern culture. Broadly speaking, postmodern indicates the time that followed the modern era. The modern age began in the 1500s and lasted until about 1980. By the 1080s the Internet, personal computers, and advanced digital technology became available to the general public, instigating rapid changes, and new worldview that prompted Western society to "rearrange itself". People born during this time grew up in a new context, were molded by a new culture, and have a markedly different set of beliefs about themselves and the world they inhabit. Postmoderns live in an environment vastly different from the one their mothers and grandmothers knew, and this difference prompts the disconnect we now see."
"The message never changes, but methods continually change so faith can be passed effectively from generation to generation."
"Next generation women do not intend to be difficult-they were simply born into a prominently postmodern culture. Broadly speaking, postmodern indicates the time that followed the modern era. The modern age began in the 1500s and lasted until about 1980. By the 1080s the Internet, personal computers, and advanced digital technology became available to the general public, instigating rapid changes, and new worldview that prompted Western society to "rearrange itself". People born during this time grew up in a new context, were molded by a new culture, and have a markedly different set of beliefs about themselves and the world they inhabit. Postmoderns live in an environment vastly different from the one their mothers and grandmothers knew, and this difference prompts the disconnect we now see."
"The message never changes, but methods continually change so faith can be passed effectively from generation to generation."
June 20, 2021
An excellent help with facilitating understanding between generations and growth opportunities through Christian mentoring. Sounds challenging to get going, but possible. The whole point is helping younger women grow deeper in their faith and closer to God. (See Titus 2 and Deuteronomy 6. This book is based more on the authors' research and does not aim to exegete these passages.)
Makes me also wonder, what if the younger women at church don't want this? (I think many younger women do, while others disregard most older women as irrelevant.) Or what if there are significant theological differences between generations at the same church? Not that all these questions need to be answered first. One huge takeaway for me is to understand what works and become open to new relationships. Exciting!
Makes me also wonder, what if the younger women at church don't want this? (I think many younger women do, while others disregard most older women as irrelevant.) Or what if there are significant theological differences between generations at the same church? Not that all these questions need to be answered first. One huge takeaway for me is to understand what works and become open to new relationships. Exciting!
August 19, 2023
The authors, professors at Dallas Theological Seminary, include both stories and research in this book that offers an up-close look at mentoring within the evangelical world. They suggest that the traditional methods of every-week commitments and workbooks won’t work as well these days as a more organic, spontaneous, sharing-stories sort of approach. Although some of the stereotyping of generations seems overdone, the specific comments from younger generation believers lends credence to the authors’ main idea that women today want something much different from their mentoring relationships than women did 50 years ago; however, women do still long for mentors.
April 26, 2023
Did not finish. I was clearly not the intended audience on multiple fronts, but in any case, this book does not promote a positive mentoring relationship if by page 47 they are claiming that young women are "morally lax" and "mentors must help women with the scars of promiscuity..." This is a problematic approach to mentoring if the relationship is entirely based on judgment toward the mentee's life choices with the mentor's mission of "fixing" the younger woman's "mistakes."
September 18, 2022
Highly recommend this book. Was so interesting to get a look at how my generation thinks and helped me understand a lot more of how this generation is seeing things these days. Gave tools in opening the door to better communication not just in a church setting but the work place to. Very good book.
February 7, 2018
Lacks Biblical depth. Mentoring between followers of Christ/believers must be/will be different than mentoring in the world.
This book does do a good job in showing the difference between generations but what the authors are suggesting could just as well be used by nonbelievers.
This book does do a good job in showing the difference between generations but what the authors are suggesting could just as well be used by nonbelievers.
May 1, 2018
This is a helpful book in understanding the differences in how each generation relates and particularly how older women can be sensitive to the needs of younger women in a mentoring relationship.
May 24, 2018
Excellent read about how to set up a mentoring "program" for our current generation of young women. Bottom line - programs don't work. ;)
February 3, 2019
A very impactful book on mentoring which has completely opened my eyes and changed many of my perspectives!
September 16, 2022
It was alright. I learned more about my own generation than the older generation.
May 26, 2016
There is such wisdom in these pages! The authors present this important topic in an engaging, practical manner. I found myself flying through the book and highlighting like crazy; I’m excited to implement what I have learned. Organic Mentoring is geared towards the modern (older) woman, although as a post-modern I still found the text to be relevant, insightful, and applicable. No matter what season in life we happen to be in, we all have something to offer and something to learn.
July 26, 2016
I thought this book had some very helpful (general) principles. I was about to start a discipling relationship with a younger woman and was panicked, and not knowing where to start, read this. While this is not a "how-to", it did give me some good guidelines and expectations. What I really found helpful was a podcast from The Gospel Coalition's Women's Conference a couple of years ago:
http://resources.thegospelcoalition.o...
http://resources.thegospelcoalition.o...
October 26, 2016
Some helpful advice about entering mentoring relationships. This book isn't aimed at me (I'm part of the postmodern generation, while the target audience for this book is the modern generation), but it still helped me clarify some of my thoughts about mentoring. There was an especially good chapter about technology and its affect on my generation.
February 11, 2016
Skimmed this for information when I was working on resourcing a mentoring initiative for work. I like the section on moderns versus post-moderns--good information that's not typically considered in mentoring resources. Nice balance to other resources out there.
August 7, 2016
This is an excellent book with great insights. It's written for women but there are many insights that would be helpful to men trying to understand generational differences. I'm recommending it to my husband to read as well.
July 26, 2015
This thoughtful examination of mentoring raises much-needed awareness of generational differences and how they can be negotiated to provide richer relationships.
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May 6, 2016Overall the book was good. I think the term "Organic Mentoring" was used far too much in the book.
September 29, 2016
Excellent look into why mentoring programs often don't work. I learned so much about building relationships with the next generation of women.
April 22, 2017
This book will be helpful to those who want to understand how the millennial/postmodern woman may think, and therefore how to walk alongside them in a mentoring relationship.
April 18, 2016
Really good book about "mentoring" today.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews