Mentor Like Jesus

by Regi Campbell, Richard Chancy, Andy Stanley (Foreword)

More time, spent with fewer people, equals greater kingdom impact.Desiring to see God widely embraced as more than a remote concept, entrepreneur Regi Campbell began a deeply successful mentoring program years ago that has become one of his greatest joys. Though it seemed radical at first—spending more time with less people to further an all important message—he soon realized this is the discipleship model Jesus set out during his ministry; today two billion people worldwide embrace the wisdom He entrusted to a small band of disciples two thousand years ago.Mentor Like Jesus is Campbell’s revelation of what he now calls “next generation mentoring,” an exponentially rewarding process that is resulting in “lives changed, marriages saved, children dealt with in a more loving way.” Readers of any age and in any situation will clearly understand how the return on a meaningful investment in another person is truly immeasurable.

Genres: Leadership, Discipleship, Christian, Spirituality, Church, Christian Non Fiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good outline of how to establish and conduct a mentoring group. At times the author comes across as a bit dictatorial and overly formulaic (this is the right way to do it, period, and I know because I rock) but when people are speaking from successful experience, they have earned that to some degree.

I found the second half of the book more helpful than the first, as it included more practical tips. The first half focused more on comparing a contemporary mentoring context to a biblical one. The vast majority of this content was known to me, but this may due to the fact that this is a frequent topic of study for me.

If you are considering initiating a mentoring group, it would be worthwhile to at least speed read this, and read it slowly if you don't have any context for biblical mentoring.

[Carrie Daws · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated this look at group mentoring. The author walks the reader through his reasons for choosing small groups over individual meetings, his process for picking mentees, and how he runs each session. The book was thorough enough that the method could be copied, and he shares some of the places they succeeded and failed in the process of getting a ministry off the ground.

[B Detes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book amongst others in developing a mentor program for our ministry. What I appreciated was the different approach to mentoring. The group model will be especially helpful with those we serve. And I also appreciated Campbell's encouragement to be bold in demanding that people make a commitment with mentoring on both sides.

[Andrew Barlow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Regi Campell is a business man who has a passion for discipleship. After spending years teaching Sunday schools etc, Campell became convinced that to really make the greatest kingdom impact he needed to invest in fewer guys with more intentionality. The book is full of great tips on how to begin a mentoring group. In all, helpful but not one to invest much time in.

[Peter Mead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am convinced that mentoring is at the very heart of Biblical ministry and we should all be pondering and pursuing it in our lives. While I don’t agree with every specific application in the book (some feel a bit forced), it does both provoke thought by looking at Jesus’ mentoring pattern, and enthuse the reader to make mentoring a real priority as it should be. Easy read, worth a read.

[Jeremy Mcmorris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very motivating book. Campbell's method might not work for everyone, but it's a very helpful grid if you don't know where to start. He states, "More time with fewer people equals greater kingdom impact." Worth considering.

[David Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read this book for school. And I am waking away more thoughtful and intentional about my future for mentoring others. I will always recommend this book to anyone that is walking in any sort of leadership or ministry. Even if your not called to pastor, I feel we are all called to mentor.

[Stan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

Regi is modeling an obedience to Jesus' command to make disciples to the ends of the earth. He is not a pastor, but a businessman who understands that Jesus' call to discipleship is for everyone.

[Marijke Dyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about mentoring men. Was pleasantly surprised that there is a similar program for mentoring women.

[Abby Vu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great resource for mentorship.

[Jeffrey Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on our responsibility and privilege to mentor like our Master. I learned many great truths from this book:


Radical mentoring is intentionally investing in a generation for God‘s glory.

Radical mentoring is what Jesus did.

More time with fewer people means greater kingdom impact.

Jesus helped His men with almost every area. He was more practical than hypothetical.

A mentor needs to be a giver.

We all want to leave a legacy. By mentoring, you help others and leave a legacy.

You really know you are a follower of Jesus when you help someone else in Jesus.

Mentoring is messy, and is relationships.

Mentoring puts the hands and feet on loving and serving.

Authentic mentoring, mentoring like Jesus did, involves selflessness. It’s a willingness to invest in others with no return.

Your motive in mentoring should be to point an individual to Christ. The greatest gift you can give is your time and attention.

Mentors like Jesus know to watch their mentees go further in life than they do.

Jesus mentored with a group. Why tell the same story eight times when you can tell it once to eight people.

By mentioning, you can also learn from them.

We think bigger is better, but Jesus narrowed it down to twelve men.

Do not take just anyone. Jesus made it a serious matter of prayer.

Don’t let them pick you. Jesus picked the twelve, not the other way around.

Let God be your advisor. Jesus picked His 12, He prayed all night long, which is the longest recorded prayer in the Bible.

The author of this book asks the mentees to make a one-year commitment to meet with the group once a month.

Teachability. Those you are going to mentor must be teachable.

There’s something good about setting a timeframe to mentorship. Jesus mentored for three years with a definite ending time, so there’s something to it.

The author requires those he is mentoring to reading 9–12 books during their year of mentorship. They write one page on what they learned from the book. It is on-purpose reading about character, marriage, etc. They discuss that book together as a group and find it helpful since every person learns different things from the same book.

When the year of mentorship ends, says the author, many want to know what is next. I hope they are a better leader and learner as a result. Many will continue reading books, but my (author) role with them is to stay friends, hear from them at important moments of their life, and offer advice whenever they needed it.

Scripture is not just what Jesus knew, it is who He was. If you are going to mentor others, you must know the Word!

The author requires those he is mentoring to memorize 24 Scripture verses, two at a time.

Mentoring involves modeling.

A person cannot mentor without praying — for them, for yourself, and for God’s guidance.

Great mentors are great listeners.

A mentee has successfully finished when he begins to mentor another person.

Never agree to mentor a person unless he promises to mentor at least one person in the future.

[Joan F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe people view discipleship as a series of classes, but that's not the way Jesus did it. Yes, He taught, but he did it in the context of living everyday life with twelve men.

This book shows modern Christians a way to go deeper in leading others to greater maturity. It's still not really what Jesus did, but it's better than just a set of classes on Christian doctrines. It's teaching a way of life.

It would be good for every pastor and church leader to read this book and develop a mentoring program of their own. While this book was written about mentoring men, it's easy to transfer the ideas to women's ministry. I'm looking into ways to use what I've learned.

[Katie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay to me. I almost put it down after the first bit of it because I felt like the author was just glorifying himself and how great he is to be mentoring like Jesus. And I'm not sure he knew who exactly his audience was when he was writing - someone who wanted to become a mentor? Or someone who was looking for a mentor...? He kept addressing both, and that was a little confusing to me. Other than that, I still pulled out a few pieces of wisdom from the book. But I probably wouldn't recommend it to many people.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few gems in this book, but felt the intended audience is someone in a mega church with older (or no) children, or someone not heavily involved in a church.

I was also a tad put off by the formulaic approach the book seemed to take, not to mention its overly casual style - the author’s overuse of ellipses (...) became distracting. I began pausing at the beginning of every page new page just to count them (page 99 had the most with 12).

[Matt Maples · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this idea. Let’s disciple people less like Henry Ford’s assembly line and more like Jesus’ inefficient, slow, methodical process. Discipleship isn’t a program; it’s an intentional relationship. I really appreciate what Regi Campbell has brought to the forefront, and now I’m off to figure out how to do it in my context. Thank you for your life and legacy Regi! May your disciples and all of us who have been influenced by your life’s ministry continue to carry on the mantle.

[Osei Tweneboah · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT INSIGHT

I listened to this book and it has shaped my perception about how to raise the next generation in the fear of the Lord according to the pattern of Jesus. It is a great and necessary effort.

[Austin Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus discipleship program - It's the most practical picture of discipleship, and it's beautiful.

Didn't agree with the paragraph that said Jesus had favorites amongst his disciples; but aside from that paragraph solid read.🙏🏽

5 stars because of its practicality and good good words.

[William "Spig" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a core book for anyone looking to become a mentor like Jesus. Great book.

[Tony Fraley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re interested in mentoring at all—thinking about mentoring others or getting a mentor—you should read this book.
Special thanks to Brian Moore and CrossPointe in Anaheim for the book.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about how he wrote this book. The voice can sound arrogant at times. But it's definitely an interesting way to look at mentoring and discipling.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on mentoring...opened my eyes to a new way of leading people to follow Jesus.

Here are some of the thoughts I'm chewing on from this book:

"More time spent with fewer people equals greater kingdom impact."

"Don't waste your life. Do what Jesus did. Pick some less experienced people and mentor them."

"Mentoring is not about coming to know something; that would be education. Mentoring isn't about learning to do something; that would be training. Mentoring is about showing someone how to do something."

"A great mentor is one who can listen, ask good questions, bring others into the conversations, and tell a relevant story to make a point. He lets the conversation run when it's going in a good direction but cuts it off as soon as it loses its point"

"Mentoring involves modeling...doing what you do so others can see you do it and learn."

"Jesus initiated the mentoring relationship with his disciples. He approached them. He chose them."

[Chad Stutzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about mentoring! I absolutely love the system that Regi is using and describes in this book. I am planning on starting a mentor group later in 2010 and hope to have several going at NewPointe Community Church in 2010. This is about pouring what you have into 8 other people over a 10 month period. Can't wait to do that with 8 young men.

[Linda]

Newly published...Can't wait to read it. Met Regi Campbell and I cannot wait to read his thoughts and ideas on mentoring.

[Dennis Thurman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief. It grew on me. Several practical insights. Mentoring in a group setting chapter was worth the read.