Confirmation Mentors
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— (Psalm 145:4-5)
The Sacrament of Baptism is based upon an ancient tradition that symbolizes our initiation into the family of God. As John baptized Jesus in the Jordan and the people heard the voice of God proclaim ‘This is my Son, the beloved, listen to Him,’ (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35) they experienced an epiphany in which the real identity of Christ was revealed to them. Because most people are baptized as infants, many have no recollection of their baptism except through photographs and stories that may have been shared by their families. Ideally, after baptism, children and their families will remain actively involved in the Church wherever they may reside. As children develop and grow, they reach a point of maturity in which they are able to declare for themselves their decision to follow Jesus as their Savior. This process and the accompanying ceremony are known as Confirmation.
To prepare for confirmation, many people and many experiences are helpful. Learning the scriptures, traditions and beliefs of the Church are necessary to fulfill our roles in the church as disciples. Mentors are an important part of the preparation for confirmation. As Jesus chose disciples who will teach others about Him, mentors are individuals who have experienced the inspiration from God to encourage others. Mentors are also willing to share the details of the journey with Christ and willing to listen to others explore their questions about faith, life and the desire to be like Jesus.
Soon, several youth from the church will formally begin their process of learning and exploration to prepare to profess publicly their belief in Christ. We are hoping to assemble intergenerational teams of mentors to assist these youth. Prayerfully consider how God can use you to help prepare these youth as they become full members of the church. Sometimes it’s helpful to think of the many people who have been helpful to you in your growth as a Christian. Good mentors are people who have been intentionally mentored by people who explicitly expected them to mentor others. In other words, a person has been mentored well when they feel compelled to identify others with whom they can share the love, joy, peace and purposes of God.
In an article entitled “Bridging Generations: The Essential Role of Mentorship in the Church,” Jacki C. King noted that “mentorship is not solely about imparting knowledge but about sharing wisdom gleaned from lived experiences. It’s about listening attentively, asking good and probing questions, and offering guidance rooted in personal insight and wisdom through lived seasons with God.” Some people may feel intimidated by the concept of mentoring and may question their qualification to perform the role adequately. According to Chelsea Kight, “many people discount themselves from becoming mentors because they look at themselves and see what’s missing rather than what’s present.” She emphasized the fact that “if the Holy Spirit lives with you, then you have something to pass on to another person.”
Mentoring provides an opportunity for us all to grow. We better understand what we know, what we think we know and what we do not know, when we teach others. The relationship between Elijah and Elisha is often highlighted as an Old Testament example of a mentoring relationship. Notably, as a result of their relationship, Elisha desired a double-portion of Elijah’s spirit. The relationship between Jesus and Peter is often mentioned as an example of a mentoring relationship. Even though Peter was far from perfect and even though Peter denied Jesus, Peter remained a follower of Jesus amend Peter exemplified the rock upon which Christ would build the church (Matthew 16:18). Finally, the relationship between Barnabas, Saul and Timothy provides an example of an intergenerational mentoring relationship in which “Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people” (Acts 11:25-26). Paul said to Timothy, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
If you are interested in learning more about how you can serve as a confirmation mentor or if you want to nominate someone to serve as a confirmation mentor, please contact Brian Stombaugh (the Youth Ministry coordinator; brian@christchurchquadcities.com), Roxi Stevenson (the receptionist; roxi@christchurchquadcities.com), and/or me (jon@christchurchquadcities.com). Obviously, each person who serves as a mentor will have to complete a background check. The confirmation curriculum (Confirm published by Cokesbury, our denominational publishing house) that we will be using contains many helpful resources and during the orientation for the mentors, we will provide detailed instructions and suggestions.
In Christ,
Jon McCoy
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)
