What is the mentorship program?
The word mentor means to empower another person by sharing your experiences and resources. It is a ministry for women of all ages based on Titus 2:3-5 that intentionally develops accountability partners among women of different generations and walks of life. There is a mentor (a godly, mature, and faithful
woman who listens, provides wisdom, encourages, and leads) and a merea (a companion who welcomes the insight and knowledge of her mentor and desires to develop her spiritual journey with someone who has dealt with struggles she now faces). In every season of life, it helps to have someone walk alongside you, cheering you on.
Be a Merea or Mentor
Fill out the downloadable form (Mentor | Merea) or visit the she Ministries office and ask Tracy Rodden, our mentorship program director and Bible study manager, for information about the program. She will give you a Mentorship Information Packet and a Get to Know You profile sheet and help answer any questions you have about the program.
What is the mentorship program?
The mentorship program is for women of all ages based on Titus 2:3-5. It is a ministry that intentionally develops accountability partners among women of different generations and walks of life.
Why have a mentorship program?
The mentorship program is for women of all ages based on Titus 2:3-5. It is a ministry that intentionally develops accountability partners among women of different generations and walks of life.
- The Lord commands us to tell the next generation about Himself (see Psalm 48:13; 71:18; 78:4; 145:4).
- Teaching what we’ve learned is the Lord’s plan for growth and maturity (see Titus 2:2-5).
- Spiritual accountability partners are extremely valuable in a woman’s life (see Proverbs 27:9, 17).
Purpose
The purpose of the mentorship program is to encourage spiritual growth through accountability partners. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor" (Ecclesiastes 4:9). Knowing that women hold a unique place in God’s plan and heart, she Ministries takes inspiration from the virtuous woman extolled in Proverbs 31.
Mission
Women invest in one another's lives through encouragement, guidance, listening, laughing, and loving. We strive to form strong and lasting relationships that are a source of support, growth, and strength based on a mutual desire to follow God’s way of love and obedience through the example of Jesus Christ.
- A mentor is a wise woman who is mature in faith and consistent in godly conduct.
- She is willing to listen, share skills, and provide a positive perspective for life experiences.
- She provides wisdom and offers a spiritually sound, safe, and fun accountability partnership.
- She encourages, meets commitments, offers resources, and is teachable, flexible, honorable, and prayerful.
- She leads simply because she knows the path a little better.
What is a merea and what does she do?
- Merea is a Hebrew term that means companion, friend, or confidential friend.
- A merea is a woman who welcomes the insight and knowledge of a more mature woman.
- She desires to develop certain skills and/or strengths for her personal, spiritual journey.
- She is looking for a woman who has dealt with the struggles she now faces.
What commitment does the mentorship program require?
- Three-month commitment to mentoring relationship
- Weekly contact (i.e., email, calls, card, etc.)
- Monthly meeting in person (i.e., church, Bible study, fun activities, coffee time, etc.)
- Regular prayer for each other asking the Lord to deepen their bond of accountability; sharing openly and honestly; making the relationship a priority by setting aside time with schedules
- Keeping any sharing between the mentor and merea confidential, unless both agree to share with someone else. This is a time for the merea to focus on herself.
Timeline
- Mereas and mentors can join the mentorship program at any time.
- The mentorship core team will pray over all profile sheets for approximately ten days.
- Mentor/merea matches and/or mentor invitations will be made.
- Mereas will be contacted by their mentor within five days of notification of matching (ten to fifteen days after submission of the profile sheet).
Process of Becoming a Merea or Mentor
It is a two-step process:
STEP 1: Both merea and mentor must complete the Get to Know You profile sheet and turn it into the she Ministries office (attention: Tracy Rodden [tracy.rodden@calvaryabq.org]). Note: Mentors must also complete LifeTrack at Calvary Church.
STEP 2: Your profile sheet will be prayed over by the mentorship core team, and they will determine the matching. They will notify the mentor who will then contact their new merea. They will also extend an invitation to qualifying mentors in order to set up an interview and explain additional guidelines.
Can the merea choose her mentor?
Sorry, but no. We are asking the Lord to make that choice. The best pairings occur when we leave the choice to Him. This is why the mentorship core team takes ten days to pray over every profile sheet.
Does the merea have to attend Calvary Albuquerque or the she Ministries Bible study to participate?
Mereas are not required to call Calvary their home church, but they must display evidence of faith. They must participate in both the she Ministries Bible study teaching and small group, "that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine" (Romans 1:12, ESV).
Does the mentor have to attend Calvary Albuquerque or the she Ministries Bible study to participate?
Mentors must consider Calvary their home church and attend the she Ministries Bible study, including participation in a small group for at least one full study (two semesters: fall and spring). Candidates for mentors will be given information on the interview and acceptance process.
The Benefits of an accountability partner
Emotional
- Love
- "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). Ask not, “Do I receive this type of accountability partnership?" but rather, "Do I give this type of accountability partnership back?”
- "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10, NIV). A great friend is ready to stand by at great personal expense.
- Acceptance
- "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God" (Romans 15:7, NIV).
- Acceptance is not permissiveness, but responsibility with the goal of maturity.
- Support
- "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15, NIV).
- "Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart" (Proverbs 25:20, NIV).
- Freedom of expression
- "My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19, NIV). This is someone to share deeply with.
- "He who covers an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends" (Proverbs 17:9, NIV). A friend overlooks an offense and does not betray a confidence.
- Consideration
- "Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—too much of you, and he will hate you" (Proverbs 25:17, NIV).
- "If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse" (Proverbs 27:14, NIV). A friend respects your schedule so she does not frustrate you.
Spiritual
- Counsel
- "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel" (Proverbs 27:9, NIV). Spiritual counsel from the Word brings joy to the heart.
- "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17, NIV). A good friend stimulates and sharpens you.
- "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20, NIV).
- Speaking the truth in love
- "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ" (Ephesians 4:15, NIV).
- "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:6, NIV).
- Encouragement
- "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13, NIV).
- "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another" (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV).
- "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). This is the attitude of Christ.
Physical
- Help in Work and Trouble
- "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV).
- Health to Your Body
- "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" (Proverbs 16: 24).
- "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs 17:22, NIV). A discontent and bitter heart in a friend dries up the vitality of a relationship.