Minute with Mike | January 2022

The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. Proverbs 20:29

“What’s some experience or accomplishment in your life that you’re most proud of?”

I asked this question to a group of ‘seasoned’ men at a local church who invited me in to talk with them about mentoring. They were eager to answer the question and had some great responses. The next question, not so much…

“Now, what is some experience or aspect of your life that you aren’t proud of? Or even embarrassed by?”

The room was quiet. No one volunteered, so I called on folks. Reluctantly, a few told me of divorce, bankruptcy, and broken relationships. To be sure, every guy had an answer in mind – probably more than one.

I explained to them that many younger men in their church, family, and community are eager to learn from them, but they need to be willing to share real life with them. They need to pass on the lessons learned along the way as God brought them through challenging circumstances and redeemed various aspects of their lives.

Nearly every church I work with asks me about how they can launch an inter-generational mentoring ministry. This type of ministry is necessary and valuable, and young men are hungry for it.

So, we’re going to focus on mentoring during the first quarter of 2022. 

Be on the lookout for resources, articles, podcasts, and strategies to help you with 1:1 mentoring or launching a mentoring ministry in your church.

The old man needs the young man’s strength; the young man needs the old man’s wisdom.

This article first appeared in the Noble Warriors® Monthly Partner Letter, Battle Briefing. Click here to learn how you can partner with us.