We are so glad you’ve chosen to lead new believers! This is a great opportunity for you to have an eternal impact on others. 

Leading new believers can feel intimidating, but taking this step can lead to transformed lives throughout our church. We put together this article to help you understand some helpful mindsets you can adopt when leading others. 

Our goal is for you to confidently lead new believers with compassion, empathy, and grace, while understanding some common pitfalls leaders can face. 

We believe a raised hand is the beginning of a lifelong journey that each person travels at their own pace. Our job is to support these new believers along the way. Everyone’s experience with Jesus is unique, and we have the honor of coming alongside them as they take their next steps to follow Jesus.

Let’s look at some mindsets you can adopt—and some mindsets you can avoid—as you get started.

Don’t Be a Debater. Be a Mentor.

When a new believer welcomes you into their life, one of your first priorities should be building a relationship founded on trust and care. Your primary focus should be on friendship—not correcting theology or behaviors. 

When we hear a new believer processing something that isn’t fully aligned with what we know is true, it can be tempting to correct them with “perfect” theology or a direct answer. This can lead to discussions feeling more like a debate than a well-intended conversation. 

Here are a few signs you might be slipping into a debater mindset:

• You feel defensive instead of curious
• You prepare a response instead of choosing to listen
• You judge their questions instead of finding answers together

In your role as a mentor, you get to help new believers understand the patient, kind, relational, loving Father who deeply knows and cares for them. As you get to know this new believer better and as they grow closer to their Father, a time may come when you’ve built the trust necessary to talk to them about an area of misaligned faith. But this conversation should always be approached with care and will look different for every person you mentor. 

It’s also good to remember that, as your mentee grows closer to God, they will begin to discern His voice and uncover misaligned beliefs on their own. By focusing on building a strong relationship with your mentee, you’ll be perfectly positioned to listen to what they’re processing and offer valuable insight when asked.

The Apostle Paul described what it looks like to mentor others in his letter to the Thessalonians: 

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV

Let’s break this verse down. 

• Admonish the idle: When someone is not growing in their faith, you can encourage them to keep moving—reminding them how important their spiritual growth is.
• Encourage the fainthearted: When a believer is discouraged about their relationship with Jesus, you can point them back to the hope we have in Him.
• Help the weak: When someone’s faith is hanging on by a thread, whether from things happening in their life or not feeling God’s presence, you can be there to support them. 
• Be patient: Some people grow slowly or in ways you can’t see immediately, but will become apparent later. 

How could you embrace this mindset in your mentoring relationships? You can use Paul’s words as your game plan as you lead new believers.

Don’t Be a Savior. Be a Fellow Traveler.

Mentors sometimes believe they need to fix everything in their mentee’s life. If they’re struggling with sin or going through a difficult situation, it can be tempting to jump in and make everything all right. But you are not their savior. The most important relationship for any Christian is not with a friend, a mentor, or even a pastor—it’s with God. 

You have a part to play in your mentee’s story, but your role is a supporting role. Your job is to point your mentee toward their Creator and King, the One who can come to their aid in every circumstance.

Here are a few signs you might be slipping into a savior mindset:

• You see more behaviors that need to be corrected than celebrated
• You try to make their spiritual practices look exactly like yours
• You feel like you’re the only person who can lead this new believer

If your mentee comes to you seeking clarity on sin or asking for help with a particular problem, you have the space to give them wise advice. Otherwise, consider how you can encourage them to go to God, so He can help them navigate their struggles. Spiritual practices like reading the Bible and talking to God through prayer are especially valuable in these situations. Over time, you’ll see their faith grow, and their desire to do things that honor Jesus will flourish. 

And remember, you’re a fellow traveler on the same journey as your mentee. One of the most important parts of walking alongside someone is remembering that mentoring someone is not a substitute for your own relationship with God. Be sure to invest time in spiritual practices to grow your faith, and expect to even learn things from the person you mentor! 

We can learn what it looks like to come alongside new believers by looking at how Jesus led His 12 disciples. Throughout His ministry, He modeled what it looks like to honor God by teaching about His Father, while also caring for those who were overlooked and meeting physical and spiritual needs.

While it might be easy to think these skills came naturally to Jesus because of His unity with God, He depended on and connected to His Father through practices like prayer, rest, and worship. He taught His disciples how they should act and care for others as they knew Him better.

When we mentor others, it should be the same way: We teach by bringing our mentee into what we are already doing to follow Christ.

How are you growing in your own faith as you lead others? How do the examples Jesus modeled help you understand the importance of being a fellow traveler?

You’ve Got This

While mentoring new believers can be intimidating, you are not alone! You have your leaders, pastors, and—most importantly—God on your side! So lean on your support, make sure you’re moving closer to God in your own life, and listen to the wise pastors and leaders God has provided for you. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but strength. You’ve got this!