Christian women leaders from around the world have issued a powerful call to revive a legacy of intentional, Scripture-based mentoring, declaring it a God-ordained practice essential for shaping future generations. This urgent appeal was made during the Global Virtual Women’s Conference organized by the Christian Women Mentoring Network on November 16, 2025.
The Biblical Mandate for Mentoring
Building on the keynote teaching from Titus 2:3–5, Pastor Ada Babajide emphasized that mentoring is not a modern invention but an ancient system that women have sadly neglected. “Mentoring has an advantage; it’s not new, it has been there all along, but we picked up other strategies and began to ignore it,” she stated. She urged a return to Scripture to settle modern debates, citing 2 Timothy 2:2 as a clear example of generational influence.
Pastor Babajide explained that legacy is intentional, not accidental. “If we want our faith to be sustained, we must be deliberate about who we are passing it on to and what we are passing on to them,” she told the global audience. She pointed to biblical pairs like Naomi and Ruth, and Mary and Elizabeth, as models of strategic, intentional relationships.
The Practical Model for Transformational Mentoring
The conference adopted a definition from Mentoring International, developed by over 60 global ministers, describing transformational mentoring as taking the initiative to join someone's life journey to help them become who God intends. This requires significant sacrifice of time and resources.
Pastor Babajide outlined the biblical mentoring model:
- God’s presence encompasses both mentor and mentee.
- The Holy Spirit sits at the apex of the relationship triangle.
- Communication flows between all three points.
- The central goal is helping the mentee become more like Jesus.
She stressed that mentoring involves all areas of life—“marriage, career, leadership, character formation, and discovering God’s purpose”—and is not limited to Bible study. Practical steps include building trust, sharing resources, and modeling Christlike conduct. She also clarified that mentoring has a completion stage and doesn't have to be lifelong.
Expanding the Definition of an "Older Woman"
Mother Are from Calvary Ministries in Lagos provided crucial insight, explaining that the term “older women” in Scripture isn't solely about age. “A woman can be older because she has greater knowledge, deeper spiritual gifts, stronger productivity, or more developed talents,” she said. She emphasized that in any area where a woman has advanced, she qualifies to mentor someone coming behind.
She listed three critical areas where younger women need guidance:
- Spiritual growth and personal devotion
- Relationship management, including marriage and family
- Professional productivity and ethical work habits
Connie Parker, another speaker, described mentoring as the method Jesus used with His disciples—a form of wise friendship rather than formal instruction. “We are not teachers lecturing a class. We are wise friends who listen, encourage, pray as God leads, and share our stories and our lives,” she explained.
Kathleen Trock-Malhoek illustrated her message with the metaphor of “sweeping dirt under the rug,” comparing this behavior to superficial righteousness. She urged women to focus on heart transformation rather than outward appearance, emphasizing the importance of listening to God personally.
The conference concluded with a powerful challenge for women to embrace their God-given role as nurturers and to commit to mentoring intentionally, biblically, and generationally.
