The identity imperative: mentoring as a tool for Christian young adult identity formation

ABSTRACT

Mentoring is a commonly practiced and well-researched activity, as are the subsets of Christian mentoring and young adult mentoring. The research question explored here was simple: How can mentoring be most helpful for Christian young adults, given their particular nuances? This article therefore surveys the literature on Christian mentoring, showing it as a pivotal tool for spiritual formation. It then investigates the world young adults are emerging into, one that is dominated by complexity, secularity, alienation, abandonment, insecurity and a lack of identity. It shows how mentoring can be of particular assistance in helping Christian young adults to develop their identity, which in turn is fundamental to their own spiritual formation. As mentors practice the arts of listening, questioning and encouraging these young adults, the journey of identity and spiritual formation can be assisted. The article concludes with proposals for the training and promotion of Christian mentoring overall, but with a particular focus for young adults on identity.

KEYWORDS:

• Mentoring
• young adults
• identity
• spiritual formation
• Christian

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Geoffrey Samuel Brailey

Geoffrey Samuel Brailey is a Social Researcher with McCrindle Research and Youth and Discipleship Pastor at C3 Church Rouse Hill. He has an Advanced Diploma of Christian Ministry from C3 Oxford Falls, a Bachelor of Theology from Alphacrucis and a Master of Arts from the Australian College of Ministries.

Stephen Douglas Parker

Stephen Douglas Parker is the Academic Coursework Manager at the Australian College of Ministries. He has previously served as State Youth Director for the Churches of Christ in Queensland and as an Associate Minister for Youth and Children at Springwood Church of Christ in Brisbane. He has a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Theology from the Australian College of Ministries and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland.