Book Review – Mentor for Life by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
By Kaleigh Bishop
“Imagine: what would happen if every Christian committed to making discipleship a priority in his or her life and local church? What would happen if Christians embraced mentoring as a means of holistic discipleship, through which we captivate the minds of individuals so they learn how to think theologically and live out the truth of the whole gospel we claim to believe?”- Mentor for Life
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson captures your attention from the very first page of her introduction, and keeps you riveted to the very last page. Mentor for Life is a unique look at discipleship through the relationship of mentoring. Sistrunk Robinson defines discipleship as, “a trusted partnership where people share wisdom that fosters spiritual growth and leads to transformation as mentors and mentees grow in their love of Christ, knowledge of self, and love of others.”
What I love about Mentor for Life is that the book starts with inspiration. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson paints an enticing picture of what a true discipling relationship could look like and then leads you to the understanding that you have a place and a role to fill within the body of Christ. You can be a mentor and, in fact, God has already given you the tools to disciple.
But it doesn’t stop there. Sistrunk Robinson inspires you with the vision of discipleship, encourages you to mentor, and then shows you how to do it. She doesn’t leave you on a spiritual high and then neglect to give you any practical application. She dedicates the second half of the book to helping you get started in discipleship. With the “This is How We Do It” sections at the end of each chapter to give you a practical next step. Mentor for Life uses a group mentorship model, much like Jesus with the 12 Disciples, rather than the more common one-on-one mentorship format. The group format allows women to encourage and lead each other, rather than depend on one leader to meet everyone’s needs.
Mentor for Life is a fantastic resource for the entire church, but I believe that it is especially timely for women. Our hearts are crying out for relationship and community, and we are desperate for authenticity in a world that only encourages truth if it fits into a cookie cutter, one size fits all, mold. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson offers a path to genuine discipleship that any church, at any size, anywhere, can accomplish.
For more information about the author, visit http://www.natashasrobinson.com/.
