ONE-on-ONE CATCH-UP Guide
Fruitful Catch-ups for Personal & Ministry Growth
Our Approach: We believe in discipleship through mentoring relationships, men with men and women with women.
This means we don’t just manage tasks; we disciple hearts. Our goal is to provide a positive, safe environment where feedback fosters both spiritual maturity and leadership excellence. We lead out of who we are in Christ.
FOR THE DISCIPLED LEADER (The Mentee)
Pre-Meeting
Ministry Vision Form: Prior to your catch-up, complete your monthly Ministry Vision Form and take note of 2-3 specific "wins" and "challenges."
Pray: Ask for an open heart and clarity on what God is doing in your life and ministry.
Reflect: Identify areas where you need support or wisdom.
Ownership: This is your growth space. Come armed with questions and a teachable spirit.
Key Areas of Focus
While the conversation is flexible, aim to touch on these four pillars:
1. Spiritual Health: Your personal walk with God and soul care.
2. Input Application: How you are implementing previous feedback.
3. Leadership Development: Skills, character, and influence.
4. Vision & Direction: Aligning your ministry area with the church’s mission.
What it is:
Spiritual Formation: A space to discuss your walk with God, what he is doing in your life and how you can grow in your relationship with him.
Vision Alignment: Ensuring your ministry area is moving with the heart of the church.
A Safe Environment: A place to be real about where you are struggling or where you need help.
A Launchpad: A place to dream, talk about new ideas and implementation strategies.
What it’s Not:
A Social Get-together: While we value the relationship, we are here for intentional growth.
A Defensive Space: Growth requires honesty. Avoid the urge to be guarded.
A Passive Experience: A place where the mentor does all the heavy lifting.
Reporting & Safety: While this is a safe space, if a conversation reveals a breach of and of our policies, procedures or a legal reporting requirement, mentors must immediately follow our reporting procedure.
FOR THE MENTOR (The Spiritual Guide)
Your Goal
To encourage the mentee and help draw out the gifts and callings God has placed within them. You are there to guide, listen, sharpen and “call it out of them.”
WHAT IT IS
Encouragement: Drawing out the gifts God has placed inside the person.
Coaching: Helping them solve problems rather than just giving them the answers.
Accountability: Following up on previous goals with grace and truth.
What to Do:
Active Listening: Focus on understanding their heart before offering solutions.
Strategic Questioning: Use "open-ended" questions to help them discover their own next steps.
Vision Alignment: Help them see how their specific ministry fits into the "Big Picture" of the church and the vision of our seniour pastors.
Affirmation: Specifically name the growth and strengths you see in them.
WHAT IT ISN’T
Pastoral Care: While you care for them, keep the focus on growth and leadership rather than just "checking in."
Undue Discipline: This is a growth meeting, not a performance review or HR hearing.
Being Too Prescriptive: Avoid giving all the answers. Your goal is to help them grow their "leadership muscles" by asking great questions.
Self-Centric Sharing: Keep the focus on their journey, not your own history or struggles.
Legal & Ethical Boundaries: While this is a safe and confidential space, it is not a "secret" space. If a conversation reveals a risk of harm to a child, a breach of any of our policies, or illegal activity, mentors are required to follow the church's official reporting procedure immediately.
Suggested Flow for the Conversation
1. Connection (10 mins): Highs and lows since the last meeting.
2. Review (10 mins): Progress on goals or feedback from the previous month.
3. Ministry & Vision (20 mins): Discussion on the Ministry Report, wins, and challenges.
4. Personal/Spiritual (15 mins): Deep dive into leadership growth and soul care.
5. Action Steps & Prayer (5 mins): Summarize 1–3 clear takeaways and pray together.
10 Powerful Questions for Mentors to Ask
Use these to "draw out" the mentee’s wisdom and help them find their own path forward.
1. "Beyond the surface, what do you feel is the core challenge you’re facing here?"
(Helps them move from symptoms to the actual root cause.)
2. "If you had total confidence and no fear of failure, what’s the very first step you’d take?"
(Removes the mental "safety handbrake" and reveals their true vision.)
3. "What have you experimented with so far, and what has that taught you about the situation?"
(Focuses on learning and growth rather than just 'success' or 'failure'.)
4. "How does this idea or project fuel our church’s overall mission and vision?"
(Encourages strategic alignment and keeps the big picture in view.)
5. "What is the one thing only you can do in this situation, and what could be an opportunity for someone else to step up?"
(A gentle way to discuss delegation and leadership capacity.)
6. "If you were mentoring someone else in this exact spot, what wisdom would you share with them?"
(Helps them access their own intuition and builds their coaching confidence.)
7. "What do you think is the main thing standing between you and a clear decision?"
(Identifies internal or external roadblocks like fear, lack of info, or lack of peace.)
8. "Regarding what you wrote in your report—what do you sense God is highlighting to you right now?"
(Shifts the focus from "doing" ministry to "being" formed by God.)
9. "What can I do to best support you or clear the way so you can move forward?"
(Positions the mentor as a servant-leader and partner.)
10. "By our next catch-up, what is the one 'bold move' you want to celebrate having done?"
(Creates healthy, self-imposed accountability and excitement.)