Mentoring isn’t just a word. It's a way of life here.
One of the distinct qualities of IBCS is our unique focus on mentoring. It’s behind everything we do. We believe that mentoring for ministry reflects the distinct pattern of Jesus — life-touching-life with His twelve disciples — and fulfills His Great Commission to “make disciples.” In keeping with that pattern, we view mentoring as a form of spiritual and practical discipleship where we are teaching those “who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).
Mentoring begins with an open door and ends with a relationship.
When students come to IBCS, they often have questions about life, faith, and direction. We have created an environment with our staff all the way up to our president, where you feel like you can come in and sit down and talk. We take the time to get to know you, to build relationships, to ask questions, and then to provide Biblical counsel for you questions.
Mentoring is intentionally designed to move a person forward.
After you seek out and are assigned a faculty mentor, you begin to meet regularly for a time that's focused on one or two questions. Initially you may discuss practical questions about how to do ministry in a certain setting, but over time you might voice more complex questions, and the mentor relationships provides a safe place for discussion, prayer, and spiritual wisdom that moves you forward.
Mentoring prepares you for real-life ministry.
The value of mentoring is that it provides opportunities for evaluated feedback as mentors observe you in close proximity in weekly ministry. Drawing from each mentor’s ministry experience, you receive practical feedback from people you know and trust – and who know you and your future ministry goals. These mentoring relationships often continue well after you have finished your educational program and are actively serving in ministry around the world.