"Mentoring is a relatively recent term, especially in Christian circles, but what it describes has been the focus of Christian community since the early church. It is a dynamic relationship of trust in which one person enables another to maximise the grace of God in their life and service. It has a sound biblical and theological basis with Jesus as the ultimate model, retaining all that is consistent with his life and teaching."
from "Mentoring to Develop Disciples and Leaders" by John Mallison, 2006.