Christians Need Mentors, and These Actresses Explain Why
By Movieguide® Contributor
Candace Cameron Bure and Priscilla Shirer discussed the value of mentorship in their own lives, both as the one being mentored and as the one doing the mentoring.
“The first women that were there [when I was a young Christian] were so instrumental in my life because I was walking that walk by myself for the first time…I asked, ‘Hey, I’m looking for a Bible study and even a church to go to do you know of any place where I could go?’ And there was a woman — Debbie Morland — who was my neighbor and she was just so lovely. She said, ‘Well, I would love to start a Bible study with you,’” Bure recalled.
“And she became a spiritual mentor in that we met every week at my house. It grew to about, you know, six ladies, maybe eight ladies at a time, but to have people just to talk to…they just held my hand through so much of [the Bible],” Bure continued. “And it was so wonderful in that sense that’s so great.”
Shirer had similar experiences of mentorship throughout her life as well, but she focused even more on the biblical call for mentorship that is seen throughout the Bible.
“I’m thinking of a biblical picture of that…in the Old Testament you see Elijah and Elisha, and they had this unique dynamic…there was the older, wiser prophet that’s pouring into the life of the younger and giving him guidance and wisdom and blessing his journey,” she said. “In that you see this older guy, Elijah, he literally goes and finds Elisha, and it’s almost like the responsibility is on him to go look for an Elisha.”
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“And he’s looking for a guy that’s already working. When he spots Elisha, Elisha is plowing a field. He’s industrious, he’s resourceful, he’s not just sort of lazily waiting around for someone to give him a hand up. He’s doing what’s in front of him to do,” Shirer continued. “Elijah notices that and then says, ‘Let’s go walk together. You’re worth investing in.’ So I think there’s a lesson to be learned on both sides.”
For this reason, Bure and Shirer both agree that it is incredibly important for older people to be looking for an opportunity to mentor those younger than them. If more people decided they were open to being mentors, the actresses believe the world would be a much different place, as wisdom would flow between generations.
“Older women should mentor younger women. I’m of that age, so I get to go disciple… I also want to encourage [you] that we need everyone, so if you’re thinking, I’m eighty years old, what do I have to offer, I’m like, you have so much,” Bure said. “I think of my mom with my daughter, you know, grandma mentoring her granddaughter, it’s so important, so it’s never too late to be a mentor.”
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Shirer’s 2024 movie THE FORGE centered on themes of mentorship and discipleship.
“I hope all of us will walk away with our eyes open, particularly to young people around us who need to have mentoring in their life so that they can walk in their purpose,” she told For Women First about her hope for the movie.
“I’m hoping [audiences] will really be endeared to the storyline of a young person’s life being impacted because an older, wiser person takes the time to affirm them, celebrate them, but also challenge them to rise up into the full stature of who God has called them to be,” the actress added in a conversation with 96.5FM.
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