SUM students are expected to develop the character and attitudes of Jesus Christ and to display the fruit of the Spirit in all areas of life. The mentorship process helps students track this personal development process.
SUM students’ spiritual development is evident by required daily devotions, chapel services, and personal journaling. In addition, students are involved in a variety of ministry outreaches. The college also emphasizes regular times of fasting and prayer, and SUM students engage in practical ministry and personal mentorship every trimester of their undergraduate degree. This process is designed to help students develop their heart while they are learning and applying theological principles.
Each component of the student’s personal spiritual formation including chapels and church attendance, mentorship, physical fitness, spiritual formation focus, and SOA progress will be tracked in the Student Mentorship course in Canvas.
A student must pass nine (9) trimesters of Student Mentorship to graduate.
Mentorship is graded as a credit/ no credit course. All SUM undergraduate students must be enrolled in mentorship every term. Students not completing mentorship will be subject to the SOA discipline process.
As part of the Servant of All Program, SUM ensures that each student is paired with a mentor that models positive values and spiritual principles.
The relationship between the mentor and student is built upon mutual trust and respect.
A mentor's role is to encourage and to hold students accountable in the areas of academics, spiritual and personal development, physical fitness and diet, interpersonal relationships, and financial integrity. A strong mentor is vital in helping a student develop the disciplines for life-long ministry. They offer spiritual care and mentoring during office hours, over coffee or mealtimes, and even in their homes.
Mentorship Objectives:
As a result of the Mentorship Program students will:
- Apply problem solving, decision making and leadership skills in relation to personal challenges with the direction of a personal mentor.
- Grow in personal maturity, Christian character, effective life skills, academic discipline, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and holistic spiritual formation.
- Develop interpersonal skills contributing to overall emotional, relational, and vocational health.
- Establish habits associated with the spiritual disciplines including prayer, fasting, meditation, worship, church attendance, service, academic study, Bible reading and journaling.
- Reflect on biblical and theological concepts in the context of personal spiritual formation and ministry practice.
Mentorship is also intended to bring glory to God through the relationship between the mentor and the student. In the process of learning, the student will grow:
- in a vision of God’s work through them.
- in Christ-like qualities of servanthood and humility.
- in personal and spiritual maturity.
- in setting personal and ministry goals and starting to take steps to achieve them.
- in making good choices that will enhance righteous living.
- in facing challenges and working their way through them.