Mentor Application – Zera Ministries

Cultivate Mentor Application

Thank you for your interest in serving as a Cultivate mentor. This application helps us understand your spiritual maturity, ministry experience, and readiness to invest in a group of emerging leaders over two years. Please answer honestly — there are no shortcut answers. This form should take approximately 20–25 minutes to complete.

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THE CULTIVATE PROCESS

MENTOR APPLICATION · ZERA MINISTRIES

Cultivate mentors are the relational core of the formation process. You will walk alongside a group of three emerging leaders for two full years — investing in who they are becoming as much as what they are learning. This is not a program role. It is a discipleship relationship with a defined structure and lasting Kingdom impact.

⏱ WEEKLY TIME COMMITMENT

90 min

Weekly Group Meeting

1 hr

Prep, Prayer & Follow-up

2 yrs

Full Commitment

Personal Information

Full Name*

First Last

Email Address*

Phone Number*

Gender*

Cultivate mentors are matched with participants of the same gender.

City and State*

Current Church or Ministry Affiliation*

Faith & Spiritual Maturity

Cultivate mentors must be mature believers who model what they are helping to form in others.

Briefly describe your relationship with Christ and how long you have been actively walking with Him.*

What does your current spiritual life look like? Check all that apply.*

Regular Bible reading and study

Consistent, active prayer life

Regular attendance and involvement in a local church

Involved in a small group or accountability relationship

Currently being discipled or mentored by someone

Currently discipling or mentoring someone else

Regular fasting or other spiritual disciplines

What areas of character growth are you actively working on right now? Be specific.*

Mentors are expected to model growth, not perfection. Honest self-awareness here is a strength.

Ministry & Mentoring Experience

Describe your ministry experience — what you did, where, and for how long.*

Have you discipled or mentored someone before? Describe what that relationship looked like and what you learned from it.*

If you have not done formal mentoring, describe any informal discipleship relationships you have had.

What do you believe a mentor’s primary job is?*

Mentoring Approach

THE SIX MENTOR ROLES

Observer	Watch for character in action — in ministry, in relationships, and under pressure. What you notice becomes the content of your mentoring.
Encourager	Celebrate progress, affirm growth, and point out evidences of grace. Participants need to know their effort is seen and their growth is real.
Challenger	Ask hard questions, confront blind spots, and call to a higher standard. Kindness without challenge is not mentoring.
Teacher	Provide biblical instruction on character and share wisdom from your own experience. You bring something — not just conversation.
Shepherd	Care for the whole person — spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and practically. Pay attention to the person, not just the program.
Model	Live out the character qualities you are helping to form. Your participants will learn as much from watching your life as from anything you say.

Which of the six mentor roles comes most naturally to you — and which will require the most intentional growth?*

When someone you are leading pushes back, shuts down, or resists correction — how do you typically respond?*

Describe a time in the recent past when you received correction or feedback. How did you respond?*

Why do you want to be a Cultivate mentor?*

Doctrinal Alignment

Zera Ministries is a Christian, non-denominational organization affirming historic, orthodox Christianity.

ZERA MINISTRIES STATEMENT OF FAITH

We affirm the doctrinal statement of the World Evangelical Alliance. We believe…

…in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
…in One God, eternally existent in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
…in Our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His Personal return in power and glory.
…in the Salvation of lost and sinful man through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit.
…in the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy life, to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
…in the Unity of the Spirit of all true believers, the Church, the Body of Christ.
…in the Resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

Do you affirm the Statement of Faith above?*

Yes, I affirm this statement fully

I affirm it with minor reservations I would like to discuss

Briefly describe your theological background and tradition.*

Availability & Commitment

Please read each item carefully before responding.

WHAT YOU ARE COMMITTING TO

90-minute weekly group meeting with your three participants — consistent, not occasional
1 hour per week for preparation, prayer, and follow-up
Character assessment — initial, quarterly, and annual evaluation of your group across 23 biblical character qualities
Quarterly mentor gatherings for training and peer support
Summer formation experience — a trip or adventure with your group between Year One and Year Two (May–August)
Annual retreat or commissioning event
Two full years — this is not an abbreviated commitment

Can you commit to a 90-minute weekly group meeting plus 1 hour of preparation, prayer, and follow-up each week for two years?*

Yes, I can make this commitment

I can commit to most of it but have concerns I would like to discuss

No, my current season does not allow this

About the Summer Formation Experience: Between Year One and Year Two, mentors are asked to take their group on a shared trip or adventure sometime between May and August. This is one of the most formative parts of the entire two-year process. The format is flexible — a camping trip, road trip, service project in another city, or international experience. The goal is to put the group in motion together in an unfamiliar environment where character becomes visible and relationships deepen fast. Zera Ministries will provide support and coordination. Duration is a minimum of one overnight; longer is encouraged.

Are you open to planning and leading a summer trip or adventure experience with your group between Year One and Year Two?*

Yes, I am open to this

Yes, with some coordination and support from Zera Ministries

I have concerns I would like to discuss

Would you like to have a co-mentor or mentor-in-training alongside you as you lead your group?*

Yes, I would welcome that

I am open to it

I would prefer to mentor independently

A co-mentor or mentor-in-training is someone who partners with you in leading the group — sharing the responsibility and learning the mentor role alongside you.

What current responsibilities or upcoming seasons should we be aware of as we consider your availability?*

Background & Safety

Cultivate mentors serve in a trust-based role with young adults. The following questions are required for all applicants.

Background Check Consent*

I consent to a background check conducted by Zera Ministries as a condition of this application.

Have you ever been convicted of a crime?*

Yes

If yes, please describe the nature and circumstances of the conviction.

Leave blank if this does not apply. A conviction does not automatically disqualify you — context matters.

Have you ever been removed from a ministry, church, or volunteer role due to a conduct or character concern?*

Yes

If yes, please describe the circumstances.

Leave blank if this does not apply.

Is there anything in your background that could affect your ability to serve in a trust-based role with young adults?*

Yes — I would like to explain

If yes, please explain.

Leave blank if this does not apply.

Reference 1

Please provide a pastor, elder, or church leader who can speak to your spiritual maturity and readiness to mentor.

Reference 1 — Full Name*

Reference 1 — Role / Title*

Reference 1 — Church or Organization*

Reference 1 — Phone*

Reference 1 — Email*

Reference 2

Please provide someone who has observed you in a discipleship, mentoring, or ministry context — not a family member.

Reference 2 — Full Name*

Reference 2 — Role / Title*

Reference 2 — Church or Organization*

Reference 2 — Phone*

Reference 2 — Email*

Final Step

Application Agreement*

I affirm the Zera Ministries Statement of Faith, understand the weekly time commitment and summer formation experience requirement, consent to a background check, and confirm that the information in this application is honest and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

By checking below, you confirm your commitment and readiness to serve as a Cultivate mentor.