Ministry Spotlight: Elizabeth Englehart, Titus 2 Mentoring Women

Welcome to Real Life! Join my conversation with Elizabeth on mentoring.

Elizabeth Englehart, Coordinator
Titus 2 Mentoring Women
Grace Church Women’s Ministry

They (older women) can urge the younger women 
to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home,
to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,
so that no one will malign the word of God.
Titus 2:4–5 NIV

“I always wished I’d had a mentor.”

After my youngest left for college, I began asking God, “What do you want me to do with this season of my life.” I wanted to be fruitful for God. I’m a wife of 29 years, a mother of four wonderful kids, and I have one incredible grandson. Mentoring has always been on my heart and mind. I always wished I’d had a mentor. Beth Moore became a type of mentor in that I did all her Bible studies. But I never had a formal or even organic relationship with an older woman of faith. And I really hungered for it. 

If I hungered for a mentor, I thought other women might also. So, I searched online for mentoring ministries. I found Titus 2. As I explored their website, I began asking, “Lord, should I do this?”

Then, in conversations with young women, mentoring kept coming up. I’d hear, “Oh, I wish I had a mentor.” What I heard confirmed this was a huge need in the body of Christ. God began stirring a passion in me. I thought, “Someone needs to take the torch and get this done!”

I recently discovered Billy Graham had been mentored by John Minder, who was born in Akron and attended Locust Street Alliance Church. John Minder was influenced by A.B. Simpson. [1] Priscilla Shirer was mentored by Anne Graham Lotz. One person builds into another who builds into another. There’s a ripple effect. That’s why we’re doing this. I recently heard Andy Stanley say,

“A life well lived is one we give away.”

How did you launch Titus 2 at Grace Church?

I approached Joyce Meekins, our Women’s Ministry Coordinator, about using the Titus 2 program at Grace. She said, “Someone will have to try it first.” So, I began praying for a woman to mentor.

Not long afterwards, a young woman attended a woman’s event and specifically asked if Grace had a mentoring ministry. Her name was Brittina Guzik. She became the first woman I mentored using the Titus 2 program. It was fantastic! I think I grew more than she did. The whole process was so rich.

As soon as our year was complete, I went back to Joyce. We began to hold training meetings with possible mentors. We launched the first year of mentoring in January of 2017.

Tell us more about Titus 2 Mentoring.

Titus 2 connects generations of women, closing the generational gap. We walk alongside each other in intentional relationships focused on Jesus Christ. The women meet monthly for one year. They focus on a new topic each month, such as: Intimacy with God, Prayer, and Identity in Christ. They read a book on the current month’s topic, memorize Scripture, pray for each other, and complete a homework assignment.

They begin sharing life in all its crazy messiness. They pray and encourage each other. It was a struggle for me to be an encourager because I didn’t have that growing up. I have it and I’m learning it now. It’s being other focused. Encouragement is integral to mentoring. We all need it so much!

Elizabeth and Johanna

How many mentors and mentees are involved?

We currently have ten mentors and ten mentees. Fifteen women have been or are being mentored. Brittina, my first mentee, is seeking to launch a Titus 2 Mentoring ministry at her new church.

What impact is the ministry making?

• A single mom grew in confidence and faith to the point of publishing a book to encourage other single moms. 
• Another woman came to the realization that growing close to God doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through focused and intentional time with Him. 
• One young single woman realized her longing for intimacy couldn’t be filled by a boyfriend or any significant other, nor by money, status, or life experiences—but by God alone. 
• A middle school teacher, dreamed of working in full-time ministry. But never thought it could happen. Her mentor asked questions, discovered her dream, and challenged her to pray. Within their mentoring year, she realized her dream and is now working in full-time ministry! 

These are just a few examples. (Hear more in the video below.)

If someone wants to get involved (either as mentor or mentee), what should they do?

If you attend Grace Church, pick up a Titus 2 Mentoring brochure in the church lobby and complete the application. For more information, email Elizabeth: ElizabethE@ameritech.com. Or visit the Titus 2 website: www.titus2mentoringwomen.com.

Dear Lord Jesus,
You mentored twelve disciples.
Give us courageous and generous hearts to follow your example
And willingly share our lives in mentoring relationships.
Please bless and expand this sisterhood.
In Jesus' name, amen.

Peggi and Mentee Amanda Crowder

Full disclosure: the writer of this blog (Peggi Tustan) is a Titus 2 Mentor.

Have you been or are you in a mentoring relationship? I'd love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment.




[1] Founder of the Christian Missionary and Alliance