Mentor guide
This guide is a work in progress. It needs help: more scripture, clearer rules, and better practical advice from people who actually disciple others. If you can improve it, open an issue on the Garrison repository. Do not treat this page as a finished church manual.
Becoming a mentor in Garrison means you have read this guide and accepted its rules. Mentoring is teaching. That is not a badge or a casual title.
When these rules change, you may have to read and accept again before you can keep acting as a mentor.
James 3:1 — judged for what you teach
Section titled “James 3:1 — judged for what you teach”My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. — James 3:1 (KJV)
Teachers will be judged by God for what they teach. Be careful what you teach.
Mentoring in Garrison is teaching: you guide a mentee in Scripture, review their work, and counsel them as they grow. You will answer to God for the doctrine and counsel you give — not merely to a platform policy. If you are not ready to carry that, do not become a mentor.
Other scripture on teachers and disciplers
Section titled “Other scripture on teachers and disciplers”Garrison quotes the King James Version here, consistent with other mentor docs. Read each passage in context.
| Passage | Why it is here |
|---|---|
| James 3:1 | God judges teachers for what they teach; be careful |
| 2 Timothy 2:2 | Commit truth to faithful people who can teach others — success is a mentee who can do the work |
| Ephesians 4:11–12 | Teachers exist to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, not to keep them dependent |
| Matthew 28:19–20 | Make disciples, teaching them to observe all Christ commanded |
| Hebrews 5:12 | By now they ought to be teachers — growth toward doing, not perpetual sitting |
| 1 Peter 5:2–3 | Shepherd willingly; not as lords over the flock |
| 2 Timothy 2:15 | Study to show yourself approved; handle the Word rightly |
| 1 Corinthians 11:1 | Follow me as I follow Christ — model, don’t only preach |
| Titus 2:7–8 | Pattern of good works; sound speech |
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. — 2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. — Ephesians 4:11–12 (KJV)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. — Matthew 28:19–20 (KJV)
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God. — Hebrews 5:12 (KJV)
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly… Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. — 1 Peter 5:2–3 (KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. — 1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned. — Titus 2:7–8 (KJV)
How to mentor
Section titled “How to mentor”This section is guidance, still unfinished. Improve it if you can.
Discipleship happens in person. Teaching, counsel, prayer, and the real conversation belong face to face (or in a gathered church or group setting), not in the app. Garrison chat is not mentorship.
Chat is only for coordinating (when to meet, which study or step is next) and basic questions (where to click, which assignment). Do not lecture, counsel, or do the work of a mentor in the thread.
Goal: the mentee can study, obey, and eventually help others — not sit as an audience for a weekly sermon, and not receive a remote lecture thread.
- Ask, listen, and assign work they do.
- Your step notes coach; they do not replace their wrestling with the text.
- Prefer questions and review of their work (lanes, quizzes, outcomes) over dumping content in chat.
- Point them to Scripture and the local church. Garrison is a study tool. It is not a church, a pastor, or a licensed counselor.
- Gender pairing and safety rules still apply in the app. See Getting started — this guide does not repeat that essay.
Rules you accept
Section titled “Rules you accept”By becoming a mentor you agree to these rules:
- Teach carefully. You answer to God for what you teach (James 3:1).
- Aim to equip the mentee to do the work, not to keep them as an audience.
- Mentor in person. Do not treat Garrison chat or other remote messaging as the place where mentorship happens.
- Use in-app chat only to coordinate meetings and ask basic questions.
- Obey in-app pairing and safety rules.
- Mentorship messages on the platform are not private. They may be reviewed by automated AI and/or by the platform operator. Do not put private or sensitive counsel in chat; that belongs in person. Not every message is guaranteed to be read by a human; monitoring is possible.
- When these rules are updated, you may have to read and accept again before you can keep acting as a mentor.
- Breaking these rules can mean loss of the mentor role or account ban, depending on severity.
- You still agree to the Terms of Service you accepted at registration.
How to become a mentor
Section titled “How to become a mentor”You must be at the Meat spiritual phase or higher. In the app, open Mentorship → Become a mentor (/mentorship/become), read this guide, and accept the rules.
There is no application or church approval in this version. That may change; if it does, you may need to go through this process again.
Product and pairing rules: Mentorship planning. Hub, invites, and chat mechanics: Getting started.