Adepoju Highlights the Power of Mentorship
Mentorship in ministry remains vital for spiritual growth and leadership development. Rev. Yemi Adepoju, President of Victory Drama Group, recently stressed this point while speaking about the relationship between senior ministers and emerging leaders.
According to Adepoju, mentorship helps young ministers grow faster and avoid unnecessary struggles. He explained that guidance from experienced leaders provides wisdom, direction, and accountability.
“If you have a mentor, it gives you speed,” Adepoju said during an interview. “Mentoring is deliberate. It is not passive.”
He noted that many young ministers today underestimate the value of mentorship, choosing instead to depend on books and online resources.
Concern Over Growing Mentorship Gap
Adepoju expressed concern about the widening gap between spiritual fathers and the younger generation of ministers. He warned that this disconnect could slow spiritual development within the church.
According to him, many young people believe the internet can replace mentorship.
“Some say, ‘Who needs a mentor? We have the internet,’” he said. “But mentorship in ministry gives speed. It makes your journey faster spiritually and ministerially.”
Adepoju explained that online knowledge cannot replace the wisdom gained through personal guidance and real-life experiences.
Both Leaders and Youth Share Responsibility
The respected drama minister also noted that both sides contribute to the growing mentorship gap.
Some church leaders, he said, have unintentionally created barriers that discourage young people from approaching them. At the same time, some youths believe they already know enough and see little reason to learn from older leaders.
“Some leaders have built walls that are difficult for the youth to penetrate,” he said. “And some youths feel there is nothing to learn.”
Adepoju believes humility and openness from both sides will help rebuild strong mentoring relationships.
A Call for Connection Between Generations
To bridge the gap, Adepoju encouraged spiritual leaders to become more accessible. He also advised young ministers to seek guidance with humility.
“Leaders must come down from their camel, and the youth must lift their hands,” he said. “Then connection can happen.”
Adepoju believes such collaboration will strengthen the church and prepare a new generation of effective ministers.
Lessons From His Early Ministry Years
Reflecting on his journey, Adepoju revealed that mentorship opportunities were limited when he began ministry in 1989.
At the time, he said, many young ministers looked up to established ministries from a distance. One of the major influences was the Ibadan-based Mount Zion Faith Ministries.
“We watched from afar,” he said. “Today’s young ministers have more access than we had.”
Despite the increased access, Adepoju insists that young ministers must intentionally seek mentorship in ministry if they want to grow quickly and effectively.
