Finding a Spiritual Friend: How Friends and Mentors Can Make Your Faith Grow

Once mostly the province of the Catholic monastic tradition, spiritual mentorship is becoming a popular movement in contemporary Protestantism. Jones (The Art of Prayer) offers guidance to those interested in the practice, including tips on deciding what kind of relationship to choose (peer-to-peer friendship or advanced-to-neophyte mentorship), how to approach a potential spiritual friend, establishing realistic expectations and boundaries, and what to do if you can't find a spiritual partner. Each chapter contains an example of a biblical relationship, passages from Christian spiritual classics and anecdotal remarks and specific advice based on Jones's own experience and that of his friends and acquaintances. Reflective questions at the end of each chapter make this a suitable book for individual or group study. Jones provides a practical resource for those seeking a spiritual friend or mentor. (Nov.)