Such a good post!  I have been blessed to have several mentors during different points in my life, but 2 have been most influential in my spiritual and personal development.  My former pastor's wife took me under her wing when I went off to college, and we exchanged many, many emails and she would meet with me when I was on breaks.  She really helped me "survive" that first semester of college.  I also had a mentor later on in college, a woman a few years older than me, who would meet with me and really challenge me in my walk.  (Are you reading the Bible?  Are you journaling?  Are you thanking Him daily?  Are you encouraging others?) She truly modeled the Christian walk for me, and I am so grateful for that.

Right now I'm mentoring a young college student, and it's been such a joy.  I hope to continue doing so, and I also would love to continue to be mentored by someone older than me, as I'm still learning a lot about what it means to live my faith.

I had an amazing mentor through middle and high school, my student minister's wife. She was about 10 years older, but her wisdom and poise were infinitely beyond that and exactly the kind of spiritual influence I needed to compliment my wonderful mother and other influential women in my life. Now, 8 years later, I'm a student minister in the same church, and I'm working with several young ladies who need me in addition to the other godly women in their lives. I feel like I get to be the silly, personable "aunt" since the age-range isn't nearly that of a mother to a daughter. It's beautiful.

It also makes me so thankful for everything my mentor did for me -- who knew it would be so tough sometimes?! God is certainly good to keep His kingdom ever in motion, and awfully kind to include anyone willing, even an absent-minded college girl like me, in on His divine work!

Some of the most important things are said not by pastors or parents, but mentors. I think mentors sometimes have the unique capability to get deep with someone and really focus them on Christ.