1 Kings 19:21), Elisha demonstrates a strong sense of self-abnegation, sacrifice and a willingness to turn his back on the world while his eyes are fixed on his call and mission. She contends: 'In his first encounter with Elijah, Elisha is willing to let go of his occupation, his family, and the life he had built thus far in order to follow after a man offering his mentorship.' Elisha demonstrates a strong sense of self-abnegationīy killing his oxen, destroying the yoke, giving the proceeds to his neighbors and going ahead to become Elijah's assistant (Cf. In an article titled 'Lessons in Mentorship: Elijah and Elisha' Kim Sullivan (2014) made the point that the story of Elijah and Elisha is the most obvious mentorship story in the Bible which offers rich insights about both the role of a mentor and a protégé. The mentor is star, an achiever, a hero or heroine and someone who has made it in a chosen career who motivates others to achieve greater feats. A mentor as life-coach, role modelĪ mentor is a life-couch, a role model and someone who raises the stakes for others to follow. This piece aspires to use the Elijah and Elisha story as a metaphor for mentoring in today's Church.

This unique call speaks to the heart of the power of mentorship in contemporary times. Without doubt, God used Prophet Elijah to call Elisha into the lines of prophets. The tale reveals that the young Elisha did not question his new mentor but only sought to say goodbye to his parents in a ceremony which symbolized a breaking away from the past and the beginning of a new vocation.

2 Kings 2:1,6-14) is a classical case of a mentor and a mentee that has lessons for the contemporary Church. The biblical story of Elijah and Elisha (Cf.

Bible study on elijah and elisah