Mentor brings out the passion in a protege.

Dr. Marla Bonacile Johnson of Pittsburgh PA sees herself as a vision coach. Her role as a mentor is to pass on the spirit of passion--not to produce a replica of herself but to encourage the personal passion of her protegee.

She's an educational consultant, a minister and a graduate of the interdisciplinary doctoral program for education leaders at Duquesne University PA. She conducts development seminars for people starting a ministry or a business and directs a program for people with HIV/AIDS.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It's no surprise that her metaphor for mentoring is biblical. In the second chapter of 2 Kings, protege Elisha follows his mentor Elijah from place to place, learning at his side. Elisha requests a double portion of his mentor's spirit. Eventually Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind into heaven, and Elisha picks up the mantle that has fallen from him.

"I see women in that same position. Women in leadership have something so important to pass on to a protege," Johnson told WIHE. If the protege is with the mentor each step of the way, she's bound to pick up not only skills but spirit.

Her first mentor was her mother, who brought her up and traveled with her to conferences. On her mother's death in 2002, she felt the passing of the mantle.

According to the dictionary, a mantle is a cloak, a symbol of authority, something that covers, enfolds or envelops. Mentors take the protege with them until it's time to pass on the mantle of authority--along with a double portion of the mentor's spirit.