One of the areas in which VLI is unique from some seminary and Bible colleges is the practical hands-on ministry training taught partially though the mentoring part of the VLI curriculum. Mentors are Pastors or Ministry Coordinators.
- Mentoring groups meet for 8 weeks of each quarter (with the exception of summer quarter), in addition to regular weeknight classes.
- First year students will rotate to different areas of mentoring each quarter. This is to expose the students to different key areas of ministry: Preaching and Teaching, Evangelism and Assimilation, and Pastoral Care.
- Second year students will work out a mentoring plan with their pastor-mentor to either grow towards mastery of what they were exposed to in their first year mentoring or to apprentice in one area of ministry
The exact parameters of mentoring is subject to the scheduling and availability of the students mentor. It is the responsibility of the student to work with the mentor to find time to fulfill mentoring objectives.