Our Story, Your Story

Isolated, anxious, and uncertain! Way too many pastoral leaders, both men and women, feel this way in the midst of ministry. That’s why Linden Grove Mentoring exists.

Our Story

The idea for LGM was born in late 2019. Matt and Karen Ristuccia, a couple with over three decades of ministry experience, had too often faced isolation, anxiety, and uncertainty in their ministries. Not wanting others to go through what they had, they began to pray about launching a ministry devoted to personal mentoring of pastoral leaders. 

Meanwhile, God was at work elsewhere. A half-dozen others, people from a variety of backgrounds and callings, had come to share the very same burden for pastoral mentoring, despite living thousands of miles apart. For these six, the failures and struggles of local church leaders had created a desire to somehow intervene. Knowing that mentorship is a proven and biblical key to Christlike leadership and ministry resilience, the six joined with Matt and Karen, and together they launched LGM formally in September 2020. 

Within two months the first cohort was launched. It consisted of younger pastors in the US and abroad, and the participants benefited greatly from LGM’s distinctive strategy of monthly cohort meetings and monthly one-on-one mentoring sessions (what LGM calls personal hours).

Since that time, LGM has grown in size and impact. Over a dozen adjunct mentors have joined the team, and LGM now mentors over 100 pastors, church leaders, and spouses across the US and around the world. In all cases, we maintain our distinctive commitment to personal relationship in mentoring. And, by the grace of God, we offer our services at no cost to the mentee. Instead, the team at LGM depends on the generosity of others. Note that Linden Grove is an officially recognized 501(c)3 non-profit, so all donations are tax-deductible. Click here to learn more.

Karen’s Story

“Who? Me? You want to mentor me?” That’s how a younger thirty-something Karen Ristuccia, now Co-Director of LGM, reacted when an admired ministry leader asked Karen if she wanted to be mentored. In the midst of a meaningful teaching ministry, Karen had been feeling the weight of isolation for some time. God provided a way forward, an experienced mentor in an unlikely way, and Karen has been different ever since. Listen to find out how and why.

  • “The mentor who changed my life was an unlikely candidate. Older than me and moving in different circles, she seemed too godly to spend time with me. But the gospel had given her different eyes.

    After she observed me teaching a church Sunday school class, she recognized my teaching gift. She believed God was at work in me. And so, she built into me. She championed me. She became my mentor—for life.

    Because of her I have taught dozens of Bible studies that have led many women to deeper faith in Christ. Because of her I have traveled abroad in order to disciple women being persecuted for their faith. Because of her I have mentored other women toward maturity in Christ.

    Don’t discount mentorship. It makes a gospel difference.”

Your Story

There are dozens of reasons why you might be checking this website out. Perhaps you are a pastor, a church leader, or a spouse. If so, can you identify with feelings of isolation, anxiety, and uncertainty in ministry? As Karen said, “don’t discount mentorship. It makes a gospel difference!”

As our story shows, mentorship is LGM’s one main thing. Might God be calling you to a new and better story, one in which mentorship is making a gospel difference in your situation? 

If so, click here and register for one of our quarterly Discovery Calls – a 15-minute open house in which you and others can learn more about our cohorts, our personal hours, and our mentors. Alternately, click here to request further information and contact from one of our staff members. 

What Our Name Means

What does a grove of linden trees have to do with mentoring pastors, church leaders, and their spouses? In this short video, Pastor Matt Ristuccia, Director, describes the vision that sits inside our name. (Transcript below.)

  • “In June, the town where I live is dotted with linden trees in bloom. The flower is tiny, but it blossoms in drifts all over the tree. The tree itself is ideally shaped: round, symmetrical, with dense foliage for shade and shelter. And linden trees can live for hundreds of years.

    Imagine a grove of linden trees. Older trees, younger trees, saplings. A grove filled with beauty, shade and shelter, life, growth and blessing. 

    This is the metaphor for Linden Grove Ministries. We are a community of experienced mentors, nurturing and teaching younger leaders so that they can become fruitful men and women of God who will serve Jesus’ church well.”