Hi Mike. Where I'm from a sponsor is as you describe and in addition sort of a supportive guide in living depending on the sponsee. Such as suppose the sponsee in the first few months of sobriety were to say something like " I met this wonderful girl last week and we've decided to get married this week end." I think a sponsor might point out the pitfalls of that endeavor and other lifes practices. I remember when I was 1-3 months sober I told my sponsor I had a problem and he responded right away I had a situation, a problem is a drink in my hand. I always remember that.
BE WELL