"Today young leaders search desperately for
models they can imitate and look up to. Today's
leaders live when heroes have flaws and fail
and when dreams have died. When religious systems
are corrupt and modern ministry does not offer
a mentoring model, young leaders may end up
following wrong models. Without spiritual fathers,
the Church cannot achieve its ultimate destiny."
Frank Damazio
Has
anyone ever told you in the midst of challenges
and making important decisions to just "Go
for it!" Every one of us needs this type
of encouragement. Recently we had a Missionary
Training Camp. It was a great experience to be
able to share with those who are beginning to
launch out into missions. For some it was soon
and for others it was further in the distance.
It was great to be together for several days,
because a key to mentorship is "togetherness".
Jesus chose twelve men "that they might be with
Him (Mark 3:14)". It takes place as people share
vision, model truth in life, build trusting relationships,
share life experiences and work in teams.
This
is what the Missionary Training Camp was like.
It was great to be involved in mentoring others
for missions. Mentoring is what we all long for
and what we all need to be involved in personally.
We notice that everyone needs encouragement to
step out by faith and "Go for it!" Everyone
needs someone to say, "Go for your dream."
"Go for your vision." "Go for what God
has laid on your heart!" If God has laid
missions on your heart, we encourage you to "Go
for it!" And in the midst of moving towards
your destiny, learn some skills in the art of
mentoring others.
Mentoring
is not having all the answers. You don't have
to be perfect or have life all figured out. None
of us would probably qualify in that case. Mentoring
is listening, affirming, suggesting, sharing,
and praying together. The mentoring pattern is
where someone in need finds someone further along
in experience with something to contribute. The
requirements are spiritual maturity and missionary
experience greater than the one we are mentoring.
Everybody needs coaches, and everybody ought to
be able to coach someone in something. Mentoring
takes place when a living person whose life or
ministry is used as an example indirectly imparts
skills, principles and values that empower another
person. At the end of our Missionary Training
Camps, we pray for each individual. We believe
this time of prayer along with the Camp imparts
and empowers each one toward their destiny in
missions. See www.elijahcompany.org
for more information.
Every
missionary candidate needs upward mentoring from
someone who has gone before and can give direction
and perspective. The mentor provides perspective,
accountability and the stimulus to persevere.
We desperately need this. Life is too hard to
manage on our own when we enter the mission field.
We want to attach ourselves to someone who is
further along. Each one of us deeply wants empowerment
in our calling so that we may do what God has
designed us for. And each of us should look for
others to mentor as well.
As
you begin to think about mentoring others, there
are some important qualities to look for in a
mentoring relationship. Candidates for mentorship
should exhibit the qualities of being teachable,
flexible, humble, zealous and faithful. Candidates
should know how to walk in unity and understand
relational togetherness. Pray for these qualities
in your own life and in the life of those you
want to mentor. The apostles had these qualities.
Those called to be apostolic (as being sent) in
Biblical days were together with the apostles
such as Peter and Mark, Barnabas and Saul, Paul
and Silas, Paul and Mark, etc. The Holy Spirit
uses as mentors those whom He has already developed
in specific ministries to develop others in the
same. As we thought about this we came to realize
that ECI does not have to duplicate what the local
church should already be doing. Instead we aim
to accentuate the ministry of local churches in
a given area by adding to their discipleship the
needed component of mission.
Mentoring
involves the heart. According to Proverbs
4:23, "Out of the heart flows the issues of
life." The word "disciple" is not mentioned
after the book of Acts. Therefore, how did the
church obey the Great Commission? When the twelve
turned into thousands, these new converts sat
at the feet of the apostles and had church in
homes. So the actual transference of Christ's
life came through the teaching of the apostles
and the life of the Holy Spirit in the body of
believers. The Holy Spirit was now able to do
in all believers what Jesus could only do with
the twelve.
"They
devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching,
and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe,
and many wonders and miraculous signs were done
by the apostles. All the believers were together
and had everything in common… They broke bread
in their homes and ate together with glad and
sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the
favor of all the people. And the Lord added
to their number daily those who were being saved."
(Acts 2:42-44, 46-47)
The
Importance of Mentorship
"No
planned course of instruction, no classroom
syllabus. Instead, He called His disciples to
be with Him. Truth was not taught in abstract
doctrines or regulations; it was caught in the
experience of their shared life."
We
may ask ourselves, "Why is mentoring so important?"
God is presently raising up fathers and mothers
to mentor the upcoming younger generation and
empower them for service. Here are three important
reasons why each of us should be involved in a
mentoring relationship.
Mentoring
Types
"The
Biblical way is on the job mentoring." George
Patterson
There
are many different ways we can mentor others.
Mentoring is not done in just one way. You may
prefer some of these ways above others. Find your
own style of mentoring, and seek to be involved
in the various mentoring types as well.
- Discipler
- Enables in the basics of following Christ.
- Spiritual
Guide - Accountability, direction and insights
for questions, commitment and decisions affecting
spirituality and maturity.
-
Coach - Motivation, skills and application
needed to meet a task or a challenge.
- Counselor
- Gives timely advice and correct perspectives
on viewing self, others, circumstances and ministry
overseas.
- Teacher
- Knowledge and understanding of a particular
subject.
- Sponsor
- Career guidance and protection as leader moves
within an organization.
- Model
- A living, personal model for life, ministry
or profession who is not only an example but
also inspires following.
- Historical
- A past life that teaches dynamic principles
for life ministry or profession.
The
Apostle Paul is a tremendous example of one who
mentored and fathers other believers. He is
one who put such a high regard and priority on
mentoring. This is what he said to the church
in Thessalonica, and this is what we desire in
our lives:
"As
apostles of Christ we could have been a burden
to you, but we were gentle among you, like a
mother caring for her little children. We loved
you so much that we were delighted to share
with you not only the gospel of God but our
lives as well, because you had become so dear
to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil
and hardship; we worked night and day in order
not to be a burden to anyone while we preached
the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses
and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless
we were among you who believed. For you know
that we dealt with each of you as a father deals
with his own children, encouraging, comforting
and urging you to live lives worthy of God,
who called you into his kingdom and glory."
I Thessalonians 2:6-12
For
additional training for missions, read the book
called Go Forth in Power by Norman and
Debbie Przybylski.
Training
in World Missions
To
learn more about the Elijah Company please read:
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