Mentorship That Lasts
Posted on May 6, 2014.
This weekend I went home. I grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. After years away, I had the chance to visit. The place hasn’t changed much. Out west, towns seem to get a facelift every few months. But not in Southwestern Ontario.
Everything felt familiar. Around every corner, memories came flooding back; things I hadn’t thought about in years. It was nostalgic in a lot of ways.
A Mentor’s Birthday
The reason for the trip was simple but meaningful. A friend and mentor was turning 50. This man had invested in a group of us guys when we were teens.
He was an adult volunteer in our youth group, and every Monday night he opened his home for Bible study. Believe it or not, he taught college-level Bible doctrine to a bunch of teenagers. And we loved it. I looked forward to those nights every week.
A month ago, he told his wife he’d love to see the guys again. She got to work. Through Facebook, she organized a surprise reunion for his birthday. It was an incredible weekend.
The Impact of Mentorship
I also had the chance to reconnect with a couple of other mentors (John and Dave). These men encouraged me when I needed it most, even when it meant saying hard things I didn’t want to hear. They prayed faithfully for my family and me through every season of life. They taught me to love God’s Word and showed me what it looks like to live it out.
I thought a lot about that.
The big events of my teenage years (conferences, speakers, youth trips) were all good. But none of them had the lasting impact of these men who chose to invest deeply in me. Their time, their prayers, their example…that’s what stuck: True mentorship and discipleship.
Discipleship That Sticks
If we’re not willing to spend time with less seasoned believers, we’re not really making disciples. Sending someone off to a class or a conference isn’t enough. Those things have their place, but they don’t cut it on their own.
We need to walk alongside others (through the good and the bad) helping them follow Jesus. That’s what makes a lasting impact.
Paul told Timothy, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
That’s discipleship. Passing on the faith in real life, through real relationships.
A Lasting Legacy
The reality is this: without these men, my life would look very different.
- I may not have gone to Bible college.
- I wouldn’t have met Nicole.
- I wouldn’t have my boys.
- I might not have entered full-time ministry.
Their mentorship made all the difference.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
- Who made a lasting impact on your life?
- How did their commitment to discipleship shape your walk with Jesus?
- Have you told them recently?
