In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Mentor Me.”

The Daily Post has asked ,Have you ever had a mentor? What was the greatest lesson you learned from him or her?

Early on in my Christianity I realized I could not live out my faith alone. I needed people to walk with and if I was to have that then I was going to have to join myself to a group of folks who were like-minded.

I think many new Christians make the mistake of thinking they need to find that one person who is going to be by their side forever leading them safely through all the pitfalls of life. What I have learned is that no human being can walk with me through every one of life’s situations. In fact,  the only one who will or can do that is GOD.  I guess in that respect GOD is my ultimate mentor. The Bible does tell us that the Holy Spirit is the One who brings us into all truth

Christian relationship is not about finding that one mentor, guide or friend. It is about learning to live your life in a body of believers who have access to you and ability to speak into your life.

I have had many mentors throughout my Christian walk. Each one of them have been raised up for me at a different time and for a different reason. Generally speaking they did not seek me out. I found them. Also usually my mentorship was not one-to-one but done in the context of a group of other believers.

Here are some lessons I learned from some of those mentors:

Ken Knowlton- Taught me that prospering in life requires submission to authority and a willingness to be faithful to the authority God places over you even when you disagree with it.

Norris Gallop- Taught me that in ministry, leadership decisions only look black and white from the outside. Areas of grey abound.

Barry Risto- Taught me to respond to rather than react to life. It is OK not to make snap decisions.

Paul Hackett- Taught me that you can do anything but you can’t do everything.

Jody Clapp- Faithfulness is about being in it for the long haul. The moment you are in is secondary.

These are smatterings, tidbits of the understanding a few of my mentors have poured into me. I think it is important to note that not one of them could have done the job alone. They were and are each vessels raised up by the Holy Spirit to challenge me with bits of truth.

Christianity is a lifestyle of discipleship and mentorship as Paul the Apostle said, So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV

It is not about a mentor but mentors!