“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”- Jesus.
I’m a sucker for anyone who can say, “I’ll make something of you.” Maybe this is why I got sucked in MLM (Multi Level Marketing) for a time. When you meet a millionaire who says they can make you make money and that I could make other people make money, I was intrigued. But, as impressed as I was, shockingly I was not motivated to make money. Money was too small a prize.
I left college after three months because academia and the whole college vibe felt homogenized and safe. To be really honest, I was bored. Maybe this is why, at 20-21 years old, I shipped myself off to a year long discipleship school called Masters Commission 3,000 mies away. The adventure of driving across the country in a my Ford Galaxy, with vinyl seats, no air, across Texas should have been enough adventure. What I loved about my year in Phoenix was that i did not know what was going to happen next. One day we were doing outreach in the barrios the next were visiting nursing homes. Our leader, Lloyd Ziegler, was wild and frenetic and you never knew what he was going to say or do, but you knew it was going to be fun and full of adventure. I loved it. It was, maybe, the best year and education of my life.
Jesus said., “Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.”. The four disciples, who were fishermen by trade, possibly thought, ” I’ll catch men? O.k., not my speed by I’ll go with it.” or “What do I do with these men after I catch them? Do I clean them, cook them, and eat them?” They left fishing and went on a journey, an adventure.
There is something in a man’s heart that leaps for joy when someone says, “I see potential in you.” That’s what Jesus saw in all he called. He said, “I find you worthy of my time and company.” Jesus calls us to a one on one mentorship when He calls us to follow him. He mentors us through His Holy Spirt who is the Master Mentor
- He will guide us into what is true (John 16:13)
- He speak was is true and not just the wisdom of the day (John 16:13)
- He can tell us what to look for down the road (John16:13)
As youth workers, we call kids to a great adventure in knowing Christ. We take them on mission trips, camps, retreats, events, etc. all for the purpose of “talking with them along the road” – Luke 24:32 I think many kids reject our call to Christ because we lack adventure. Much of what I offer, in the way of outcome, is in the small end of the pool.
So, if you’re looking for a ministry mentor, take a tip from some young men who who were willing to leave all to follow Jesus.
- Look for a mentor who offers a skill (I will make you).
- Look for a mentor who invites you to, and can deliver on, an adventure.
- Look for a mentor who excites and scares you.
- Look for a mentor who leverages every resource they have to offer you God-Moments
Maybe this is why I have not found a mentor. I haven’t found the right ministry mentor because the rewards offered are too small. The calling too tame. Yesterday the Holy Spirit made me turn my car around to go to a gas station where I had been stopping to get coffee a few times a month, to talk with, and eventually pray with a woman who was going through a hard time. I am thankful for a God who still mentors us with nudges towards adventure.
When was the last time a mentor challenged you?
What was the most exciting/scary thing a mentor ever asked you to do? How did it go?
Click HERE to go to the next post in this series: 6 Youth Ministry Coaching/Mentoring Sites To Check Out