I have written on the importance of mentoring and of its necessity in the life of every young minister. There is a lot said about the impact that mentoring has upon the life of a young individual. However, I am not sure it is being practiced in our local churches. Like no other time in the history of the church, God is calling young people into full-time Christian service and ministry. These young people are flocking to the seminaries in groves like sponges ready to soak up any theological and practical teaching they can contain. As wonderful as seminary is it does not take the place of pastoral mentoring.
Pastoral mentoring is when a pastor takes under his wings a young person(s) who has been called from his congregation into gospel ministry. I have primarily in mind a young man who has been called into the ministry. The older generation of pastors and teachers has a huge responsibility ahead of them to train the younger generation of future church leaders. Are we concerned enough about truth, biblical theology, church history, and right doctrine to see it bloom in the lives of younger men beginning their journey in the ministry? Pastor, do you currently have a young man that you are training for future ministry? I encourage you to find someone to pour your life into. It is sad that men, having been in the ministry for decades, have never given their attention to training or teaching younger ministers. Now is the time to begin.
What is involved in mentoring? What should you do? I have compiled a list of ten things I wish someone would have shown and taught me:
1. Show them a heart truly devoted to God and the glory of Christ
Show them why you are in the ministry and what drives you. True devotion to God and to the exaltation of the glory of Christ is essential in a ministry that will be blessed by God. Focus their attention, at the very beginning of their ministry, on God and the glory of His Son.
2. Show them why to love church history
Instill in their minds and hearts a love and appreciation for God’s providence in the past. Show them the importance of church history and how learning it will aid them in their present ministry.
3. Teach them to preach and pray
If you love expository preaching, instill in their hearts a desire to do the same. Many young men have never developed a sermon. They have no idea even where to begin. Teach them the fine art of sermon preparation, prayer, and preaching. Show them how to craft a sermon from a text that will engage the hearts of their hearers. Cause them to fall in love with preaching. In addition, never neglect the importance of prayer. Instill in your young minister a love for Christ on his knees as he seeks God daily in prayer.
4. Teach them to love books
Place in their hands wonderful books. Show them the importance of a good library and how to develop one. Put into their hands the Puritans, Edwards, Owen, Calvin, Luther, Watson, Bunyan, and other contemporary writers that will evaluate their hearts to heights as they behold God as never before.
5. Give them discipline
Nothing will destroy ministry quicker than old fashioned laziness. Teach your young minister the importance of self-discipline and self-mastery.
6. Teach them to love the church
Let them know that the church is wonderful. Let them know that the task before them is the noblest task in the world. Let them know that the church is the Bride of Christ and they should fall in love with that for which Christ gave His life.
7. Instill in their hearts a passion for missions
Take them on mission trips. Let them see the world’s poverty and God’s grace. Instill in them a heart for the nations and the Great Commission.
8. Teach them to mentor
As you mentor let it be your prayer that they will see its importance and do the same.
9. Set an example of Godliness and Holiness
Be an example before them in word and deed. If they see holiness and godliness in your life they will desire to emulate the same in their own.
10. Show them why you love to be a pastor
Why do you love to be a pastor? I urge you to write it down and pass it on!
Pastor, I implore you to gather the young ones under your wings that the church may continue to soar as a new generation of church leaders and pastors arises.
Filed under: Ministry, Pastors, The Church
[...] Pastor: Take the Young Ones Under Your Wings by Dustin Benge [...]
This is a helpful reminder. I have linked to this post at my blog: http://www.bibleexposition.net
Thanks Charles for stopping by and I appreciate the link!
Good post. I think the same mentoring is needed by pastors’ wives.
Thanks for your thoughts Lauran. I completely agree on your assessment of pastors’ wives. Often the pastors’ wife is looked over and disregarded. However, the wife of a pastor goes through so many emotional ups and downs as she sees her husband carry the weight of the church in which he serves. They desperately need mentoring my other Godly women in ministry. They need to be taken under the wing of faithful women in ministry and nurtured, helped, loved. This would be a superb outlet of relief for them as well as accountability. This will be invaluable to the church and to her husband. Thanks again – Dustin
You’re welcome. I know how necessary mentoring is and expect that it is even more integral for pastors’ wives because, as you pointed out in your current post, they have a difficult role to fill.