We are Called to be Mentors

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

In a story published by Wareham Week earlier this week, it was reported that Wareham resident and "Big Sister" Taylor Bulis will run the Falmouth Road Race to raise money for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands youth mentoring organization on Sunday, Aug. 16.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to connecting area children with adult mentors and providing "one-to-one professionally-supported relationships."

“I am running on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters because I have seen firsthand the impact that mentorship can have,” Bulis said in a press release from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands. “...Running for BBBS is my way of giving back to an organization that has given me so much while helping raise awareness for the important work they do in creating strong, supportive relationships for young people in our communities.”

According to the organization, Bulis has been a "Big Sister" for over three years…

And, you know, when it comes to mentoring, every believer would do well to understand that they have a job to do in keeping the cycle of faith going. You see, you and I are tasked with not just creating strong, supportive relationships for young people, or new believers, in our communities, we are tasked with passing on the Good News of the Gospel to them, along with the teachings in the Bible—guiding, teaching, and supporting their growth and understanding of the Word— so that the next generation will live out God’s laws and then teach them to the next generation and the next and the next…

As you can imagine then, Christian one-to-one mentoring not only has the power to impact today’s world but the future one as well. This is something Paul clearly understood and took very seriously when, nearing the end of his life, wrote to young Timothy (the pastor he had taken under his wing) saying, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Notice that Paul doesn't tell Timothy to gather the biggest audience possible and teach them? As effective as that might sound, he tells him to look for “faithful men,” those who are dependable, steady, and deeply committed to the truth. In a world obsessed with quick numbers and massive popularity, Paul's words remind us that deep investment in a few quality leaders always outlasts a shallow message given to a crowd.

Think about it this way, if you and I (we are called to be mentors too, ladies) teach one person, we add one to our community. But if we teach one person how to teach another person, we soon multiply our community!

The ultimate goal then is sustainability. By training teachers to make more teachers, the message is built to outlive the original speaker, as Paul indicated.

This is the exact reason Christianity spread across the globe in Paul’s day and survived for centuries—because everyday believers took responsibility for passing the truth down to the next generation--and the very reason that we are called to do our part in passing the truth on today. 

So what do we do with this…?

We remember that Paul’s words are a call to action—a call that challenges each and every mature believer to ask two foundational questions:

Who is mentoring me? (Who is your Paul?)

Who am I investing in? (Who is your Timothy?)

So, take the call to know the Word so that you can teach it to the next generation very seriously my friend. Find a person to mentor that you might fulfill the calling placed on every mature follower of Christ. And, if you're a new believer, find a faithful person to mentor you. You'll not only grow exponentially but you’ll be ready to take the baton of faith and pass it on when the time comes to do so. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we are not only to have a mentor, or someone we can go to with questions, but are to be a mentor to those who are less mature in the faith. Lord, remind us that we are to not only make converts but to make disciples. Help us to teach others to be able to teach others so that the cycle of faith would never end. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!