Mentors
Every now and then God will bring somebody into your life that will have radical influence. I have had the fortune of many such encounters. God has certainly blessed with a long list of encouragers, listeners, prophets, teachers, preachers, and prodders. At the top of that list would be my bride! I am reluctant to start naming names because I would certainly miss someone!
Yesterday I had the awesome blessing of spending 2.5 hours with my mentor - Ken Rudolph. Apart from my dad, this man has had THE most influence in my life, thinking, and ministry philosophy. Allow me to tell the story of how one life can be significantly altered by the power of godly influence.
Fourteen years ago this May began my journey of engaging with high school students while learning how to be a college representative, quasi traveling youth speaker, and more recently and importantly, a pastor. At that time Ken was, in my eyes, a superhero. He had already challenged and influenced a generation to leap into ministry and try the impossible in the name of the King! I went to Baptist Bible College largely as a result of Ken. Fast forward a few years...by being in the right place at the right time (thank you, God) I was hired to work in the same department at BBC with Ken. I was awed that I sat in departmental meetings with this guy!
Within a few months I was sharing an office with Ken. I think I just stared at him for the first few days. Soon we realized that we shared a love for history, great stories, food, and the the thought of attempting the radical for Christ. The only problem was I had no idea how to do that last part. I wanted to but really did not have the skill sets to even think about it.
As a master communicator, Ken has taught God's word thousands of times to thousands of people both student and adult in just about every conceivable setting. He has truly made an art out of teaching. For some reason God prompted Ken's heart to speak truth into me and spend time with me to help me learn how to engage my world with the Truth. This guy whose name is synonymous with effective communication and teaching decided to coalesce and crystallize his life and ministry into the life of a punk kid!
The interesting part is that I realized, and this is still stupefies me, that Ken is not a superhero. He is just a dude called to do what God has called him to do. As we spent time together the picture was made complete that he is on the same journey with its attendant issues just like everyone else. One of the greatest lessons he taught me comes straight from the pen of Paul, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:9-10). Be and become who God has made and is continuing to make you to be.
Yesterday, as we both enjoyed a thing we love - steak and cheese hoagies, I had the same epiphany. Ken is still just a dude called by God to do what God has called him to do. I watched as he welled up with tears thinking, again, about what this generation could do for the kingdom if they just engage! Yup, lesson learned.
If you have or had a mentor you need to find some tangible way to say 'thank you'. Get out their address, find them on facebook, hire a private detective, whatever...find them and THANK THEM. So help me, don't you dare just send a facebook message either! Weak sauce. At least write an honest to goodness thank you note. Remember those? If they are nearby, and if you have the means, take him or her out for a meal or a cup of coffee, look him in the eye and tell them how God has used them to shape who you are. Step number two, get on your face and thank God (right now) that he used someone to build into you.
Yesterday I had the awesome blessing of spending 2.5 hours with my mentor - Ken Rudolph. Apart from my dad, this man has had THE most influence in my life, thinking, and ministry philosophy. Allow me to tell the story of how one life can be significantly altered by the power of godly influence.
Fourteen years ago this May began my journey of engaging with high school students while learning how to be a college representative, quasi traveling youth speaker, and more recently and importantly, a pastor. At that time Ken was, in my eyes, a superhero. He had already challenged and influenced a generation to leap into ministry and try the impossible in the name of the King! I went to Baptist Bible College largely as a result of Ken. Fast forward a few years...by being in the right place at the right time (thank you, God) I was hired to work in the same department at BBC with Ken. I was awed that I sat in departmental meetings with this guy!
Within a few months I was sharing an office with Ken. I think I just stared at him for the first few days. Soon we realized that we shared a love for history, great stories, food, and the the thought of attempting the radical for Christ. The only problem was I had no idea how to do that last part. I wanted to but really did not have the skill sets to even think about it.
As a master communicator, Ken has taught God's word thousands of times to thousands of people both student and adult in just about every conceivable setting. He has truly made an art out of teaching. For some reason God prompted Ken's heart to speak truth into me and spend time with me to help me learn how to engage my world with the Truth. This guy whose name is synonymous with effective communication and teaching decided to coalesce and crystallize his life and ministry into the life of a punk kid!
The interesting part is that I realized, and this is still stupefies me, that Ken is not a superhero. He is just a dude called to do what God has called him to do. As we spent time together the picture was made complete that he is on the same journey with its attendant issues just like everyone else. One of the greatest lessons he taught me comes straight from the pen of Paul, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:9-10). Be and become who God has made and is continuing to make you to be.
Yesterday, as we both enjoyed a thing we love - steak and cheese hoagies, I had the same epiphany. Ken is still just a dude called by God to do what God has called him to do. I watched as he welled up with tears thinking, again, about what this generation could do for the kingdom if they just engage! Yup, lesson learned.
If you have or had a mentor you need to find some tangible way to say 'thank you'. Get out their address, find them on facebook, hire a private detective, whatever...find them and THANK THEM. So help me, don't you dare just send a facebook message either! Weak sauce. At least write an honest to goodness thank you note. Remember those? If they are nearby, and if you have the means, take him or her out for a meal or a cup of coffee, look him in the eye and tell them how God has used them to shape who you are. Step number two, get on your face and thank God (right now) that he used someone to build into you.
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