Who has mentored / discipled you in your Christian walk?

[Camp Cook]

I have had several over the years but one who particularly stands out was a woman named Delores. Delores was a few years younger then my mom. I had known her all my life but when I moved back her neighborhood as a young wife & mother, she became my dear friend. She was like another mom to me when my mom was hundreds of miles away. I learned so much from her about servanthood, about leaning totally on the Lord, about being a wife & a mother. She was one of my first teachers in Sunday School, years later she was the first SS teacher each of my children had. She had much heartache in her life. She lost her first husband in a plane crash, shortly after they had adopted her (renegade) sister’s 2 young girls. One grew into a godly woman, one gave her much grief & rejection. Her only son was murdered when he was only in his early twenties, leaving behind a wife & 3 children under the age of 4. She helped her youngest daughter plan her wedding 2 times…only to have her leave the young men at the altar. She worked tirelessly along side her husband in their pharmacy and nursed him back to health after his by pass surgery. While he was recovering, their daughter finally got her life back on track & met a godly man. Once again wedding plans were made. During this time, Delores somehow hid the fact that all was not well with her. She had just seen her pastor’s wife lose her battle with ovarian cancer. 2 days after the wedding, she was in the hospital. She died three weeks later. Throughout her whole life, the love of Christ radiated from her. My biggest regret is that I never told her how she impacted my life. She was truly a Proverbs 31 women. I can only hope to become half the women she was, to give so willingly of herself to anyone & everyone. It is my heart’s desire to someday hear my Father say to me as I am sure He did to her…”Well done, my good and faithful servant.

It’s been 8 months. She is where she looked forward to going….but I miss her.

I would love to hear about who has impacted you on your walk.

[Bill McNeal]

There is a man named "Fred" who I met at the Baptist church I used to attend. I had always felt something special about him, and our association was just occasional while I attended that church. After I had left , about 6 months later Fred showed up on my door. He was homeless. His wife was commiting adultry, and a "pastor" of the church was conspiring against him. So Joy and I took him in, and he lived with us for close to 6 months.

In that time I saw this loving and righteous man rise above the slander, and ridicule, and dis-association leveled at him. His meek-ness was awesome. While struggling to meet his finances, he still managed to give money to another member of that church who lost his home to bankruptcy , while the 300 members of the Baptist church did nothing to help this man. Fred and became close that spring. We fished for trout, and got way deep into the Word. He was kinda taken back by my teaching, and we had several sticking points about certain Scriptures, but when he finally left, I embraced him, and told him that I was the one who was better for his stay, and that God sent him to me, not that I would teach him, but that he would teach me.

To me, he is Fred, a shepherd sent from God. I have yet to meet any self proclaimed shepherds who pocess the wisdom, the patience, and shepherding ability of this man. Guys like Fred balance me, and to watch their spiritual gifts unfold is surely a thing of awesome beauty.

Great thread CC

Shalom!

[Cueball]

To be a mentor is one of the greatest gifts that God can bestow upon us. It means you have reached a maturity level. It also means that God has entrusted a child of his to you for spiritual growth. It also means you have to stay rooted in the truth of Gods word and in prayer for your student. It is a burden at times as this person might really need to be transparent and bare their soul to you. That means hearing other persons problems, fears, concerns, failures.

I know a man like this. His name is Mitchell Blount "Cato".
God blessed or cursed this man about 7-8 years ago with me as a student. What a blessed day in my life that God sent this wonderful human being into my life. I don't have the time nor the ablility nor the emotion to put into words what his friendship and teachings have meant to me. I know Cato will be the first to say aww I haven't really done anything. Don't let his humility fool you God has used him as an instrument in my life for amazing positive growth. My relationship with my Lord is much deeper thru his example. My marriage is stronger and my parenting skills are much improved as well. God is looking for a few good men and he found one in Mitchell Blount.

Let me take this most public forum to publicy tell you thank you and i love you like Jonathan and David!

............................................Roby.. ...........................................

[Cueball]

I know some more people have to have stories to share on this and i find it a great subject.

Roby

[WildmanSC]

My Mentor has been my hunting/fishing partner and Sunday School Teacher of the past 25 years or so. We haven't fished together, other than for men, for about 20 years. I haven't fished since I picked up the bow. I decided I could throw money in only one hole, so I would rather it be bows than boats and fishing!!

Jim, is a wonderfully gifted teacher who exercises his spiritual gift of teaching in a very fundamental and complete manner scripturally. He teaches biblical truths in the total context of the Bible, rather than just lifting single passages out and endeavoring to use them as proof text. If there is one thing I've learned under his teaching, it is that a single passage cannot stand on its own merit. It must be viewed in the light of the totality of the Bible and as directed by the Holy Spirit.

He has provided encouragement to me on more occasions than I could possibly remember, has lifted me up and edified me through his teaching, and been a Brother in every sense of the word.

Bill Lamb

[Cueball]

Bill, good to hear your story. I think it neat to have a common bond in christ and a passion for the outdoors. Cato and myself have a very similar situation.

Guys lets hear some more.



............................................Roby.. ....................................

[1bjd]

I am so very fortunate to have grown up in a wonderful loving Christian home. My mentors have been many, the two most important are my Mother and Father! They taught by example showing me the way to be an honest caring Christian. To do things right regardless of the cost. I have not always done that, sometimes taking the easy way, but have always known what I should have done and usually the easy way wound up causing troubles. It was after those times that I learned the lesson of a parents love, especially a mothers.
I used to think that my father and I were best friends and we were very close, we shared a love of hunting that I am very thankful for. It was not until after his death from cancer almost ten years ago that I learned the true meaning of a Mothers love. My Mom and I are Best Friends, She loves me with a never ending love that can never be explained. She had helped me grow as a person and to have a greater bond with my children.
I think that Gods greatest gift is family, and the most important part is my Mother. She is my Mentor my Champion and the greatest person in the world! I am very fortunate to still have her. John

[Cato]

I regret that with work issues, I have been unable to respond to this thread before now.

For starters, let me verbalize what you already know; there is no good within me, aside from the Spirit of Christ that dwells within. One of the great frustrations of my life has been the somewhat unsatisfied yearning to be useful somehow to God. In that context, I had been praying for some time for an opportunity to be of influence to someone. And then along came Roby.

Interestingly, I did not even realize it was happening at the time. We established a relationship around archery first, which gravitated to Spiritual matters from time to time, and then grew deeper from there. I am so grateful that I God allowed me to be involved in the process.

As you might imagine, the street runs two ways. Our personal friendship has become something I cherish. And I have been greatly encouraged to see how Roby has grown so much in his faith in such a short time. And he has been a great encouragement to me personally.

Praise the Lord, for He alone deserves the glory.

Mitchell