Mentoring

www.dictionary.com defines "Mentoring" as, "To serve as a trusted counselor or teacher, especially in occupational settings." I believe that mentoring is very important, especially in today's world. Whether one is picking up a younger "up and comer" in their profession, or a couple of friends connecting to hold each other accountable and to build the other up, I believe mentoring is one key to the success of the future of today's society. More importantly, as a Christian, I believe that Christians mentoring other Christians is vital for the movement of God. Today's society challenges the young Christian to question the validity of God, the truth of Scripture, and the experience and encounter of the Holy Spirit. What a mature Christian mentor brings to the table of a young Christian is the battle scars of life, the life experience of knowing that God is a God who will never leave or forsake. By looking at the very definition of "Mentoring" given from www.dictionary.com, I believe that we can learn three defining lessons in mentoring. 1. Service. In my occupation, service is a key way of life. Service involves volunteering, a caring heart, and a desire to make a significant difference in society and in one's life. Mentoring involves all of this. A mentor needs to have a serving heart and attitude; one who understands that what they are doing is making a difference in a person's life and in our future. 2. Real. People are attracted to other's who are real. One who bleeds red, cries real tears, has real successes as well as real failures, and one who holds their head hi while learning from lifes experiences. As a Christian, other people what to see one growing in the Lord, and not just holding a psuedo-reality of, "I've arrived." A real person is one who other's want to learn from and follow. 3. Commitment. I think commitment is a basic in relationships. People don't open up to others and a relationship can't grow if one doesn't feel that the other is committed to the relationship in listening, learning, and being their for them. Also, in mentoring, (as well as life), both change and growth takes time. People will see lasting results if they stay committed in mentoring. So who are you mentoring, and who are you allowing to mentor you. Finding a quality mentor and being a quality mentor takes time...don't give up.

1. service
2. real
3. commitment

What A Night!

Wow, my first official blog. I started this process, in one sense or another, approximately two years ago, and now here I am. But explaining the slowness of my blogging career getting off of the ground isn't the reason for my writing today. Instead, I want to share the amazing student ministry service that I had the privilege to be a part of last night.

Last night, CSM (Core Student Ministries) kicked off its first ever One Big Night. We combined our middle school and high school groups; had an awesome skit, videos, worship, give-a-ways, wrap-up to a six week long contest, special speaker, etc. You know, all of these things that are familiar to student ministry. One of the events of the night that we experienced, was also what many student ministries probably experience...a Stand! "What do you mean?" you may ask. At the conclusion of the message we saw an incredible response of several teens making a decision to stand for Christ; some were for the first time, some were a re-dedication, or some were for a deeper commitment. But as a leader, I find myself constantly asking the question: how do we become the catalyst for these students to help them transform their "service experience" and decision into a way of life? I don't know about you (whoever reads this), but as a leader in student ministry, I don't want to see experience without genuine change. I think, what I'm learning is that the conclusion of this question varies with each leader and student ministry. I'm learning that I can no longer see a successful student ministry somewhere else, and try and clon that ministry and expect the same results. Instead, it's going to involve me spending my own time (and a lot of it), asking God, "What do you have for us?" "What do you want CSM to be?" "How can I be the leader you want me to be for the students you've intrusted me with?"

I pray that God will continue to help me become a catalyst to help our students transform their genuine "service experiences" into their everyday life. I'm thankful for CSM, and for the work God is doing in and through our students, and I'm excited about the future of CSM. Faithfully Reaching, Relating, and Revealing God's plans for our students.

signed,
always learning! always growing!