For almost 7 years Bill and I have had the privilege of mentoring a sister and brother through the mentoring ministry of Mercy Street in West Dallas. As with any relationship that involves a commitment, such as marriage, parenting, joining a church or taking a new job, you never fully know what lies ahead but you do know that this is something God is calling you to do. That was true for us as we said "yes" when asked to consider being mentors. Our experience has truly been an adventure as God has taught us that mentoring is His work and that we are wholely dependent on Him and merely part of His plan for redemption in the lives of our mentees. We have seen these children grow and change before our eyes just as our own children have grown up and left the nest, often in spite of our imperfect parenting or mentoring.
So why mentor? What difference has it made? Paul says in II Corinthians 2:6-8 "For God, who said,"Light shall shine out of darkness", is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing." Mentors are bringers and bearers of this Light which shines in our hearts because we have been called out of the darkness of our sin by His grace. You don't have to have all the answers because Jesus is the answer.
Mercy Street's mandate is "To be used of God to spark Christ-honoring community restoration by engaging in mutually-transforming relationships with the future leaders of West Dallas." When we became mentors to Mariah and Ivan, I was not aware of this mandate but later heard Trey Hill, Mercy Street's founder and executive director, articulate it at an urban missions conference. I realized then that being a mentor had transformed me, too. My prayer life deepened as many times things in my mentee's life were beyond my control and I realized I had no one but the Lord to call upon. The more I prayed the more I saw God faithfully do things that were "above and beyond all that I could ask or think."
 |
| At Graduation |
The first year was challenging as Mariah and Ivan got to know us and we them. It took time for them to trust that Bill and I were committed to seeing them through the ups and downs in their lives. Mercy Street provided training for us as mentors and encouraged and guided us but in the end we had take the principals and apply them in unique and special ways. That first summer Mariah attended camp with Mercy Street. When she got off the bus back in Dallas she was a different girl. She had committed her life to Christ! Two years later Ivan also committed his heart to Christ at camp. There have been so many unexpected twists and turns for both of them since then but all under the sovereign control and purposes of God for their lives. Now 18, Mariah graduated June 1st from a christian boarding school and plans to begin college this Fall. Ivan at 16 is still in school and wants to live for the Lord. God continues to write His story in each of our lives, teaching us His ways and molding us into the people He wants us to be. Mentoring has blessed us in ways we never could have imagined and we are so glad the Lord has knit our families together in His love.
God is writing His story in your life, too, and if you sense Him calling you to mentor I can only say "do it!" It will be an adventure with the Holy Spirit that will change you forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment