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inadequate and overwhelmed. In spite of
our fears, God used imperfect mentors to
have a part in Eddie’s transformation.
In whatever God calls us to do, there is
a place for mentoring. He can use anyone
who is willing to invest in the life of another. Yes, it feels risky and uncomfortable.
But many younger men and women are
hungry for it, even pleading for it. God can
use our willing hearts to help raise up the
next generation to honor and serve him.
This issue of OMS Outreach shows insights to be gained and practices to be
gleaned from mentoring. It includes stories of people who have been intentional,
formal mentors and others who have been
impactful, informal mentors. With mentoring eyes and God’s help, we can walk with
them in developing the potential God has
so graciously placed within others.
May God give us discernment, courage,
and the intentionality to invest prayerfully
and well in others.
change took place in his heart.
The day we launched Eddie into life on
his own, we had a special ceremony in
his honor, expressing thanks to God. With
many tears, Eddie thanked a room full of
people who had helped him in his journey.
Words of blessing and a time of intercession followed. Then, he got in his car and
drove off to his newly rented apartment.
In the eight months he was with us, dramatic changes took place, and since then,
the changes have continued. Esther and I
marvel at what God has done in Eddie’s life!
Eddie married a lovely young woman
who helps him shine brightly. Their faithfulness and service in their church have
been exemplary. They hope to be appointed as missionaries soon.
Had Esther and I waited for the moment we felt like perfect mentors, we never
would have invested in Eddie. We felt
Bob Fetherlin
Editor’s note: Currently, Bob meets regularly with several young men at the OMS
World Headquarters, pictured here, to
mentor them in areas of professional, personal, and spiritual growth.
*Name changed for privacy.
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By Dr. Tim Roehl, Director of
Training and Development,
One Mission Society
I love hats. I have dozens of them. It’s important to choose the right hat for specific purposes. Hats are a visible way to communicate identity, affinity, and ability.
When it comes to ministry, the “hats” you wear are important too. As we equip
leaders around the world, we talk about “the lesson of the hats.” Knowing what
ministry hat to wear at the right time is a crucial part of equipping leaders. Here
are some “ministry hats” we wear as OMS equips leaders around the world:
Mentor Mentors “pour in.” Mentors share their stories, experiences, expertise, wisdom, advice, and encouragement in order to help other leaders. Often, a
mentoring relationship involves an older leader investing in a younger one. It’s a
great joy to pass along life lessons that help leaders fulfill God’s destiny for them.
Coach Coaches “pull out.” Coaches listen and ask questions wisely to help
leaders discern where God is working, identify goals to focus on, clarify current
reality, develop options, and decide action steps to accomplish their goals. They
pull out what God is doing in a leader’s life. Instead of telling the leader what to
do, they help a leader discover and determine their own game plan.
Both mentors and coaches have tremendous influence
when they minister side-by-side with their prôtêges.
Trainer Trainers equip with skills. Great trainers interactively impart information, model behavior to imitate, provide opportunities to practice, and integrate
new skills in ongoing ministry. At OMS, we wear our trainer hats so those we
equip can multiply ministry skills through generations of leaders. OMS trainers
travel the world on short-term trips to equip leaders. Others serve in Bible schools
and seminaries. Last year, we trained more than 50,000 leaders in the 70+ nations
where we serve.
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