My Mentor
“But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” (Phil. 2:22)
I’ve told you about my mentor, Rev. Allen Montgomery, in a few sermons and perhaps even a devotional. He was a wonderful man. I served with him during my second year of seminary. Allen had Parkinson’s disease and needed my pastoral assistance for him to make it through his final year before retirement. We became close friends. He taught me how to be a minister and nurtured my spiritual life. In many ways, I was “like a son with a father” and “as he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”
Allen took the time, often when he was tired and weakened by his disease and the medication, to nurture my call to ministry. We would review the reading assignments he gave me and all my seminary class readings. When we returned from a pastoral visit, we would discuss how we might have responded differently or whether there was a follow-up process. Whoever was preaching that week, we would evaluate and reflect on the sermon’s content, how the congregation seemed to receive it, and whether the message could have been more explicit. We also provided options for making it more entertaining to the listener. We also hammered out administrative challenges. His time and care were invaluable, and I will forever be grateful for them.
My relationship with Allen was similar to the Apostle Paul’s relationship with Timothy. Paul knew his ministry would not last forever. Timothy was young and eager to live God’s call. Paul not only trained Timothy but encouraged cared for, and challenged Timothy. Further, Paul was an ongoing reference for Timothy. Paul encouraged the Philippian church to accept Timothy as a worthy successor to Paul. Paul made sure Timothy would make an acceptable minister of Jesus Christ.
Today, think about the people who nurtured and mentored you. Remember the knowledge they imparted, the example they set, and the meaningful moments you spent together. Then, pray a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of your mentor. I believe God brings people into our lives who take us down a new road or lift us to a new plane of existence. They are almost angels. Finally, contemplate for a moment ways you might be a mentor to someone else. God may call you to give yourself to someone the way Allen gave to me or Paul gave to Timothy. If you do, someone may spend the rest of their days thanking God for you!
This Devotion was originally written in September of 2017.