Mentoring: It’s About Time  

Dennis Jennings,  BCMN Vice President; Cherry Street Baptist Church, Springfield, MO

I entered the ministry as a 20 year old bus kid that could lead music with tons of passion and little else. Thankfully I had a pastor that was patient when I needed it, stern when I needed it, and wise enough to hold me accountable along the way.

More than a decade later, while I had gained experience, I still lacked in so many areas when I was called to that first pastorate. Once again the patience of others was needed, but I needed more. I was now the leader. I was excited, still full of passion, ideas and energy. But there were areas of ministry that were completely outside my experience. I was a "blank slate."

Thankfully I had developed a number of relationships with some men who were willing to give me a bit of their time. Every time I needed help in one of those “blank slate” areas, I found 

 that the Lord had already put into my life a pastor friend from whose experience I could draw, who had a heart like Paul: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2).

I received help in those early years with our church missions program; Sunday School organization; discipleship program; budgeting; church finances; getting a loan; building a building; hiring staff; time management; counselling; and the list goes on and on. In every one of these areas, it wasn’t an internet article or a book; it was the personal input from someone who had walked the road ahead of me and was willing to give me the time to show me the way that made the difference in my ministry.

The Baptist Church Ministry Network provides today’s pastors and ministry leaders a place to find someone with experience and the willingness to give time to help. A recent article on pastoral mentoring stated, “[O]ne of the advantages to being in a denomination or network of churches is the accessibility of mentoring relationships…..[P]astors who go it alone are missing out on one of the great benefits of pastoral community.”

The need for these mentoring relationships is as great as ever. The good news is that we are already hearing of Network members taking advantage of this resource. One young pastor just shared with me the blessing of having someone willing to take his call for a quick question. In essence he said, “I feel like there is someone who cares about where I am, where I am going and how I’m going to get there.”

We all know Biblical, Balanced, Baptist people in ministry who are doing all they know to do with passion and energy. Some have a world of experience and godly wisdom, and would be a valuable resource for others in the network. They need to be made aware that just a little time on a phone call could expand their own personal ministry beyond their church. We all know pastors and ministry leaders who would be greatly helped by someone will to “coach” them through a problem or project.

Join me in reaching out to these fellow laborers and let them know that the BCMN is a place for them to belong and to make a difference. Send them to baptistcmn.org and let them check it out for themselves. We will all be stronger for it!