The Necessity of Mentoring

Acts 11:22-26 NASB

The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. 25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Let’s look at what mentoring can accomplish. A mentoring relationship was shown to us through Barnabas mentoring Paul and helping transform his life. Paul was feared, and the church did not receive him right away. But Barnabas took a risk, showing the transforming power a mentor can have on someone. Paul was a young Christian that many people feared, but Barnabas saw his potential and took a risk, taking Paul under his wing. It could have been messy, and it could have been not an easy task. Paul was trained under Gamaliel, and this would intimidate most. Still, Barnabas's mentoring relationship resulted in a ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit, affecting every believer's life today. How many Pauls do we have in our community needing a Barnabas? More importantly, how many is the church prepared to take in when revival breaks out? But what is the outcome? Branson and Taney County will be forever changed if we follow those who have gone before us and take the risk.

Pastor Benaiah Snider