Mentoring in the States

Rick Beck of Honduras at the city dump of Tegucigalpa.

During December we spent time with Rick and Kim Beck from Honduras and spoke at their partnership dinner. Rick and Kim came into the ministry after Kim attended a class at Mid-South Bible College I was teaching. She brought Rick, her boyfriend, along and they both came on staff at Memphis YFC. We have mentored them for over twenty-five years. We have cried, laughed and worked together on many occassions during these many years. Our relationship has certainly become a true friendship.

I no longer call you servants…Instead, I have called you friends.  John 15:15  (NIV)

Following casual mentoring, our second objective is to establish active mentoring by becoming a discipler and coach. We work to develop a meaningful, trust-based relationship with the entire family. This time spent “walking alongside” provides an opportunity to build intimate friendships.

 We provide time for the missionary to reflect and to attentively explore their spiritual life. We work to take the missionary away for a time of personal reflection so that they can return refreshed and renewed. We work to refocus their spiritual life through pastoral care and close friendships that are safe.

 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. 1 Thess. 2:8 (NLT)

 Annual spiritual life retreats should be scheduled that are not encumbered with business agendas. (O’Donnell and O’Donnell, Helping Missionaries Grow, p. 81)

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