And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV)
Two Sundays ago I had the privilege of preaching at Evangel Baptist Church. This church will always be special to me because I was one of the founding members. That was a long time ago, when I was in my last few years in university.
I had two heart-warming encounters when I visited this time. First, one of the church leaders came up to me to show me a book on leadership. Peter reminded me that it was the text I used when I was doing Bible study with him and two other guys. I was living in Whitchurch Road then and he remembered having to cross a railway track to get to my place. He said this was 43 years ago. He even showed me some notes I had written to the guys with homework they had to do. He asked if my handwriting had improved. I said no. We laughed.
I felt profoundly grateful both to Peter who was so kind to remind me of the time we shared 43 years ago, and that it had helped him to be the leader he is today. And I thanked God that He had seen fit to use those imperfect early attempts at mentoring to help shape this brother. I know that where mentoring and discipling are concerned, we do our part but it is God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6).
When I started walking with the three young men 43 years ago, I had no idea how they would turn out. I had no idea how my own life would unfold. Every decision to mentor someone is an exercise in faith. I remind those I am teaching on mentoring not to think that it is their mentoring that changes people. It is God. The mentor is but a servant of the process.
At that same worship service in Evangel, I met one of my mentors, Rev Michael Shen. Many of you may know him as a former principal of Singapore Bible College, a position in which he served with distinction for many years. I had met him for the first time in the early years of Evangel Baptist, around the time I had walked with Peter and the two others. Michael was a young pastor then, providing pastoral leadership for our young church. He lived on campus at the Bible college. I recalled the long chats we had in his apartment and as we took walks in the area around the school. He taught and modelled for me many profound spiritual lessons. Let me share one — he said that in Christian ministry, don’t chase ministry success. Focus on being faithful to the assignments the Lord gives you. Let the Lord decide if and when to promote you to bigger responsibilities.
I had a chat with Michael when we were at Evangel Baptist and I reminded him of how much his mentoring then had helped shape me. He smiled and said that he could no longer remember. I told him that I still remembered and I took the opportunity to thank him again. He bought one of my books from the Graceworks book table and asked me to autograph it. I was deeply touched.
Meeting Peter and Michael in Evangel reminded me of 2 Timothy 2:2. I was a recipient of the mentoring of Michael and in turn I tried to mentor Peter. The best mentoring is always mutual and, with the passing of time, mentors and mentees become friends. I noted that I am still committed to doing what I was doing 43 years ago. I will continue to do this and encourage others to do it. I am also very aware that the best of who I am was the result of folks who had poured their lives into me.