Healthy Leaders Need Mentors

I became a Christian in 1991 through the ministry of Young Life at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona. Since then, I have been on a constant search for mentors. They have been catalysts to my growth in grace (2 Pet 3:18) and progress and joy in the faith (1 Tim 4:15). Most of my mentors have been informal—I hardly ever asked, “Will you mentor me?”—but they've been there and made a genuine, gospel-shaped difference in my life. 

I've never met a healthy leader who didn’t have mentors. In my experience, mentors are essential for growth in Christ, personal health, flourishing family life, wisdom for service and fruitful ministry. They are necessary for all ages and stages of our lives (not just the beginning). They are meant to provide—among other things—encouragement, perspective, challenge and love (1 Thess 2:1-12). They are examples to follow in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Tim 4:12). 

Because the illustration is often more powerful than the explanation, let me tell you about three mentors who have significantly shaped my walk with Christ.  

Pastor Joe Bubar 

Joe Bubar served as an EFCA pastor for most of his ministry. God brought him into my life about 20 years ago, and he has had a profound impact on my life and ministry. I often refer to Joe as my “most important mentor.” I could tell hundreds of mentor stories about Joe, but here’s one that illustrates humble courage. 

As a young associate pastor at Grace Bible Church in Arroyo Grande, California, I remember sitting in Joe’s office just prior to meeting with him. He needed to make a phone call, but he told me I could stay. On the call, I remember Joe introducing himself and saying he was the pastor of a certain person in our church. He said that he knew what was going on between our church member and the person on the phone, and simply said, “I just wanted you to know that I know.” 

After Joe got off the phone, he told me that these two people were having an affair, and Joe was helping the person in our church repent and return to the Lord (and this call was part of that). I remember being struck by the kind firmness of Joe’s tone. I also remember thinking I had just learned something significant about speaking the truth in love, bringing hidden things into the light, and guarding the flock that God has entrusted to our care. I knew then, and still believe today, that these are things I should never, ever forget. 

Dr. Greg Scharf 

I first met Dr. Greg Scharf in 2005, in his preaching class at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). That first course—and the years sitting under his teaching at TEDS—had a massive impact on my life and ministry. He gave me a framework for preaching and modeled lots of practical wisdom. Later in seminary, I was blessed to serve as Greg’s graduate assistant and be part of his formation group (small groups with the faculty that TEDS provided for seminary students). This gave me ample opportunity to watch and listen.  

Time and again, Greg modeled how to approach the Scriptures. During our formation group, he made sure we chewed on God’s Word. In our one-on-one meetings, his guidance and encouragement rang with biblical truth. When he spoke of ministry, it was centered around what the Word of God could accomplish.

Greg was humble, with the posture of a learner. He was confident, knowing the powerful impact God’s truth has on the human heart. He was bold, knowing that a preacher who faithfully proclaims God’s Word has nothing to fear. And he was dependent, modeling how each and every part of the Bible is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3).  

In Greg, I saw one for whom Scripture was the foundation underneath, the rule above, the wind behind and the message always, always put forth. I am so thankful for his personal example of how an ordinary pastor can humbly tremble at God’s Word (Isa 62:2). 

Glen Schrieber  

I met Glen Schrieber in 2006 at the EFCA Theology Conference at South Suburban Church (EFCA) in Eagan, Minnesota. Back then, I believe our annual theology conference was called the EFCA Mid-Winter Ministerial. I was in seminary at the time, which meant I was fascinated by books but too poor to buy any—except the soul-crushing stack assigned to me each semester.  

As I stood longingly by the book table, Glen Schrieber walked up and began a conversation with me. At the time, he was the district superintendent of EFCA Southeast. We spoke for a few minutes, and then out of the blue he said, “Pick a book, and I’ll buy it for you.” This small, generous gift had an outsized impact on me. I felt understood, noticed and valued.

I was tempted to pick an expensive commentary—Grant Osborne’s Revelation commentary in the Baker Exegetical series—but that seemed too much, so I chose a short book called The Mark of Jesus by Timothy George and John Woodbridge. This was just the beginning of Glen’s mentoring in my life. During the past two decades, I have reached out to him consistently for guidance, perspective and encouragement. 

Lift up your eyes

You might be wondering, why bring up mentoring right now? What's the point of all this? Let me share two reasons:

First, because EFCA leaders like me are always ambitious that pastors and church leaders grow in Christ. We never stop thinking about how to help the servant leaders of EFCA congregations deepen their understanding of the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). So much of what we do is aimed at this singular, good goal. 

Second, pastors and church leaders are in short supply right now. When I came out of seminary in 2007, that was not the case. I remember submitting my resume to open pastoral positions, knowing that it was in a stack of hundreds. Fast forward 20 years, amid the vast, destabilizing cultural change, there is now a shortage of vocational and lay leaders for the church at nearly every level. I have great confidence the Lord will raise up leaders, but I know that He does that mainly through the work of His people in His church.

And He often does it through mentoring relationships. 

So, if you don’t have a mentor, find some as soon as you can. Likewise, if you are not investing in other leaders, lift up your eyes, open your calendar, make space in your life and give of yourself to the leaders around you. They need it—and so do you.