Mentoring on the Go: Practical Tips for Ministers

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Can you really afford to spend all your time preparing sermons without actively engaging with your community? In this episode, we tackle the delicate balance between sermon preparation and meaningful, hands-on ministry. Our guest, an experienced missionary, shares invaluable insights on how to truly make an impact. From door-knocking to hospital visits and even playing soccer, the conversation underscores the importance of being present and fully immersed in the lives of those you serve. We explore how every interaction can be a teaching moment and how to make the most of your time by always having young men accompany you on ministry activities.

Drawing inspiration from how Jesus might have utilized his time, we challenge you to adopt a similar mindset. Imagine a week where you're not just preparing sermons but also training and mentoring through everyday interactions. We discuss practical strategies, such as never traveling alone and always filling your car with young men eager to learn. The goal is to create an environment where faith and mission are woven into the fabric of daily life. Tune in for practical advice and inspiring stories that will encourage you to be hands-on and fully engaged in your missionary journey.

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Episode Transcript

W. Austin Gardner (00:00):
I'd like to talk to you about how you spend
in your week.
You know, the truth is you're amissionary and you could easily
spend your week getting readyto preach on Sunday morning,
sunday night, midweek, sundayschool, youth night, and you
could spend a lot of time in thestudy.
But that's not what the peopleneed.
They need you and I would liketo challenge you.

(00:23):
Yes, you're going to need toset aside 20 hours to study,
maybe, but then take another 30hours and spend time with them.
Take them out door knocking,take them out to something new
believers.
Take them out to the hospitalor the funeral.
Go play games with them, youknow, go play soccer, whatever,

(00:44):
but spend time with them andtrain them.
A basic rule don't be in yourcar alone.
Try to get another young man togo with you.
Get four young men.
Fill up every seat on purpose.
You know the conversation isgoing to go where it wants to go
, so you can talk about the ballgame, but somewhere along the
way you want to do the old Jesus.

(01:05):
Juke on them and bring themback to Jesus and talk about
Jesus and talk about what'sgoing on in the ministry.
Somewhere along the way youwant to ask them, how's their
Bible reading going?
How's their victory overseeinggoing?
When's the last time theywitnessed the people?
So, in other words, you want tocreate this environment.
I mean, I want you to.
If you want to know what yourweek needs to look like.
I want you to imagine what youreckon it was like with Jesus.

(01:26):
If Jesus was walking fromJerusalem to Bethlehem and the
guys were with him, what do youthink he was talking about?
Do you think the conversationwas any kind of off-color joke?
I don't really think so.
Do you think that theconversation was all about how

(01:50):
the two football teams or thetwo baseball teams or the
basketball teams?
I don't doubt that he allowedsome fun and joking and playing
around.
I really believe he did.
But you know what he had in mind.
He's like I'm on a time limit,I'm going to die.
I've got three years and I'mfixing to die and be buried and

(02:10):
and rise again and go to heaven.
So I have got to do all I cando where I am, the way I am, so
that people can go to heavenwhen they die, so that the
gospel will get around the world.
I got three years to trainthese guys and, as a missionary.
You need to learn to think likethat.
I see too manyaries and youhave too much time on your hands
because you don't have enoughpeople on your hands.

(02:32):
I don't know if that made youmad, but I always want to say
where are the guys you'retraining?
Where's the guy you're training?
They pick up more from justhanging around with you.
Now, I'm not saying you know,I've never taken them grocery
shopping with me.
I've never taken them to buy myclothes with me.

(02:53):
I've never done any of that.
But you know what, if anything,I'm doing ministry-wise?
I am not doing it alone.
I'm taking them with me and I'mchallenging you to do the same.