Many hearts have been set aglow at one time or another for the cause of souls.  Many have sensed the call of God on their life to perhaps even go as a missionary themselves.  However, the flame of missions has dimmed and grown cold in the lives of many people for lack of encouragement and direction.  As days pass, the fire grows dim and the ease of slipping back into the normal routine is not necessarily a temptation, it is simply the dilemma of not really knowing what comes next.  They need counsel and guidance or many times that burning desire of heart and vision begins to diminish, grow dim, and fade away.   They need someone, but who?  Who can they talk with?  Is there someone who would understand what they are experiencing?

   Mentoring a person for mission is just that.  It is “fanning the flame” that God has stirred.  What a joy to be able to fan the flame of a missionary heart, to begin a relationship with someone, or perhaps a family, whose interest has turned toward the spiritual side of life.  People who have envisioned the fact that the world is “mostly” lost, and perhaps God is calling them to make a life change for souls’ sake.  There are those who have stood in that spot before.   People who understand their dilemma and can provide valuable assistance in a moment of confusion.

   Some churches have an emphasis in missions with pastors who know exactly what to do and how to guide.  Sadly to say, many do not.  There were 44,000+ youth who attended “PASSION,” a worship and mission emphasis program,  in Atlanta this past December.  Thousands of youth left the meeting with hearts on fire to serve the Lord.  Many will go back to their homes finding someone to fan that flame, many will not.

   Being a mentor, fanning the flame, is a privilege.  You become a loving friend and guide in the walk of where a person is and where they desire to go.  It is a two-way blessing.  You cannot stand next to a fire and not get warmed.  You suggest books that would help them in areas of need and discuss the books with them on a regular basis.  You pray with them and offer encouragement.  We know our “help comes from the Lord”, but we also understand HIS design.  We are the “body of Christ” and by design we need one another.

   You will find, as the flame is fanned, it will grow.  Soon the friend of your friend will be warmed by the glow and move up closer.  A little fanning goes a long way.  As the song goes, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.  And soon all those around will warm up in its glowing.  That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it.  You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, you’ll want…to pass…it on.”

   Mentoring is not a massive logistical endeavor.  It begins simply as a one-on-one or family-to-family encounter, an investment with guaranteed eternal return.  It does demand love and time…something we all, as Christians, need to give to one another.  It also demands that we open our eyes to what God is doing all around us.  There are opportunities, everywhere, to be a blessing to someone if we just listen to God’s whisper.  As I have observed with the groups who come to help with projects in Africa, sometimes we go to “work” on a project, and find the end result is God doing a “work” in us. May the Lord be magnified and HIS flame continue to grow and glow in each of us.

James George, Missionary
Ps. 96:1-3