Parental mentoring: An effective way of witnessing – Part – 2

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them, when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:7-9).

In the New Testament, Barnabas was part of the multitude of believers, who were of one heart and of one soul (Acts 4:32-35). There was a spirit of sharing among them, but Barnabas was especially noted for his generosity (Acts 4:36-37).

His name was Joses, but he was nicknamed “Barnabas,” which means “son of consolation.” Consolation means “the act of emboldening another in believe or course of action, encouragement and exhortation.” Barnabas did something that emboldened others to act in a similar manner. He did something that was an encouragement; help, an example to the other Christians. The apostles were amazed by his spirit and example and called him basically “the encourager.”

According to Travis Snode on: “Thoughts about Evangelism, Discipleship, and Church Planting” we learn that if we are going to mentor others, we must be willing to: Encourage others to and motivate them to serve the Lord, especially with the Word of God. Hebrew 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words; set a good example for others to follow. 1 Corinthian 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ; Give generously of what we have to help others”. 2 Corinthians 12:15 “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved”.

Barnabas sought out and believed in Saul, when others did not, Acts 9:23-31. Saul was not trusted by the disciples at Jerusalem (Acts 9:23-26). Running for his life from the Jews at Damascus, He came to Jerusalem. But the church there would not let him join them, because they were afraid of him and did not believe he was a true disciple. Barnabas reached out to Saul, when no one else would (Acts 9:27-31). He took a risk and brought Saul to the apostles. He told them how he had seen the Lord in the way, how the Lord had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached at Damascus in the name of Jesus. The apostles accepted Barnabas’ word, and Saul was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. Travis Snode asserts about believing in people: Mentors are willing to trust when others won’t, Mentors are willing to take risks, when others are afraid and Mentors believe, when others doubt. If we are going to mentor and disciple leaders, we must be willing to help those that no one else will help, believe in those that others won’t believe in, and take risks on people.

Acts 18:24-28 presented to us Priscilla and Aquila and their encounter with Apollos and how they helped him in faith. The Bible says of Priscilla and Aquila: “Acts 18:1-2. They were Tentmakers, who used their lives in a great way to help get churches planted. They gave Paul a place to stay, while he was church planting in Corinth. Later, they opened up their home for the church in Ephesus and then the church in Rome. Paul acknowledged that he was deeply indebted to them for all their help in the ministry (Romans 16:3-4).

It was this perfect couple that met with Appollos in course of his preaching tour “…”Acts 18:24-28).

Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical
Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org