Pauls' History: The Background of a Mentor

Paul was a first-century mentor who, seeking to rise up another generation of Christian leaders, invested his life in younger men. Paul invested in several men, including Timothy and Titus-all first-century church leaders. In his mentoring relationship with Timothy, we can compare Paul's approach to mentoring with Jesus' approach.

Paul initiated the mentoring relationship:

We don't know much about the divine intersection that led to Paul's mentoring relationship with Timothy. Paul was traveling through the city of Lystra on his second missionary journey when he announced he wanted Timothy to travel with him (Acts 6:1-5). It's possible that Timothy converted to Christianity during Paul's trip through Lystra on his first missionary journey, but we're not told when Timothy became a believer. We do know that his mother and grandmother were believers who trained young Timothy in the Word of God (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:14-17). Timothy's father, a Greek, was likely a non-believer.

Timothy and Paul's mentoring relationship provides a model for us. First, Paul as mentor took the lead in establishing the relationship (you might remember that Jesus took the initiative, too, in calling His disciples). Paul apparently kept his eyes open for believers who showed promise and Timothy caught his attention. Maybe Paul had heard from church leaders who recognized Timothy's giftedness (1 Timothy 1:18; 4:14). However Paul enlisted Timothy, Paul eventually came to speak of Timothy as a fellow worker in the gospel.

Taking the initiative in mentoring isn't always easy. Jesus was the Son of God. Paul was an apostle extraordinaire. Compared to them, we might struggle with whether we'd be welcomed as potential mentors. How do we take the initiative in recruiting people to mentor? Read More

*Insights from "Mentor - How Along-the-Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life!" Chuck Lawless - ISBN 9781415870013 Lifeway

The world of criminal records is confusing and fogged by misconceptions regarding access to and storage of criminal records.  Let's continue clearing up those misconceptions.

NWBC would like you to consider and plan on attending the following collaborative event with your network of friends, pastors, planters and churches.  

We are grateful to be partnering with FBC Midland and Rivers Church in Colorado to bring you this event in late November. This event is both for church plants and existing churches desiring to increase their presence, practice, and proclamation in their neighborhood and community.

Date, location, topics, etc. are in the attached promo piece and web link.  Please go to the   link below to register for the PORTLAND event (the event is FREE due to a generous gift from FBC Midland).  

Thanks for your interest in growing as a network of churches, desiring to impact Portland with the gospel through healthy churches and healthy, multiplying, new churches.

For date and time and a promo flyer click/view here

Here's the web link: www.seattlechurchplanting.com/simple

The design piece is attached. 

Wes Hughes, D.Min., Urban Church Planting Strategist - Portland OR

Go to www.portlandchurchplanting.org to learn more on planting new, multiplying churches in the Portland Metro area.

Many have asked how as an individual or a church can be involved in our new churches and ministries of IBA. Below you will find opportunities of involvement, celebration, or prayer. 

TRINITY CHURCH - Gresham, OR

Trinity is hosting a Christmas outreach effort event for the teachers of their local schools giving them gifts of appreciation and inviting them to the church.  This event will be coupled with a mass mailer (10,000 homes) to the community. This effort will cost $500 for gift bags and $3000 for the mailer.

They will also be hosting a Back pack buddies program. Each Friday during the school year they will be sending food home in a backpack for the weekend with over 30 children living close to the poverty line.  The cost is approximately $3.00 per child per week.  Total amount to raise is $400. 

If you would like to be a part of any or both outreach efforts please contact Pastor Clay at clay@trinitychurchlive.com.    

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH - Vancouver, WA

Deacon ordination service on Saturday, November 5 at 5 p.m. Pastor Olin Brock invites all ordained pastors and deacons to participate in the service. The church is located at 6700 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver WA. For more information, call the church 360-693-4271. 

IGLESIA VIDA NUEVA - Gresham, OR

Reported two professions of faith, and continued growth in the church.

THE COMMUNITY - Vancouver, WA

This a ministry of CrossPointe Baptist in Vancouver, WA that was developed to reach the collegiate age young adults in the Vancouver area.  They have established discipleship and mentorship relationships with two of the young adult members of the group.  They have begun the process of reaching out to local area churches to develop partnerships to reach the community around them.  

iba@interstatebaptist.org     

PO Box 19960

Portland, Oregon 97280

(503) 452-2930