Frequently Asked Questions

Randy’s December 2010 Update:

Frequently Asked Questions Edition

How many people do you meet with/shepherd/mentor?

I regularly meet one-on-one with between 20-30 next-generation leaders.

What do you do with people when you meet with them?

I attempt to build an intentional, loving, safe relationship with them.  I listen to their life and their story.  I ask questions and seek to understand their inner world, the truth and the lies they live with.  As I listen and learn about them, they learn about themselves.  Often we both begin to sense what God may be doing or wish to do inside them.  Together we hope to discover their strengths, their True Self, their intimate connection with God, and their unique redemptive potential.  Along the way, we often discover barriers and blocks in their lives that are keeping them from loving God, others, themselves, and keeping them from living out their redemptive potential/True Self more fully.  We assess their growth needs and develop a growth plan, using tools like books applicable to their struggles, illustrations, spiritual exercises and disciplines, scripture, doable growth steps, and whatever else it may take.  We bring as much as we can into the light of God’s love, allowing God to transform it and form in them what He desires.  We surrender as best we can and invite God and His love into everything He brings to the surface and we watch God’s powerful love transform us both in the process.
Those and some other cool things!

How do you decide who you’ll mentor?

To follow Jesus and Paul’s examples, I pray about it (Luke 6:12-13), and I try to invest in people who demonstrate growing character, giftings, and competence, who display a desire to make a loving difference in our wounded world (2 Timothy 2:2).  Initially, I take people through an interview process and a discerning time with God.  It’s important to me that I sense God in it and that I’m the right fit for each person.  To be strategic, I prayerfully select people who exhibit the potential to multiply.

How do you find young leaders/people to mentor?

I pray that God would lead them to me and me to them.  I try to follow His direction, promptings and leadings on where I should go and be.  Then I pay attention to what He may be doing, so I may join in.

There is such a great need for this type of ministry and so few people doing this type of work, especially men, that finding hungry, young leaders has been easy so far.  In fact, many times they find me.  Being that I desire to do this in the context of the Church and invest in its future leaders, I partner with church ministry leaders and attend various church related events that I’m invited to, where 20somethings gather, so I can meet the leaders and potential leaders and we can build a relationship.  Many, like me, are hungry to grow.  People who truly want to grow seek out growth opportunities.  Once they’ve experienced what this ministry offers, they often refer others.  I find this generation very open and receptive to this powerful process and journey.

What Kind of Results Have You Seen?

The truth is, I can’t create results.  I can only surrender as best I can and allow God to do what only He can do.  I’ve just been blessed with a front row seat to life-change.  Here are some of the results of God’s handiwork that I’m aware of over these past four and a half years of full-time ministry:

A new church is currently in the process of being planted, led by people of the Y-generation.  At least seven Legacy Shepherding mentorees are part of leading this new endeavor, creating the kind of church they would want to be a part of.  This group is highly qualified for the task.  I totally believe in them and am excited to see this generation stepping up in this way.  I can’t wait to see what God does in them and through them as they go on this amazing journey together.

One, possibly Two, have been led to do long-term overseas non-profit/mission work in Africa, directly meeting the needs of one of the poorest countries in the world.  They may soon be inviting young people to join short-term mission trips to Africa, which is a powerful means of opening up people’s hearts and minds.  Those who go are often changed forever.  Compassion abounds.

This generation seems to have a huge heart for social justice issues and actively meeting the needs of the under-resourced.  I think almost everyone I have met with has had some type of involvement in a cause, such as feeding the poor, creating wells for clean drinking water throughout the world, liberating those oppressed by sex trafficking and attempting to stop the perpetrators, ministering to and housing abused women and their children, helping people find freedom from drugs and other addictions, and a host of other great causes, aimed at empowering not enabling, that truly do bring Christ’s redemption and light to our darkened world.  I’m very proud of their efforts and leadership in these wonderful, restorative causes.

Seven young people became pastors at churches, leading ministries they are passionate about, from meeting the physical/spiritual/emotional needs of the under-resourced and marginalized to sharing God’s love and equipping people to live out their unique redemptive/restorative designs in our broken, imperfect world.

Seven individuals joined church staffs in pastoral, leadership, and support roles.  Not that one has to be on church staff to live out their true purpose in this world.  The Church just happens to be where these people felt they could live out their purpose most fully and freely.

Twenty-eight young people are currently mentoring others one-on-one in the twenty-something, high-school, and/or junior-high age groups.  They are multiplying.  Some 3rd generation people, who were mentored by the twenty-eight, are currently investing in other individuals as the multiplication effect continues to ripple, creating a culture of transformation.

One leader became the senior pastor of his church.  Another one is currently in seminary.

One, who doesn’t identify herself as Christian, is becoming one of the most Christ-like people I know, daily surrendering herself to God and following His promptings as she lovingly ministers to the elderly.

In any given year, there are between 1,500 and 3,000 people under the care of the people I mentor during that year.  As amazing as that is, I’m not as excited about those numbers as I am in hearing that they are investing directly into some of the individuals within those groups.  That’s where the majority of deeper, on-going life-change happens and naturally multiplies, in my biased opinion (and seemingly Jesus’ biased opinion, per his example).

There have been many incredible stories of life-change, healing, and redemption over the years.  Best of all, I believe those who have been impacted by this ministry are more loving as they engage a broken world.  They’re loving God, others, and themselves more fully and in healthy ways.  Their “doing” is flowing more out of a transformed, surrendered, deeply loved “being”, rather than out of their own abilities, willpower, ego, and mixed motivations.  I’m really pleased with the results God has accomplished through this humble ministry, as it simply attempts to follow Christ’s example of investing in the few, to impact the world with love.

Thank You:

Thank you so much for helping to make all this possible.  I pray that God blesses you abundantly for your generosity, your love for others, and for your pouring tangibly into the next generation(s).

This is my final support raising plea for the year (Yeah!? ☺).  There is still a financial need in reaching my goal for 2010.  I could use your help and your prayers!  Contributions are tax deductible.  Thanks for considering it.

In His Love,
Randy

Website: legacyshepherding.org
Blog: legacyshepherding.org/blog
Email: randy@legacyshepherding.org