Randy’s July, 2011 Update:
The Ripple Effect:
One of my on-going hopes for this ministry is that people will pass on what they have received and bless others in the process. Hopefully they will pass it on in such a way that others will be equipped to do the same, so that more and more redemption and love are passed on. It doesn’t have to look like how I do it. I don’t want anyone to be me. I want them to be their own true self, shining their unique redemptive reflection in this world.
For the past five years, I’ve met with the current senior pastor of South Park Church. Eric Flood has continued to shine more and more brightly each passing year. Over that time, he has implemented numerous things that we’ve discussed on our times together, which has been a great source of encouragement and joy for me.
In last month’s update, I mentioned sharing with his staff some of the things I’ve learned about Spiritual Mentoring. In that meeting was a woman named Renee Gerstmayr.
Renee has been on staff at the church, in the position of Executive Administrator, since 2008. She began formally mentoring women in their 20’s as recently as this past spring. It was both her personal experience of being mentored and the church’s mentoring initiative (Shout outs to R.A. and Becky!) that encouraged her to take the next step toward mentor others.
Here is what Renee wanted to share about a recent mentoring experience she had. She entitle it “Serendipity”:
Serendipity:
“Serendipity is defined as the occurrence and development of events ‘by chance’ in a happy or beneficial way. [Quotes added].
“Serendipity is a word that accurately describes what I have tangibly and consistently experienced throughout a current mentoring relationship.
“It began in early May. A college student in her early twenties was planning on mentoring a few young girls. She wisely committed to being mentored herself before solely mentoring others.
“She was expectant that God would work through a mentoring relationship with me.
“I, on the opposite end, wasn’t quite as expectant. After all, I know me…and I’m supposedly the “mentor”. I prayed that God would somehow, in some way, use me just a little.
“The first meeting allowed us to get to know each other, our histories, and our journeys. Through that casual lunch and conversation, I was able to see where she desired to grow most. We set an appointment to meet in a week.
“I started the next meeting out with the broad question, ‘Who is God?’
“Words like creator, protector, all powerful came to the front.
“Then…serendipity…she said, ‘I understand and can say all of this stuff, but I truly can’t even imagine being made in the image of God.’
“I looked in the ‘lessons’ section in the middle of the Serendipity Bible that I’ve been using as the primary resource in mentoring thus far, and there it was…Made in His Image: See Psalm 139.
“We read Psalm 139 silently to ourselves. She followed it up with, ‘David is praising God for making him…I would never be able to do that.’
“ ‘Let’s do an exercise,’ I said. ‘If I asked your friends about you, what would they tell me?’
“The words began to flow: gentle spirit/presence, patient, peace maker, insightful perspective, rational, grace-giving, just, examiner, relational, likes to laugh, a light, dependable, loyal, faithful, a good listener, safe, and prayerful.
“We paused a moment and I suggested we turn our focus to God.
“ ‘Are these words that would describe Him?’
“We went through every last one, and discovered they were.
“There was a look of awe in her eyes.
“ ‘That’s how you are made in His image!’ I said.
“A broad question, a simple statement, and God’s word allowed the Holy Spirit to work in one of His children so that she could begin to believe and know in her heart that she, in fact, is made in His image and is His beloved.
“If that isn’t an occurrence and development ‘by chance’ in a happy and beneficial way, I don’t know what is!
“We’ve continued to experience serendipitous revelations since then, however, not always on that scale. Each week we both pray expectantly that His Spirit will guide us and each week we walk away a little closer to God and a little closer to each other.
“This young woman admits that the intensity in which she is now compelled to grow is much deeper than she anticipated. Her experience in being mentored goes much deeper than the one-on-one Bible Study that many think of when they are first introduced to mentoring.
“Serendipity. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I believe that ‘by chance’ is really the activity of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.” – Renee Gerstmayr
Questions to Ponder:
What words would your friends use to describe you?
In what ways have you been made in God’s image?
Thank You:
Thanks for supporting the on-going ripples, through your prayers and financial support, so the ripples may continue to flow and make a difference in the lives of those they touch and impact. Your generosity has made a difference in my life, in Eric’s life, and indirectly through the ripple effect, in Renee’s life, and more recently in this young woman’s life. I’m very grateful for your prayers and support. You are making a difference.
In His Love,
Randy
Ripple photos are from Flickr compliments of: robin24/5554306438, airosan/2252207105, and clearlyambiguous/25303234.
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