November, 2020 Update
AMAZING Mentor Training with International Breakdancers!
Thanks for praying! I trained 14 people from Brazil, Cameroon, Kenya, Spain, the Ukraine, and the U.S. One of the guys from the Ukraine told me he was hanging on my every word and he plans to take his whole church through this training! Many of these breakdancers said they were challenged to be even more intentional in the ways they reach out to other breakdancers in their countries. They were excited to have practical skills and specific questions to help them make a bigger impact.
Brad’s Story
Brad Experiences God’s Love Like Never Before:
“At the end of 2018 I felt stretched thin. A growing family, escalating demands from work, and a pressure packed season of life left me exhausted, lacking joy, and ready for change. My wife and I agreed that I needed help. I met with my pastor and explained my situation – my pastor referred me to Randy. A week later I found myself on a couch in the living room of a warm and welcoming home.
“I broke down in my first meeting, explaining to Randy how I longed to experience God’s joy in my work, feeling like there was something that I was missing. And – immediately – God responded.
“Since becoming a father in 2013, I have marveled at how a switch flipped in my heart, giving me access to depths of love I never knew possible. There are times when I’m sitting close to my son or one of my daughters and I pull them in tight, wrapping my arms around them and willing every ounce of love I have into their little bodies as they snuggle in closely. I speak no words in these moments.
“Sitting on Randy’s couch in January of 2019, I breathed deeply and meditated on the love of Christ – the image filled my mind of Christ sitting right next to me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me in tight – no words – only love pouring into every ounce of my existence.
“I have known the name of Jesus and been in relationship with him for as long as I have had conscious memory, and never before had I experienced his love quite like I did on that cold evening. I had done nothing to earn it or deserve it, rather I simply dwelled on the thought of the love of Christ, gently pulled into the meditative space by Randy’s encouragement.”
Brad Discovers the Impact Spiritual Mentoring Can Have:
“And in this safe space filled by the love of Christ, I talked…
“And I’m still talking almost two years later. For 90 minutes at a time every two weeks, I talk. As an introvert and someone who is generally uncomfortable in the spotlight, filling 90 minutes with my own words was challenging. Revealing what was underneath the surface, peeling back the layers of my emotions, exposing what was hidden, God took me on a journey within.
“I didn’t always like what God dragged to the surface, but whatever I revealed was consistently met with an understanding ear and gentle reminders that despite what is ugly within, I am still loved…
“I became used to sharing, even looking forward to it, knowing the warm home was a safe space, a space where unconditional love reigns supreme. And I began to emerge from the journey within with a greater understanding about myself, where I am gifted, the role of emotions, and how I can best influence others.
“Though my growth has felt slow, and at time laborious, when I think about where I was two years ago I can’t help but see how different I am now. God has filled me with a greater sense of purpose and direction. I have made changes inspired by the clear and undeniable leading of the Holy Spirit.”
Brad Feels Compelled To Give It Away:
“And, God has developed within me a heart for intentional shepherding – to begin to do for others what Randy has done for me. Randy took me through mentor training in August over the course of three Saturdays, and I have been able to immediately implement what I learned from the mentor training. I have recently started meeting with two young men and cannot wait to see how God catalyzes their growth.
“I can’t help but marvel at God’s love, and I’m so thankful to Randy for helping me experience it in ways that have reignited my passion for discipleship and loving others well.” – Brad Thornton
Pass It On:
One of my hopes is that people will pass on what they have received from God through this experience.
When I was just out of college, I heard a message from the leader of The Navigators organization: “Men, who’s your man? Who is one person you can invest in? Ladies, who’s your woman?” It may seem insignificant, but the world changes one person at a time. I began meeting one-on-one with people. It ended up leading to what I do today.
It’s great to see people like Brad catch the vision and passion. He’s a rock star. In the time we’ve been meeting, I’ve watched him grow in his abilities and confidence. He’s discovering that he’s energized by meeting one-on-one with people, unpacking their stories, developing their character, and leading them into deeper intimacy with God. He’s giving himself more permission to lead in his own unique, innate leadership style, which is powerfully impacting the people around him. People want to follow him. They seek him out.
Brad has already been giving away what we have invested in him…and I sense this is just the beginning. I’ve no doubt, he will invest in individuals throughout his life, the way Jesus and his disciples modeled.
So Legacy support team, Who’s your man? Who’s your woman? Who is one person you could invest in this next year?
What Can You Do?
An indirect way of investing in others is through joining my support team.
Will you please join my financial support team and join me in praying regularly for these young leaders? Information is enclosed to help you do that. Contributions are tax deductible and life-changing.
Every penny will help!
In His Love,
Randy
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