About Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc.

Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. exists to holistically develop people (specifically leaders and potential leaders in their twenties and early thirties), so they may (among other things): 1) more fully and freely love God, themselves, and others (Intimacy); 2) know themselves more accurately, ultimately as a dearly loved children of God, made in His image (Identity); 3) discover and more effectively live out their true designs and divine purposes in our world (Purpose); and 4) pass on to others what they’ve received (Be Fruitful and Multiply), leaving a legacy of love, life, abundance, transformation, restoration, and redemption in the world that God so passionately loves.

 

Following Jesus’ Model:
It is a desire of this ministry to follow Jesus’ model of ministry.  Rather than putting his main efforts into ministering to the masses, Jesus chose, instead, to intentionally invest in prayerfully selected individuals, who would then invest in others.  He chose to shepherd a small group of men in such a way that eventually they would be able to do exactly what he was doing, without his physical presence.

He told this small group of men to “Go and make disciples” – follow my example; do the same things I did; show others how to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength; and how to love other people extravagantly and sacrificially, like they themselves would want to be loved.

This strategy of investing in individuals and equipping them to multiply has radically impacted our world even to this day.

Paul continued to model this strategy when he told Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men [and women] who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2). In other words, pour into people of good character who are qualified to do the same with others.  Then, you will be fruitful and multiply, and the goodness of God’s love will continue to ripple out into the next generations.

This ministry is attempting to follow Jesus’ model of investing deeply in young leaders who will then pass on what they have received.

Primarily this investment is done through one-on-one meetings.  This transformational process is also sometimes supplemented and enhanced through the use of transformational small groups, serving events, training sessions, conferences and retreats.

 

Getting Started and Finishing Well:
Every mentoring relationship begins with an interview process, followed by a discernment period where both the mentor and the mentoree spend time in listening prayer, to help make certain that the mentoring relationship is a good fit for both people and that both parties sense God leading them to move forward.

At the end of the discernment period, if both parties sense that God is leading them to continue, a short-term commitment is made (usually three months or one book, whichever is longer).  At the end of the short-term commitment period, if both parties re-evaluate and wish to continue, the on-going time frame is open-ended, until such time as both sense the Lord indicating that their season together is coming to a close.

When the closing time comes, in order to “Finish Well”, the last official meeting together is spent in celebration, reminiscing on all the growth and transformation that has occurred in the person over the season together, and sharing words of affirmation and encouragement with each other.  Ending in this way brings satisfying closure to a beautiful season of life.

The duration of the average mentoring relationship is two years.

Each person’s growth and developmental needs are different, so the process and developmental tools used (some of which are described in the following section) are tailored to fit each individual personally for maximized transformation.

 

Development:
In taking a holistic approach to growth and development, this ministry uses many of the spiritual practices that are becoming more popular these days.  These practices are becoming essential for wise and loving leadership in our complex world.

Spiritual Direction – Spiritual Direction is a ministry deeply rooted in the Christian tradition.  It is guiding people to become more aware of the movements, invitations, and promptings of God in their lives.

The hope is to help leaders listen intently to God and follow His leadings in their lives, and not race ahead of God with their own strategies, agendas, and egos.

 

Spiritual Mentoring – Spiritual Mentoring may be used synonymously with the term Spiritual Direction.  It is a term most frequently used in describing this ministry.  Spiritual Mentoring is spiritually guiding people toward three common goals (among others): 1) experiencing deeper love and intimacy with God, themselves, and others, 2) knowing and embracing their true identity as a dearly loved child of God (which changes everything), and 3) discovering and living out their unique design and redemptive purpose(s) in our world in healthy and loving ways.

 

Spiritual Formation – Spiritual Formation involves an internal transformation of an individual into Christ-likeness – “that Christ may be formed in you.” (Galations 4:19).

When a leader fails, it is not usually because of a lack of skill, giftedness, or desire to lead well; it is usually because of character issues, sin patterns, and unaddressed or unresolved wounds in their lives which end up disqualifying them from leadership.  Because of this, it is important to make sure these young leaders are carefully tending to their inner lives and making sure that godly character, emotional health, and transformational healing are being formed internally.

Coaching – Coaching involves goal specific development and sharpening of ministry, relational, life, and personal skills.

Leadership Development – Leadership Development involves learning practical tools, methods, and leadership principles with an emphasis on walking with the individual as they begin to implement these tools and principles.

Within this ministry, there is a strong emphasis on integrating leadership development with spiritual formation, emotional health, and character development, so that these young people may become more Christ-like, holistically healthier, and more loving leaders in the process.  A general requirement of this ministry is that everyone whom this ministry invests in must be leading in some capacity.  Leading other people tends to grow us and equip us more quickly than being an observer.  Plus, it frequently brings to the surface the issues within ourselves that we need to face and allow the Lord to transform within us, so we may become more Christ-like.  Leadership development often goes beautifully hand-in-hand with the other developmental methods mentioned previously.

Discipleship – Discipleship is the on-going process of inner transformation that changes a person to be increasingly more like Jesus Christ, through the internal working and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  Discipleship takes place within the context of a relationship – the relationship between a discipler (teacher) and a disciple (student).  First and foremost, this discipleship relationship is between a disciple and God.  Throughout the discipleship process, God may graciously choose to work through other disciples who have faithfully journeyed further along the path.

The discipleship process may include such practical steps as assisting someone in getting baptized, helping someone learn how to use and practice the spiritual disciplines (the Word, prayer, Christian fellowship, etc.) to deepen their level of intimacy and loving connection with God, and equipping someone so they may more effectively assist God in the discipleship process of another person who is younger in the faith.  Some hopeful outcomes of the discipleship process may be: that a disciple would live out Jesus’ Great Commandments (to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love others as themselves.), carry out the Great Commission (to Go and make disciples, teaching them how to obey the Great Commandments to love), and grow and mature in the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).

 

It’s A Journey:
True and lasting transformation requires a process, a journey.  It’s not simply about a moment, a prayer, or a discipline. It’s an on-going journey with God.

To be honest, the journey can be difficult.  On our own, we can only go so far.  That’s why we need to journey deeply and vulnerably with others.  We need to surround ourselves with some safe and strong people who will journey with us and invest in us, as we invest in them and in others.  As we allow ourselves to be more deeply known and fully loved, we holistically heal, mature, and grow as leaders.  As we more fully receive and soak in God’s love, including the love he flows to us through other people, we become more loving.

When people take this journey, it is my experience that they grow holistically (spiritually, emotionally, relationally, intellectually, and even physically).  They begin to exercise more powerful, transformational leadership.  They begin to live an authentic Life of Love; live out of their True Identity as one who is dearly loved by God; speak from their True Voice; and engage the world in their own uniquely redemptive, helpful, and transformational ways.

Welcome:
Whether you are a visitor to this site, a regular supporter, a consistent blog reader, or a past or current mentoree, you are so welcome and wanted here.  I hope that what you read on this site touches your heart and makes a difference in some way.

Welcome to the transformational journey with Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc.

 

PS  There are many more pictures and stories that I wish I could have included above, but because of limited space I couldn’t fit them all.  If yours wasn’t included above, it doesn’t make what God has done (and is doing) in your life  any less valuable or treasured.  You are infinitely loved and lovable, and your wonderful, unique design has the potential to change the world.  I hope you will go and do that.  I believe in you.