Articles
Connecting the Next Generation
Connecting the Next Generation
Corey Sawyers
If you know me at all, you know some things that are true about me. You know I love wearing bibbed overalls, drinking coffee, helping others, cooking, hunting, fishing, bluegrass music, the Tennessee Vols, the outdoors, history, and math.
You may not know that my Granddaddy always wore bibbed overalls. My Papaw wore them quite often and loved coffee. Papaw and Mamaw helped anyone and everyone that crossed their path. My Mamaw and Momma are two of the best cooks in the world. Daddy took me deer hunting from the time I was big enough to sit in a tree. Joe Smith was like a second father to me, and I grew up going duck hunting and fishing with him and his son Jamie. Jeff Kelley was one of my favorite teachers, a deacon, and a lover of bluegrass music. Johnny Jolley loved the Vols. Dennie Davidson loves the outdoors. Math teacher Joe Boaz was one of the most influential teachers I have ever had.
The point is, who I am is, in large part, because of these people (among many others). Some of them you would expect, like my parents and grandparents. Others you probably do not even know, and they probably do not know what an impact they had on me.
From a spiritual standpoint, I know Jesus because my parents and grandparents raised me to. I was baptized by Dennie and had many Bible classes taught to me by Jeff, Joe Smith, Dennie, and many others. I think of preachers older than me like Neal Penny, Phil Meeks, Randy Mabe, Gale Davidson, Coy Hathcock, Jim Roberts, John Dale, Wayne Burger, Mark Hanstein, Basil Overton, Denny Petrillo, Dave Chamberlin, and others who have taken me under their wings and helped me grow.
The older I get, the more I want to take younger preachers, young men, and my own three sons and help them grow in their faith and toward ministry. I owe it to all of them because so much was invested in me by so many. This is what we are all expected to do: connect the next generation.
It is true that the word "mentor" does not show up in our English translations. However, the concept is overflowing in scripture. Jethro advised his son-in-law Moses, who in turn mentored Joshua. Samuel learned under Eli and then taught both Saul and David. Elijah mentored Elisha. Jesus trained the disciples, Barnabas tutored Saul of Tarsus, and then Paul guided Timothy and Titus.
Perhaps what the church needs most today is to stop belittling younger generations and lumping them all in one stereotype (enough with the "All Millenials ____" articles!). Rather than worry about the next generation, why don't we connect them?
-Every elder should have a middle-aged man he is mentoring to be a shepherd one day.
-Every deacon needs to have some young man involved in his work of service.
-Every minister ought to be encouraging and helping young men to give talks and devos.
-Every Bible class teacher ought to have some young lady as an assistant.
Most of us never do great things because we are never challenged to do great things. Let us challenge the next generation. Let us train the next generation. Let us connect the next generation to Jesus, His church, and His work through the much needed and neglected ministry of mentorship!
"The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2).
