By Scott Brown
It was rush hour and I was late for an appointment. I could see my destination, a tall building in the middle of the city; I just couldn’t figure out how to get there. I needed the advice of someone who had been there before.
If you happen to be a visionary-type person, I’ll bet that this scenario pretty much sums up your life! You can see the intended result with crystal clarity (vision), but you’re just not sure how to get there. You need a mentor, someone who has been there before and is capable of showing you the way. And if you’re like me, you need lots of them.
I – like you, probably – am a living, breathing amalgamation of my mentors. Honestly, I wonder if I’ve ever had an original thought. But that doesn’t discourage me; on the contrary, I am giddy over the fact that God has directed my life through a company of astounding men and women who were willing to deposit a nugget or two into my soul. “The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own” (Benjamin Disraeli). Do you sense the veracity of that statement? Are you stirred by its ramifications? I am. And that’s why, as I rapidly approach my septuagenarian years, I am driven by a passion not to succeed in new ventures of my own, but to help others succeed in theirs. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” Much like spiritual gifts, the wisdom we have been given is not meant to be hoarded. God gave it to us so that we might give it away.
I suddenly find myself in the enviable position of serving as mentor to six young leaders in four countries. Each is a visionary in his own right, and each is wise enough to know that he needs a geezer (an older guy who has visited that building in the middle of the city) to help show him the way.
One of these young visionaries is an Israeli believer who serves as associate pastor in a large Hebrew speaking congregation in Tel Aviv. I first met David in Japan where we were both serving as speakers for the first Asian LCJE conference. David’s vision for a guest house ministry in Japan was pounding in his chest; his enthusiasm was intoxicating! David’s sister, Anna, had served as a volunteer with us in New Zealand, which only fueled his longing to minister to Israeli travellers in Japan.
It was only natural that he and I should form a ministry partnership. Under the Holy Spirit’s direction, we have assembled a Board consisting of committed, multi-gifted believers from around the world whom I have assisted in forming bylaws and other founding documents. The new Japanese ministry has officially launched, and David is raising support with a view toward moving to Japan within the coming year!
As you know, young Israelis are travelling everywhere, which is why I’m also coaching a young leader whose vision is to launch a hospitality ministry in Brazil! Shmuli is a Jewish believer who served as a volunteer at our own Zula Lodge in Wanaka. This experience galvanised his vision for opening a “Zula Lodge” just outside of Rio De Janeiro, another popular destination for Israeli travellers.
If you’ve hung around God for any length of time, it will not surprise you to learn that the perfect facility has appeared on heaven’s radar, a lodge that will comfortably accommodate Israeli guests, volunteers, and resident managers. Oh, and that’s not all: The facility has been used for Jewish evangelism for decades! The Lord willing, I will join Shmuli in Brazil this month to participate in a Feast of Tabernacles outreach at the facility, and to discuss plans to purchase the property.
The privilege of freely passing on what I have freely received is unspeakable. Please pray that I will serve these and other young men in a manner worthy of their calling, and that they, in their respective ventures, will bring glory and honour to the King.
