Are You Ready to Be a Dad?
When I started Life Church, I was 28 years old. For years, I felt like I was a kid. Even in my late 30s, I still felt like a pastoral rookie.
A few years back, my wife Amy and I were mentoring some college students. We saw ourselves like big brothers and sisters. One day they wrote us a note and told us we were the parents they never had.
That’s when we shifted our mindsets. We were no longer the young ministers hanging out with those slightly younger. We were seasoned ministers discipling the next generation. We could now be spiritual parents.
Are you ready to be a spiritual father (or mother)? There are tons of young believers who need you as an example. Don’t let your insecurities keep you from investing in the next generation. Don’t let your (perceived) lack of ministry success hold you back. Don’t let your spiritual enemy lull you into a complacent stage in your life.
How about it, Dad?
Visit 
This post speaks volumes to me today not only because I’m in a leadership/servership role within lifegroups ministry Craig, but because today I turn 40 and although I’m really good at being a “big brother,” it’s time for me to take things to the next level.
Thank you Craig…I needed this today.
We all have something to offer. The best part is that we end up learning as much from them as they do from us. I think so many times we make this so much more difficult than it really is. Thanks for the reminder.
This is great because I am one of those college students and the truth is, if it hadn’t been for my college pastor at the stillwater campus becoming my “dad”, I wouldn’t be the man I am today. Now I’m headed off to a ministry training program so that I too can become a dad some day by fulfilling my leadership potential. Sons want to be just like their dads. Some just don’t have that person in their life. This makes me want to be that person for someone all the more.
My wife and I embraced this role of spiritual parents a little over 10 years ago. We had both experienced the blessing of having spiritual parents and wanted others to experience the same blessing. We have been overwhelmed with the opportunities to speak into the lives of some incredible people. I think we have been blessed far more than we have blessed others watching them live out principles we have learned and shared with them. Seeing them not have to walk through the same fires we did and pass the speed bumps of life to greater things is an incredible experience well worth our time and efforts.
Wow!… I really have nothing to say.
Thanks for this post, Craig!
:)
To help others through the pot holes and bumps in the road make our pot holes and bumps in the road have meaning…God doesn’t waste a trial or hurt, He redeems it all
Several years ago, a friend gave me a copy of the book “Disciples are Made, not Born.” It revolutionized my outlook on The Great Commission - we are not called to BE disciples, but to be disciple-MAKERS. You can not “make” what you aren’t already “are.” I highly recommend this book!
Pastor Craig, thank you for this post.
this is so real!! but to be a spiritual father.. do you need something? like age..
if you are a young adult, can you be a spiritual Dad??
My wife Anne & I do not have any natural children of our own but we have been a spiritual mum & dad to hundreds of young people over the last 20 + years. A few of them have actually developed such a bond with us that a life long call & friendship has developed to serve through this life together.It has been one of the most rewarding roles our Heavenly Father has allowed us to be a part of. I say be a spiritual mum & dad starting today there is a whole generation counting on you! Ps Kev & Anne
Craig,
This has become a great passion in my heart. People desperately need personal face to face spiritual leadership. To all those potential spiritual “dad’s” out there know that it’s not hard, you don’t need special skills, you just need to be willing to share yourself and what God has put inside you.
Thanks Craig!
This is awesome! After being in ministry for 26 years a ministry was birthed to do something similar to what you are doing to cut down on pastors leaving ministry after a few years. I wrote about the stats in my blog http://tinyurl.com/ldvy2p. You are doing an awesome work! God bless and keep it up!
No doubt mentorship is impactful in the area if ministry especially one as effective and innovative as yours Craig. Preparing the next level of leaders is the most important job of a leader, identify, equip, mentor and release.
I’d love to be one of your students right now bro, what do you say?
:-)
Craig, I really want to thank you for the choices you’ve made there. Even thou I live faaaar away, you’re truly a spiritual dad to me (I’m 23); the impact you’ve had on my life (and people around me) trough your living example has been huge. Thank you!
I said this to also encourage you “older” guys out there. You never know how big your impact can be to even those spiritual children you’ve never met or don’t know about. I guess it’s not just acting a spiritual father, but really being one, that makes the big impact on lives of us young people you mentor.
I hope you’re brave and humble enough to take that role if God says it’s time. :)
This is me….I wrestle with the fact I have NO “ministry”…I am not an official “pastor” by title (have no business commenting on here) but I am a mother. A stay at home mom. I feel truly called to speak into others lives, just not sure how…(LOL! Just had to go clean up where my dog went in the house…these are my daily distractions…Calgon Take me away!!!!)
There is so much I want to learn, and I wait on God every day to show me where I can be used by Him. I may never have a pulpit and I may always be behind the scenes…(don’t feel that way but not my choice) But I want to Learn and INVEST!
Great message Craig.
It is a sign of maturity, and not just age, when we realize there is another generation behind us and we owe it to the Church to invest in them. At our Church most of our staff is in their 20’s and it is inspiring to me on a daily basis to watch them grow in their service to the Lord. Helping them is not only the most effective use of my leadership role, it is the most effective way I grow in that role.
Thanks for the post, encouraging. Gotta question for you, we gotta get Buddy Cremeans in NY to host the Leadership Summit! How about it?
There is certainly a need for father figures, especially in a world so void of true fathers. However, there is a great danger in becoming a dad before you are ready. You don’t have to be perfect, but you should be fully affirmed by God before trying to mentor or father someone else. If not, you may look to others for affirmation and validation, and that is dangerous!
GREAT thoughts! It is sad how many young people are in a place of leadership, whether by position or just natural gifting, yet do not have someone to lead & love them.
I wasn’t raised with spiritual leadership but have been blessed to meet some wonderful people who have taught me a great deal in the last couple of years The “parents” I always yearned for.