A Model Mentor
Someone who shaped my life in my early years of ministry was the late Dr. Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. I read his books. I listened to his sermons. I attended conferences where he spoke. If it had Dr. Hendricks’ name on it, that’s all I needed to see.
I just learned that a new book has come out and it will be next on my professional reading list. It’s entitled, The Influential Mentor: How the Life and Legacy of Howard Hendricks Equipped and Inspired a Generation of Leaders.
I’m sure it will be filled with insights that will serve me well as I look to resource pastors and leaders. Let me give you a taste of Dr. Hendricks’ wisdom with some of my favorite quotes from the one who was warmly known as “Prof.”
The Wisdom of Hendricks
A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for.
“We cannot impart what we do not possess.
“You teach what you know, but you reproduce what you are.”
“The mark of spiritual maturity is not how much you understand, but how much you use. In the spiritual realm, the opposite of ignorance is not knowledge but obedience.”
“Every disciple needs three types of relationships in his life. He needs a ‘Paul’ who can mentor him and challenge him. He needs a ‘Barnabas’ who can come alongside and encourage him. And he needs a ‘Timothy,’ someone he can pour his life into.”
“God is not looking for more stars; He’s looking for more servants.”
“You can impress people at a distance, but you can impact them only up close.”
“Experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience is.”
“Learning is change. If you haven’t changed, you haven’t learned. Just because you can put it on paper or because you can recite it doesn’t mean it’s yours. It’s not yours until you change.”
“The measure of you as a leader is not what you do, but what others do because of what you do.”
“We cannot take people where we have not been or are unwilling to go ourselves.”
“If you stop learning, you stop leading. Leaders are life-long learners."
“My great concern for you in life is not that you will fail, but that you will succeed in doing the wrong things.”
Pretty good stuff, eh? I would be curious to know which of these resonated with you. So, if you would like, fire off an email to me at dave@davedeselmministries.org
Though we never met, Dr. Hendricks was arguably one of my greatest mentors. Wouldn’t it be great if “Prof” also served as a mentor to you?
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