Spiritual Fathering

Our organization takes its name from biblical Barnabas. While we know nothing of his biological family, his relationship with John Mark sheds light on Barnabas' paternal heart.

When the young man was rejected for a prime professional development position, Barnabas knew that what happened next would shape the rest of John Mark's life. He was so committed to shepherding the young man that he interrupted his own professional trajectory to take John Mark with him back to Cyprus, back to his home. The nurturing, the affirmation, the spiritual fathering that Barnabas extended was, in fact, effective. How redemptive it must have felt for John Mark to hear that Paul eventually regarded him as someone who was "useful to my ministry"!

Just like the story of Barnabas, mentoring and being mentored is at the heart of our organization's work. Some will fill the role of spiritual sons and daughters, and others will serve as spiritual mothers and fathers. Together, we go beyond our professional callings to take our places in the family of God.

So on this Father's Day, I wonder who (in addition to your biological parents) has invested in you? 

• Who has discerned wounds in your spirit? 
• Who has taken you "home" for a season of listening and redirection?
• Who has taken a back seat to your own professional and spiritual growth? 
• Who is it that is always, always "in your corner"?

Or it may be that you now find yourself ready to pour some of that overflow into others who see you as their mentor, their spiritual parent. You honor those who have invested in you when you invest in others that God brings your way.

May this weekend be a time of gratitude for the opportunities we all have to mentor and be mentored, inspired by Barnabas, and energized by the Father of all.

(Read more about Barnabas and John Mark in Acts 15:36-39 and 2 Timothy 4:11.)