Paul the Apostle wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy:
“Be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Tim 2:1-2 NLT
Because of Rae’s model of just living life with me and imparting spiritual principles, I began to seek opportunities to mentor others in the same ways.
Of course, as faculty, we mentor; we unavoidably exert influence on students and colleagues. Mentoring is actually part of our job description with advising graduate students and even younger faculty.
In my case, when I find new or younger faculty interested in discussing spiritual things, I do three things:
- I invite them to our Christian faculty meeting,
- I talk about Christianity in the academy, and
- I challenge them to incorporate their faith with their academic work.
Sometimes it's easy
Matthew, one of my students, became a professor, distinguishing himself as a scholar, mentor, and thriving Christian. He became an excellent teacher and scholar, an effective part of a Christian faculty group and even administered the annual Christian advertisement in the campus newspaper (see example in resources below). Even today, Matthew is “salt and light” to his campus, writing weekly devotionals from scripture and mentoring other male faculty members, specifically in their role as husbands.
Often, however, mentoring isn’t easy, but worth it.
Eric was a high school dropout who worked factory jobs and construction before returning to earn his high school degree. Several years later, Eric attended college to try and escape his discouraging surroundings. During this time, Eric was noticed by one of my former Ph.D. students—now his professor—who was so impressed by Eric’s academic success that he referred Eric to me as a potential Masters degree student.
Though Eric was a drug user (he was high on cocaine when we first met), we immediately connected, and through running and hunting together, we became good friends. I also invited him to accompany me on a Hurricane Katrina relief trip. As a graduate student, Eric suddenly found a loving community of people who sowed deeply into his life. A year into graduate school—through the influence of two other professors, friends, and a church community—Eric came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
This former high school drop-out drug addict won the college’s award for Outstanding Master’s thesis in 2003 and decided to earn his Ph.D. His local church tried to recruit him to seminary to begin full time ministry, but Eric felt his calling was to minister as a university professor. In 2007 he reported to his job as an assistant professor. Eric quickly distinguished himself, not only as a researcher, but also as a mentor with his students. He’s won 9 research awards.
A few years ago, Eric and I co-presented at a conference together along with a student he was now mentoring. To see Eric and his student in action, and seeing the godly influence Eric had in that student’s life was one of the most encouraging moments of my life. I didn’t see that coming when I first cooperated with God to invest in what seemed like a hopeless case.
Now, Eric passed on to his student what I passed on to him, and the discipleship pattern most certainly continues.
As I think about mentoring, I have learned that becoming a world-renowned expert in my field is not nearly so valuable as helping others progress in their academic career, in their life and in their walk with Christ.
Phil Bishop
University of Alabama