MENTOR CENTERS LOCALLY AND WORLDWIDE

Romans 15:14: I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

Imagine being born a slave in the seventeen hundreds in Delaware, USA. Your family was sold to another owner. That owner comes on financial hard times and sells your mother and some of your siblings. Imagine also the gospel entering into your life. It has changed you. But the same gospel that has taken the bitterness of slavery away from you has also changed your owner.  Your owner allows you to buy yourself out of slavery.  You are set free to a world of great changes. The United States of America is being founded and freedom from tyranny is in the air.

What would you do with your freedom? The country is poor. You are poor. But you are called to proclaim the gospel. 

Richard Allen, a newly freed slave, found himself called to be trained for ministry. He could not afford to go to a college or a seminary. He could barely feed himself. He was looking to find where God wanted him.

At that same time, the newly forming Methodist movement was spreading in the young nation. These leaders created mentor relationships where called lay leaders would study to prepare themselves for bi-vocational ministry service. One of these leaders was named Francis Asbury, who was mentored and appointed by John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. Asbury created places that mentored bi-vocational leaders to spread the gospel as pastors, church planters, and missionaries to bring people back to God. Asbury created a place for called leaders to be trained for ministry.

Richard S. Newman wrote in his biography of Richard Allen,

This is where Richard Allen found himself in 1790. The church also actively recruited blacks like Allen, offering them organizational duties as exhorters and preachers. In the upper Chesapeake, Francis Asbury relied on Allen to spread the gospel to people of color. But he was not the only black preacher to gain notoriety during the Revolutionary era. His generation included a half-dozen major black ministers, many of whom had Methodist connections: John Jea, Absalom Jones, Boston King, John Marrant, George White, and Peter Williams. For them, as for Allen, the light of revelation was powerful enough to destroy the shackles of slavery.  

Richard S. Newman (2008-03-01). Freedom's Prophet (Kindle Locations 900-904). NYU Press. Kindle Edition.

In this mentoring place with the founding leaders of the American Methodist movement, Richard Allen was preparing for ministry service. He met for regular encouragement. Each leader in this mentor center had mentors. The mentors had mentors. These were lifelong ministry relationships.

Newman writes about how Asbury and Allen stayed close even as their duties expanded in different directions:

In 1803, Allen celebrated their two decades of fellowship by purchasing a horse for Asbury (for the not-unsubstantial sum of ninety dollars). That token of gratitude, gladly accepted by Asbury (who had worn out his own mare), was but a small repayment for Asbury's longtime assistance to Allen. When Allen broke from white Methodists at St. George's in the early 1790s, Asbury gave the inaugural address to the new black church. It was Asbury too who ordained Allen as the first black Methodist deacon in 1799. And of course, in 1785, only a bit removed from slavery and just beginning his own itinerancy, Allen received his first major boost from Asbury, who had actually called for the talented young exhorter by name. Come and help me save souls, he asked Allen. Here, Allen recalled, was a bishop who not only recalled a black man's full name but wanted his help.  

Richard S. Newman (2008-03-01). Freedom's Prophet (Kindle Locations 1026-1034). NYU Press. Kindle Edition.


A Culture of Mentorship

Francis Asbury, that great Methodist leader, recruited men like bi-vocational Richard Allen and many others in his mentor center. When they were new into ministry, he provided them with the intellectual training needed. When they were looking for ministry opportunities, he guided them and promoted them to fulfill their calling and make the greatest possible impact. The story of Richard Allen is notable for many reasons.  Here a freed slave starts the largest African-American denomination.  The World Council of Churches estimates the membership of the AME (African Methodist/Episcopal) Church at around 2,500,000, with 3817 pastors, 21 bishops, and 7000 congregations. 

I want to reproduce the dynamics that reproduce Christian Leaders like Richard Allen. The early Methodists like John Wesley and Francis Asbury were brilliant in creating mentor centers, which created a very powerful movement of revival. These leaders created a culture of mentorship, which produced many revival leaders who became circuit riders for the spread of revival.


The Mentorship-Driven Ministry Training 

Christian Leaders positions its online ministry training in the culture of mentorship. This mentorship could be right where a new student is in a mentor relationship with a pastor. This mentorship could include the pastor and some new local recruits that will meet in a mentor center at the local church or other locations. This mentorship could occur in a denominationally sponsored mentor center in a specific geographic location. 


The Mentor Center Concept 

Since 2006, the Christian Leaders Institute, a program of Christian Leaders has labored online to strengthen the faith of any Christian with a ministry dream. We have sought to make this ministry training mentor-supported. 

Christian Leaders has started Soul Centers. One type of Soul Center is a Mentor Center.  Ministry Mentor Centers, where local Christian leaders and churches will be able to offer local gathering points. These geographic touch-points will make the multiply more Christian leaders. 

Imagine the strength of the universal church if ANY local church with Internet access could deliver advanced ministry training straight to their congregants. We are calling these new touch-points "Ministry Mentor Centers."

The New Paradigm Shift

Bible Colleges and seminaries have typically been geographically locked down to one location, with maybe a few satellite campuses. These rare locations forced students to relocate to one of these areas if they wanted training. Then, after gleaning as much as they could, students would often once again relocate to a church in some other area. 

The coming of the Internet has brought changes to how ministry training is delivered. Many Bible schools like Liberty University, along with many seminaries such as Calvin Seminary, now offer online classes through distance learning programs. The epicenter of the training is still the professors at the home base institute. Often accreditation models require this.

Christian Leaders Institute offers adult learning that can be used by local churches. We are delivering this adult learning to prison systems soon. Local churches, Soul Centers, and prison ministry or chaplains can use this adult learning to create more mentor centers.

Enterprise Mentor Centers

I can see a day when companies will have mentor centers. Students will take our business courses and process their training at their workplace. 


How Ministry Mentor Centers Work 

CLI will offer its entire Adult Education level curriculum of ministry training classes, lectures, and quizzes to local ministry mentor centers spread throughout the world. These ministry mentor centers will bring students together in a local geographic place recruited by local leaders and CLI's efforts. These local places will be the mentor centers places of CLI that support local mentors in their efforts to train new pastors and leaders. 

The Role of Christian Leaders College

Christian Leaders Institute is a program of Christian Leaders College. This opens the door for students at local mentor centers. Some locating mentoring students may be interested in a college degree. Christian Leaders College can help. Christian Leaders College must help students with specific accreditation practices. A local mentor center is NOT a campus of Christian Leaders College. There are fees with Christian Leaders College for the degree programs. 

Mentor Centers 

Existing Leader Mentor Centers: Because Christian Leaders Institute positions its training to be utilized by local leaders, new possibilities are open to creating a mentoring culture that cultivates revival leaders for your church or your community. Existing leaders are invited to enroll in one of the Getting Started Classes.  This will help them understand the opportunities for multiplying ministers that exist at a local level. 

These classes will give existing leaders a good understanding of the online ministry training that they will share with their recruits. Even existing pastors or ministers who have advanced training need to take this one class to start a mentor center.

Peer Mentor Centers: An active student at CLI could also start a peer mentor center if they have completed the getting started class and they have support from their local pastor or mentor leader. This peer-sponsored mentor center holds students accountable in a "study group” setting.  Each student may have their own individual mentors who help them process their ministry training. 

Market Place-Sponsored Mentor Centers: Christian civic or business leaders or organizations may want to offer mentor centers. These centers could meet at lunch hour or after work. Imagine Businesses or Civic organizations starting ministry training.

Christian School-Sponsored Mentor Centers:  Christian High Schools may want to sponsor local mentor centers to cover certain areas of their curriculum and also provide a place for the training of young people for ministry. Christian Leaders Institute will provide the lectures, ministry training content, and study accountability such as quizzes. CLI will also keep track of all grades and credentials. 

Ministry-Sponsored Mentor Centers:  Ministries that do local or international work may consider starting a mentor center using the resources of Christian Leaders Institute. CLI has excellent accountability and can provide your donors with excellent reports. We would consider partnering with qualified ministries.

Mission Committee or Church-Sponsored Mentor Centers: A local church may have a vision for indigenous leader training in a specific geographic area. Churches can partner with Christian Leaders Institute to start or support a mentor center in another location other than their church. This mentor center could be any of those already listed. Christian Leaders Institute may help coordinate the reports of the mentor center project.

Individual Donor Sponsored Mentor Centers: Individuals or couples may sense the call to donate to support indigenous leaders in mentoring and educating revival leaders.  This mentor center could be any of those already listed. Christian Leaders Institute may help coordinate the reports of the mentor center project.

Creating Revival Leader Cultivation Culture

I was wondering if there is a mentor center model in the Bible. I can think of Jesus and his disciples. That was a mentor center that included Jesus, our Lord. He spent time teaching, mentoring, and preparing his disciples for bringing all nations back to God. 

I see in the book of Acts how these disciples brought the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I love reading Romans 16, and I actually read Romans 16 often. It is truly one of my favorite Bible passages. I have even memorized portions of Romans 16. I have often imagined and dreamed about how leaders can start new movements that in thirty years would create a culture of vital Christianity spreading like it did in the early church.

I believe that the mentor centers have that kind of potential. I can imagine the Apostle Paul writing Romans 16. He has spent years mentoring new leaders. He created mentor centers in various places in the Roman world. The lines between church and mentor centers were blurred in many places. Each church planter was very committed to cultivating leaders. New converts did not just sit in their pews, they were expected to learn, grow, and reach their neighbors based on the gift given.

In Romans 16, I see one of the apostle Paul's most gratifying moments. Read this in light of what you have read about mentor centers. Pretend that you are the apostle Paul and you have spent your life mentoring leaders and creating mentor centers where leaders are being developed and churches are being planted. You, like the apostle Paul, may be able to write a letter like this someday to those you have participated with in raising up leaders for revival. I have taken the verse breaks out so you can just absorb the leader culture that the Apostle Paul had created by setting up his era versions of mentor centers.

Romans 16:1-27 (Mentor Center Culture) :

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.  I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.  They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.  Greet also the church that meets at their house. 

Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.      

Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.                    

Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 

Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.                                  

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

Greet Herodion, my relative.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 

Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 

Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.                               

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.  For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.  

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.

I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.

Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Impressive. This was not just a church in Rome. This is a mentor center where leaders are being cultivated and readied for more reaching of people to come back to God.

I began this chapter talking about Richard Allen and Francis Asbury. That mentor relationship spawned more mentor relationships, which became mentor centers, which became churches. This method of raising up leaders has worked and I want to see this method cultivated more and more in every place on earth.

Imagine what Richard Allen could have written in the closing chapter of his "Romans” letter. 

 

Conclusion

There are many ways to get involved at Christian Leaders Institute. God may be calling you to bring revival using the resources at CLI.

Training:

If you are sensing the call into ministry, CLI will give you the opportunity to explore that calling and receive training free of charge. Apply at www.christianleadersinstitute.org

Donate online at https://www.christianleadersinstitute.org/donate.html

2 Corinthians 4:15 "All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”  

 

Last modified: Monday, December 26, 2022, 6:19 AM