GFL BLOG

GFL TESTIMONIALS ~ WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THIS MINISTRY:

Jeff Schooley, Men's Mentor ~ Pittsburgh (above)
About a month ago, I came home from church thinking, "Why am I doing this? Is what I am doing making a difference?" Volunteering at a pregnancy care center is not an easy thing to do, especially as a man. The emotional and spiritual struggles that accompany helping men through such difficult times wear on the heart after awhile. I realize it is not about me, so that day I prayed for a changed heart, and asked God to renew my spirit in this service to HIM.

Later, I received a call on my cell phone. I saw that it was from one of the young men I had met with for STI testing a few weeks prior. A million of thoughts rushed through my head. I prayed for God’s guidance and answered the phone. We went through the typical guy phone formalities and then there was a pause. He said, "Jeff, remember when we were talking about God?" I said, "Yes, of course." He said, "Well, I have some questions about God."

Excited, I signaled to my wife to start praying, and she immediately started the prayer chain. During the conversation he asked, "So how do I accept Him into my life?" After further discussion and education, this young man committed his life to Christ, and is now tied into a local church attending the youth group regularly. God is good, and He allowed me to see the fruits of my labor. Praise God!

But then came the shame. How could I have put God in a box like that? I know that God works in all circumstances, and I believe that the seeds planted by us, His children, are nurtured and grown by Him. God is the one who changes lives. Me? I am just the tool in the Master Carpenter’s hands.

So be encouraged, even when the fruit of your labor is not directly evident, know that our capable God is in control. Thank you, Kurt, for your training, for what Guys For Life does to encourage me and keep me going in Him!

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Peter Smith, Reformed Presbyterian Pastor
Kurt and Guys for Life,

I have enjoyed the online mentoring academy very much. I'm just embarking on a men's ministry at my local pregnancy care center, and it has been very helpful.

These past two weeks, we have discussed the situational mentoring model of ministry, and it struck me that it applies not just to counseling at a pregnancy care center, but may be applied to other situations.

I have been a pastor for 18 years, trained in evangelism, counseling, preaching and teaching, but I now wish I had had something like this when I started--a clear, concise, transferable model of discipleship. It makes a big difference where a guy is starting in terms of the ministry he needs.

If he's hostile to the gospel [or life], he needs confrontation in love, and he needs to hear a proclamation of the bad and good news. But he needs something different if he already knows the truth, is open but skeptical. He needs good apologetics and to see confirmation of the gospel.

If the guy believes in Christ but is simply untrained and unskilled, he needs coaching and encouragement in the Christian life. And finally, when he's willing and able, he needs to be released. I look back now and see through his model where I did destructive things in ministry, rebuking where I should have coached and encouraged, and encouraged when I should have rebuked. I've already gotten my money's worth. Thanks.

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