Christian, Spiritual growth, Christian mentorship
Date Published: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Lucid Books
The narrow road is dangerous and full of hardship; it was never intended to be traveled alone. We were always supposed to have guides. And we are also expected to lead others along that path.
Unfortunately, Christian mentorship has been neglected far too long. We are in danger of losing yet another generation to mediocrity and self-interest if we do not act now.
Letters to an Apprentice invites you on a journey--occasionally uncomfortable and revealing--as one young apprentice develops and matures through the influence of one mentor after another. These lessons are shared through a series of letters that use real-life scenarios to prompt innovative ideas that inspire you to become a better mentor or apprentice. Letters to an Apprentice is filled with practical examples and steps to help you:
- find your mentor and make the best of that relationship.
- find your apprentice and pass on what you have learned.
- Create a culture of mentorship in your family, church, ministry, or team.
Join us as we rekindle the ancient discipline of Christian mentorship. Start your own journey, and wade deeper into your place in the body of Christ as you deepen your understanding of the kingdom of God.
Interview
What was
your main drive to write this book?
My primary goal is to rejuvenate the lost art of mentorship within the
Christian church. One of the reasons that the church today has lost all
relevance and the ability to pass on truth from one generation to the next is
because they have abandoned mentorship. My desire is to rekindle the desire for
spiritual growth through mentorship.
What do you
hope readers will learn by reading this book?
I hope that
they will learn that mentorship doesn’t have to be a forced relationship that
is filled with awkward conversations and mediocre coffee. Mentorship is an
amazing adventure that exposes you to the life experiences of multiple
fascinating people. When done right you can save yourself a lot of pain and
heartache by learning from other people’s mistakes. Plus you make lifelong
friends along the way. I also desire that my readers will grow in their desire
to pass on what they have learned. I hope they seek out apprentices and invest
in someone themselves, thus perpetuating this lost art of mentorship.
Did you do
much research when planning this book?
Most of the
research was done in my memory. It was an amazing experience thinking back
through some of the most influential people in my life and remembering what
they taught me. As I wrote a “pseudo-letter” from each mentor, I brought to
memory all of the things they taught me and compiled them into s concise
“letter” outlining the specific wisdom that they passed on to me. It was a lot
of fun, writing in their voice and remembering the words and the spirit that their
instruction conveyed. It was like a walk down memory lane.
Did you
have any main people who helped you in the process of this book or influenced
you to write it?
At first it
was hard to think of myself as an author. I lost momentum on a few occasions and
contemplated giving up. But I have two friends who are authors, Curt Iles &
Jonathan Williams, they encouraged me to keep going and give me the motivation
that I needed to continue.
How long
did this book take you to write from initial thought to hitting publish?
The
writing took about six months, It was easy to write. The editing and rewrites
were the hardest part and took approximately one year and then publishing was a
nine month process.
Do you have
plans to write more about this topic or new topics?
I have been writing more on mentorship every Monday on my blog, www.jtaliaferro.com There I detail some of the specific techniques that can be used and also things to avoid. Check out Mentorship Mondays on my blog.
I have been writing more on mentorship every Monday on my blog, www.jtaliaferro.com There I detail some of the specific techniques that can be used and also things to avoid. Check out Mentorship Mondays on my blog.
About the Author
J Taliaferro is not your stereotypical missionary. From a small Texas town to traveling the world for the sake of the Gospel. J has 20+ years of cross-cultural experience, the majority in partnership with the International Mission Board. On this journey with him are his wife Susan and four children: Victory, Memphis, Ember, and Daniel. From church planting with remote tribes in the Amazon and Andes to impacting war torn lands and refugee populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, J has demonstrated his dedication to God’s calling and his passion for Christian mentorship. The numerous missionaries trained by J are currently serving all around the globe. Check out www.jtaliaferro.com for his most recent thoughts on mentorship, church planting, biblical manhood, Christian growth, and current events.
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