500
This is my 500th blog post on the Radical Mentoring blog (550th overall). Twice a week, we load up your inbox or your browser with five or six hundred words. The other day, someone said, “Regi, some of those devotions you send out are pretty good.” Smacked me in the mouth. A devotional was never my intention, but I’m glad people read them anyway.
What I did intend was to continue helping the guys I’d poured into through my Radical Mentoring groups. I wanted to write down the stuff I’d learned (and the stuff I keep learning) and be intentional about pouring into these guys in some small way. After a while, I realized other mentors, mentees, and even pastors were reading.
Since then it’s taken on a life of its own. I’m now also trying to inspire pastors, elders, deacons, executives . . . leaders of all flavors with a little gray in their hair to do more than read . . . to act!
Since this is kind of a ‘milestone’ post, I thought I might take a minute to get everyone who to reads it on the ‘same page’ as to who I am, what’s behind this blog and how you can help.
- I’m a 66-year-old man who had a single lung transplant about 10 months ago (I’m doing really well BTW). I’ve been married 47 years . . . we wouldn’t have made it without our mutual faith in Christ pulling us together. I have two wonderful adult married kids and the 5 best grandchildren in America.
- I grew up with invisible parents. Although I was taken to church and came to believe, I had no Christian role models and no mentors. By age 33, I had drifted so far that I almost lost my marriage. In desperation, I called out to God and He showed up. I grasped His love for the first time and He began to remake me from the inside out.
- After that experience, I was so grateful for the peace and forgiveness Jesus gave me, I started being intentional about helping younger guys find what I’d found. Some of them started calling me their mentor.
- After being a volunteer, freelance, one-on-one mentor for fifteen years, I discovered that I could be a better mentor by pulling guys into a group instead of meeting with them one-on-one. I called it a “Radical Mentoring Group.” Totally made up the format, the content . . . everything. God blessed it beyond measure.
- Last week, I began my 16th group of 8 guys. I love every one of the 128 men I’ve mentored through these groups . . . some of them have become my best friends. Some now ‘paying it forward’ and leading their own groups. Even my church, North Point Community Church, now uses this approach with its Leader Development Groups. And it’s becoming obvious to other churches all across the country that our simple methodology for developing strong lay leaders for the church yields real life-change, both for the mentor and the mentees (see some of the other churches here).
To the more than 2,000 men who are today in mentoring groups all over the U.S. and the world, I urge you to go all-in. Do the work. Trust the process. Surrender everything. Make Jesus ultimate if He isn’t already. Learn from your mentor so you can become a mentor to others right away.
To all 6,000 of you who subscribe, read, comment and encourage us, thank you. If you benefit from these posts or have been touched by Radical Mentoring in some way, one small thing we’d ask of you is to use this link when you buy stuff on Amazon. It won’t cost you a dime and Amazon gives us a percentage of what you spend. Save it in your bookmarks and get your wife, your friends . . . everyone you know to use it too. That would be cool. And secondly, if you know a pastor or church leader whose church could benefit from small group mentoring, send them this link and ask them to reach out to us. We’d love to get to know them and help their men grow.
To Jackson, who edits and posts and manages all this, thank you. To Kevin, who encourages and writes and leads so well, thank you. And to my Heavenly Father, who saved me, turned my life around, and gave me ‘extra time’ . . . a big thank you!
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Responses (4)
I congratulate you on your 500th blog post. Each post is better than the next. What the man meant by his comment to you is that he is not ready to hear some of your advice and experience on that part of his life that particular week. Thanks for sharing your life with me and so many. We are richer and in a closer relationship with Jesus because of your obedience. love, charlie
Regi, WOW… your story of redemption is almost exactly like mine. the ONLY difference is my turn around came at the age of 28. I am 32 now and have just finished leading my Radical Mentoring Group. Mel Flaming brought your format to our Church (Seacoast Church, Mt. Pleasant SC) and I can not wait to begin another one. The guys that finished are really excited to lead their own, nervous, but they have the confidence in the curriculum and foundation that was passed down. Thank you so much for starting this!!! by the way, your number is way off It is way more than just a couple of thousands…. God only knows the number but i know it’s a big one!
And to my Lord who loves me immeasurably.
Thank you for the grace you have extended to me through Regi and his leadership and friendship.
Amen!
Congratulations on 500 postings. I read each one with an open heart to what God is saying to me through you. The values of Radical Mentoring are very closely aligned with those o MentorLink. I recommend your ideas and materials regularly as I train mentors and trainers of mentors.
Blessings to you, Marvin