The writing of the 1 Epistle of Timothy, by the apostle Paul, at first glance is a set of instructions for his protege (Timothy) at the church in Ephesus. The apostle Paul explains he is on his way to Macedonia and therefore unable to join Timothy. A deeper reading of this first epistle will disclose that this is more than just warnings to Timothy about false teachings in the Ephesian church and instructions on how to lead a church. The apostle Paul is actually revealing a mentor/mentee relationship. In 1 Timothy 1:2 (ESV) Paul writes, “...Timothy, my loyal child in the faith.” He is close enough to Timothy that he regards him as his child. Paul had addressed Timothy earlier in a similar way in 1 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV), “...my beloved and faithful child in the Lord.”

The apostle Paul did not just leave Timothy to his own devices but continued to mentor him even from a distance. He instructed and encouraged Timothy throughout this letter. Paul wanted Timothy to pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (vs. 6:11)” amidst his learning how to lead a church.

The epistle can be a model of mentoring at ECC. The ECC motto of “Faith to Faith, Life to Life, Generation to Generation” is supported through this example of mentoring. The generations can grow together as they relate to each other in a godly manner. Paul as a mentor used every opportunity to encourage Timothy and prepare him for the difficult journey ahead of him. A mentor would be able to step in and point out blind spots and encourage a mentee.

Wouldn’t it be something to be known as a loyal child in the faith and to be able to call someone the same? What would ECC look like if there were mentors and mentees that journeyed together?