What do you do?  How did you learn your work skills?  Are you good at it?  Is there a specific skill that you could train others to do?  Would you be willing to invest in the next generation

Often we learn our jobs and then settle into a comfortable routine.  Training someone to do a task or skill can be seen as a hassle.  Let’s look at the lead electrician on a manufacturing site.  He possibly hasn’t wired an electrical outlet in 20 years but here comes the new kid, and boy is he green.  So, the veteran gets assigned to the rookie with these instructions,

“Teach him/her how to be YOU, so when you retire, I have a perpetuation plan in the new kid.”

Is this scenario a hassle or an opportunity?  You have the ability to feed the next generation your great electrical skills as well as you other gifts, talents, and abilities.  Apprenticeships allow you to also share life, including the impact Jesus has had on you.   

Parenting used to be seen much like this.  

Mom and dad invested time, energy, and a lot of teaching in their children.  Recently the trend has shifted to giving a kid everything he wants (money, school, cars, stuff) but not everything he needs (love, acceptance, direction, wisdom, skills).  

That is where you fit in.  

Look around you.  See that young person over there.  They likely need someone to invest in them.  Someone that will teach them the ropes. Someone to feed truth into the many facets of life.  They need to learn how to be excellent in their job.  Their source of truth comes from places like Facebook and Instagram, but they need Biblical wise counsel.

Mentoring through apprenticeship is a powerful way to pass on your God given gifts to young people around you.

Stop. Look around.  Who do you see?  Could the younger generation use some positive influence in their life?

 Go slow.

Pray.

Serve.

Befriend.

Let the Lord lead you intentionally into a relationship with that young person.  

Guide them in life and Eternal life.  

You have it in you.  

Are you willing?

Next week: Biblical Examples of Apprenticeships/Mentoring Week 1.