Developing Others as Leaders

5.1 Devotion. Assignment Paul and Timothy

Getting Started

Organizational success rests on leaders equipping other leaders to take over for them. While Paul was visiting the early churches, he came across a reputable young man, Timothy. Paul knew he must train a successor to continue the ministry of carrying the gospel message. After Paul asked Timothy to join him in ministry, he mentored Timothy. Paul prepared Timothy by equipping him through hands-on training, giving him feedback, and providing a challenging work environment.

Author Stacy E. Hoehl said this of Paul and Timothy’s mentor relationship:

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul exemplifies a successful mentor relationship with Timothy. Throughout the duration of this relationship, Paul ensures that Timothy is the right person for the job, equips him for ministerial tasks, empowers him for success, employs him in a challenging environment to develop effectiveness, and communicates to Timothy the value of their relationship. Paul’s approach to mentoring can be applied to contemporary leadership challenges as well. By implementing Paul’s mentoring strategies, leaders can develop followers who are committed, motivated, and personally satisfied by their work, and who are prepared to face the leadership challenges of the future. (Hoehl, 2011, para. 3)

Today’s leaders can look to Paul’s example of a loving mentor who prepared Timothy to take over his ministry as they consider how they equip others to take over the helm of leadership. Take a few minutes to consider how identifying the right people, equipping them for leadership, empowering them, and giving them challenging assignments might contribute to leadership succession.

References

Hoehl, S., (2011). The mentor relationship: An exploration of Paul as loving mentor to Timothy and the application of this relationship to contemporary leadership challenges. Journal of Biblical Perspectives in Leadership, 3(2). https://www.regent.edu/journal/journal-of-biblical-perspectives-in-leadership/paul-and-timothy/

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

· Integrate faith perspectives with personal development and professional practice as a leader. 

Background Information

The biblical text for this devotion comes from Acts 16:1–5 ( Read(new tab)  or  Listen(new tab) ).

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. Review the information in the Getting Started section as this provides background and context to Paul and Timothy’s relationship.

3. You may want to refer to your personal Bible for a preferred translation and to the article listed in the references.

4. Write a half-page reflection paper (Word document) that shares your thoughts on Paul and Timothy’s relationship. What stood out to you about their relationship? How does Paul serve as an example of identifying the right successor, equipping him for the task, empowering him for success? What can you take from this example and apply to your leadership or organization?

5. Reflection papers are to be written in accordance with APA Guidelines (7th ed.) including format guidelines. Papers must be logical, well organized, grammatically correct, and have correct spelling and sentence structure. Write in complete paragraphs.