Who Is Your Paul? Who Is Your Timothy? by Dr. Clint May

I remember years ago hearing a Christian leader ask, “Who is your Paul, and who is your Timothy?” That resonated with me. I know several leaders who have had a tremendous impact on my life. It came more from their teaching and from reading their books. I wanted to be challenged. I wanted to go far beyond where I am now. 

Look at it from a different perspective: YOUR greatest joy in ministry will be when you pass the mantle to others. I love investing in the lives of other leaders, pastors, and children’s pastors. I have found that when I pass on the knowledge the Lord has given me, I am doing the very thing that He has called me to do…“equip the saints for works of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-13). I love to watch them succeed.

Did you know that Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother? But it took Paul to help Timothy become who he was in the church. Paul recognized Timothy’s gifts and fanned the flame in his heart to serve. What a joy you will find when you invest in the lives of children, students, and adults and help them find God’s plan and purpose in the church today. I have personally witnessed many children who discovered their spiritual gifts and became powerful leaders because my leaders and I allowed them to lead.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Pray for the Lord to put someone in your life to mentor you. Watch, listen, and wait.
2. Pray for your Timothy—that child, student, or adult you can invest in. There are kids in your church who desperately need someone who believes in them.
3. Release your Timonty to minister. That is when you will experience true joy in your journey of faith. As children minister, their spiritual gifts will manifest before your eyes.
4. It is not about you; it’s about Him. Remember, Jesus is the Lord. It is His plan you are following, not yours.
5. Make it your life goal to pass the mantle to the kids and leaders in your church. This is when you will experience true joy in ministry.