An Ode to Mentors
by David A. Macfarlane
His name is Kenneth Murray and he was my first Christian mentor. Much of what I am today, as a follower of Jesus, is due to the foundations that Kenneth painstakingly instilled in me when I began my walk with Christ as a young businessman of 23 years of age living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From Kenneth I learned, firsthand, what Christian discipleship can look like and I am living proof of its importance in the lives of all followers of Jesus. Hopefully you have been as fortunate as me to have numerous significant mentors in your life.. Kenneth, through his teaching and example, set a standard for me of what an authentic Christian man, devoted to God, his family and church should be like. Kenneth has left me a much, much, richer man for having walked with him for a season and, although they likely do not know it, the many that I have led to Christ and discipled over the years are simply the beneficiaries of the example of Kenneth Murray. Every time I preach and see people respond to Christ I think of him.
Even though Kenneth was a busy Marketing Executive for a large international corporation, had a wonderful family and was involved in many social and ministry endeavours, he carved out time to meet with me weekly at the “Querandi” restaurant on Avenida Peru in Buenos Aires. Those were amazing and memorable lunches when he coached me through a basic bible study, answered my unending questions and we prayed together. What I have learned about mentoring (or discipleship if you prefer) from Kenneth is that: Mentoring is a wise investment of our time.
Because he carried a small well worn pocket New Testament and Psalms I bought myself one and marked it up just like he did in his daily reading. He led people to Christ regularly so I started to do the same. He served in the local church and so have I ever since. He taught me to give my testimony as a witnessing tool which has led to a great harvest over the years. Kenneth included me in a growing group of new believers that met at lunch time at a printing shop where we brought the new believers we were leading to Christ and prayed and encouraging each other with our witnessing efforts. I learned far more about being a genuine follower of Jesus from watching how Kenneth lived, prayed, witnessed and treated his wife and children than from what he actually taught me.
Within two weeks of my conversion, Kenneth trusted me to teach a weekly Sunday School class of 6 year olds. You could say he “threw me in the deep end” which forced me to learn about prayer, the bible and so much more in a hurry – it did me a lot of good! A few years ago OCC invited me to do leadership training for their Latin American leaders at a hotel in Buenos Aires. My wife Diana, who is also from South America, accompanied me and on the visit met the Principal of a school who told her that she had given her life to Christ as a girl of six in my S.S. class. The lady, whose name is Sarah, said: “Tell David that I am still following the Lord and now teaching Sunday School to tell others about Jesus as David told me”. Kenneth released me (and many others) to live a daily adventure with Jesus looking for evangelism opportunities as we went.
Yesterday Kenneth Murray went to be with his Lord. I will miss him terribly. Now it is up to me to keep passing on to others the gospel and love for Jesus that I caught from him.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
by David A. Macfarlane
His name is Kenneth Murray and he was my first Christian mentor. Much of what I am today, as a follower of Jesus, is due to the foundations that Kenneth painstakingly instilled in me when I began my walk with Christ as a young businessman of 23 years of age living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From Kenneth I learned, firsthand, what Christian discipleship can look like and I am living proof of its importance in the lives of all followers of Jesus. Hopefully you have been as fortunate as me to have numerous significant mentors in your life.. Kenneth, through his teaching and example, set a standard for me of what an authentic Christian man, devoted to God, his family and church should be like. Kenneth has left me a much, much, richer man for having walked with him for a season and, although they likely do not know it, the many that I have led to Christ and discipled over the years are simply the beneficiaries of the example of Kenneth Murray. Every time I preach and see people respond to Christ I think of him.
Even though Kenneth was a busy Marketing Executive for a large international corporation, had a wonderful family and was involved in many social and ministry endeavours, he carved out time to meet with me weekly at the “Querandi” restaurant on Avenida Peru in Buenos Aires. Those were amazing and memorable lunches when he coached me through a basic bible study, answered my unending questions and we prayed together. What I have learned about mentoring (or discipleship if you prefer) from Kenneth is that: Mentoring is a wise investment of our time.
Because he carried a small well worn pocket New Testament and Psalms I bought myself one and marked it up just like he did in his daily reading. He led people to Christ regularly so I started to do the same. He served in the local church and so have I ever since. He taught me to give my testimony as a witnessing tool which has led to a great harvest over the years. Kenneth included me in a growing group of new believers that met at lunch time at a printing shop where we brought the new believers we were leading to Christ and prayed and encouraging each other with our witnessing efforts. I learned far more about being a genuine follower of Jesus from watching how Kenneth lived, prayed, witnessed and treated his wife and children than from what he actually taught me.
Within two weeks of my conversion, Kenneth trusted me to teach a weekly Sunday School class of 6 year olds. You could say he “threw me in the deep end” which forced me to learn about prayer, the bible and so much more in a hurry – it did me a lot of good! A few years ago OCC invited me to do leadership training for their Latin American leaders at a hotel in Buenos Aires. My wife Diana, who is also from South America, accompanied me and on the visit met the Principal of a school who told her that she had given her life to Christ as a girl of six in my S.S. class. The lady, whose name is Sarah, said: “Tell David that I am still following the Lord and now teaching Sunday School to tell others about Jesus as David told me”. Kenneth released me (and many others) to live a daily adventure with Jesus looking for evangelism opportunities as we went.
Yesterday Kenneth Murray went to be with his Lord. I will miss him terribly. Now it is up to me to keep passing on to others the gospel and love for Jesus that I caught from him.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
