Christian, Spiritual growth, Christian mentorship
Date Published: April 7, 2020
Publisher: Lucid Books
The narrow road is dangerous and full of hardship; it was never intended to be traveled alone. We were always supposed to have guides. And we are also expected to lead others along that path.
Unfortunately, Christian mentorship has been neglected far too long. We are in danger of losing yet another generation to mediocrity and self-interest if we do not act now.
Letters to an Apprentice invites you on a journey--occasionally uncomfortable and revealing--as one young apprentice develops and matures through the influence of one mentor after another. These lessons are shared through a series of letters that use real-life scenarios to prompt innovative ideas that inspire you to become a better mentor or apprentice. Letters to an Apprentice is filled with practical examples and steps to help you:
- find your mentor and make the best of that relationship.
- find your apprentice and pass on what you have learned.
- Create a culture of mentorship in your family, church, ministry, or team.
Join us as we rekindle the ancient discipline of Christian mentorship. Start your own journey, and wade deeper into your place in the body of Christ as you deepen your understanding of the kingdom of God.
Interview with J Taliaferro
Hello J
Taliaferro and welcome to The Avid Reader! Thank you for taking time out of
your busy scheduled to visit with us today.
I would also like to take time to welcome all visitors today! Thank you for stopping by! Please join me in welcoming J Taliaferro to The Avid Reader!
And now please enjoy J Taliaferro’s interview!
I would also like to take time to welcome all visitors today! Thank you for stopping by! Please join me in welcoming J Taliaferro to The Avid Reader!
And now please enjoy J Taliaferro’s interview!
For those interested in
exploring the subject or theme of your book, where should they start?
After reading my book, “Letters to an
Apprentice” I recommend exploring the theme of mentorship in the New Testament,
specifically the book of Acts and the letters of Paul. The reader will see
things in the scriptures that they have never noticed before. Being
re-introduced to the Culture of mentorship will give a renewed perspective that
will allow them to gain more out of the relationships between, Barnabas and
Saul, Paul and Timothy and even Jesus and his disciples.
How did you become involved
with the subject or theme of your book?
At first, it happened without me knowing.
There always seemed to be successful people with a high sense of character
speaking into my life. It wasn’t until I was in university that I realized that
these people were mentoring me, and I learned to make the best of these
opportunities.
What were your goals and
intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved
them?
My primary goal is to rejuvenate the lost art of
mentorship within the Christian church. One of the reasons that the church
today has lost all relevance and the ability to pass on truth from one
generation to the next is because they have abandoned mentorship. My desire is
to rekindle the desire for spiritual growth through mentorship.
Anything you would like to say to your
readers and fans?
Invest in the people around you, find someone to
pass on your wisdom and knowledge to. But also, be bold and find someone who
will empower you and help you become who you were meant to be.
What did you enjoy most about writing this
book?
The most enjoyable part of the experience was
writing about each one of my mentors, remembering the things they said to me,
and even constructing a letter in their voice that concentrated all of the
wisdom they passed on to me into something that can help my readers. Hearing
their voices in my memory as I scripted each chapter was a stroll down memory
lane.
Can you tell us a little bit about your next
books or what you have planned for the future?
I am currently working on a controversial book
that exposes the departure of the Christian church from her given purpose. I
utilize my personal experience of breaking my back and being paralyzed in Peru
in 2003 and my subsequent rehabilitation and recovery to compare to the current
state of the church and provide a roadmap for the church’s rehabilitation. My
goal is for the church to regain her place as a revolutionary force in the
world, a tool to build the kingdom of God, rather than a weak and self-focused
entity that is easily influenced by culture and politics.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for fun for most of my life, but
I started writing in 2018 with the purpose of publishing a book. I have
blogged, written sermons and speeches, even done some journaling. But I finally
felt in 2018 it was time to share it with the world.
Can you tell us a little bit
about the characters in “Letters to an Apprentice”?
The book follows the story of my life, you get to
experience my spiritual growth and development as an All-Star cast of mentors
speak into my journey. They are blunt, and confrontational but they demonstrate
kindness and compassion as they knock off the rough edges that hinder my
growth. They each play a part in developing me into who I am today.
In the second half of the book the main character is
the reader. We will take stock and do an inventory of where you are on your
mentorship journey and then map out a path forward for your own growth and
betterment.
If you could spend the day with one of the
characters from “Letters to an Apprentice” who would it be? Please tell us why
you chose this particular character, where you would go and what you would do.
One of my favorite mentors in the book is James “the
silver fox” Shields. He is one of the most interesting men you will ever meet.
He has impacted thousands of people with his quick wit and singular focus. He
was funny yet demanding. Though I learned a lot from him, I don’t think I made
the best of our relationship during our short time together in the 90’s. I wish
I could just spend one more day with him and riddle him with questions.
About the Author
J Taliaferro is not your stereotypical missionary. From a small Texas town to traveling the world for the sake of the Gospel. J has 20+ years of cross-cultural experience, the majority in partnership with the International Mission Board. On this journey with him are his wife Susan and four children: Victory, Memphis, Ember, and Daniel. From church planting with remote tribes in the Amazon and Andes to impacting war torn lands and refugee populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, J has demonstrated his dedication to God’s calling and his passion for Christian mentorship. The numerous missionaries trained by J are currently serving all around the globe. Check out www.jtaliaferro.com for his most recent thoughts on mentorship, church planting, biblical manhood, Christian growth, and current events.
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