This blog was originally posted on June 9, 2009. I repost it because my beloved mentor has now passed to his eternal home at age 97.
A Tribute to My Mentor
I had reached a point in my life where I believed I was mature. After serving almost four years in the U.S. Air Force I thought my future would unfold to my personal desires and goals. For fifteen months I had found an inner strength to be pure while most of my peers caroused and practiced sinful ways in the Philippines. It was a struggle. But even in that place God planted a seed in my heart to study His Word. Through my mother's prayers I maintained my faith in God, becoming a student of the Bible.
God brought me safely home and I floundered in continuing education and working. I needed to find my God given destiny. It was early in 1973. Less than four years after coming home, my faith-strong Mother passed away. What was I to do? She was a spiritual tower for me. Shortly after her death my things were packed and I moved to a new city, Santa Cruz, California. It was not my comfort zone at first. However, God eventually fixed my heart to settle in for a season. He intervened with an excellent job with benefits.
But more than that, God placed a spiritual mentor in my path, Pastor James H. Salters. This man took confidence in me and loved me as only a spiritual father can. When I met him I did not sense my own hunger for counsel and acceptance. His was not a smothering love or forceful discipline. Yet he was not wishy-washy in his own convictions. He was firm but gentle with me. It is difficult to explain the influence he had on my future because it is so vast from the inward place. He was not pushy, just faithful. Perhaps he did not know that he was mentoring me. I know I was not a perfect recipient. He gave me opportunity to serve in ministry, valuing my God given gift of teaching. His confidence in my ability became my confidence to walk in obedience to my call.
Time would bring me to applying for ministerial credentials because of his guidance. No, he never as much as mentioned that process to me, but when I walked into his office that particular evening and asked for a ministerial application, you could sense an awesome spiritual victory in his eyes. His full support followed me throughout the process.
Soon after this I came to his office with Carolyn, who was soon to be my wife. Together we listened to his counsel, again given with gentleness and confidence. Months later he joined us together in Holy matrimony and we began life together, loving God and working together for the Kingdom.
After a time we had to part the physical presence of my mentor, but his spirit always was before us. Several years and events passed, we saw him less frequently, but continued to value his counsel whenever we saw him. We always anticipated seeing him at a district meeting. He occasionally sent timely handwritten words by letter, arriving in our mail box just in the nick of time for our edification and encouragement.
As God would have it, we came full circle to reconnect with him eye to eye for over two years. We came to pastor a church near his place of residence. We got to visit him regularly. Our conversations were of many varying spiritual things and of mutual acquaintances we had come to know along the way. It was a time to converse positively of God's greatness and faithfulness, and then petition through prayer for our needs.
As our reconnecting advanced, his conversation turned to his going home. He felt the tug of heaven. The love he had was not faded; it was merely seen in light of his soon to be manifested faith. He longed to be with Jesus and reunite with those who had gone before him. He spoke of it during every visit. It wasn’t spoken with sadness but with expectancy.
There is not a large accumulation of material goods that he leaves for his heirs. But I sense something far greater. Look at the ministry he cultivated in the multitude of family and friends. His investment is eternal. A tremendous wealth of eternal offerings that will only multiply by the same spirit now imparted to us. This is perpetual, incorruptible and immeasurable wealth.
James Salters is special in my family's life. We are all richer in the grace and mercy of God because of his influence, respect, and demeanor. I know my mentor and I will enjoy a permanent connection soon.
Thank you, James Salters, for being the obedient servant of the Most High and mentoring me. You are a Patriarch worthy of honor. I applaud you.
God brought me safely home and I floundered in continuing education and working. I needed to find my God given destiny. It was early in 1973. Less than four years after coming home, my faith-strong Mother passed away. What was I to do? She was a spiritual tower for me. Shortly after her death my things were packed and I moved to a new city, Santa Cruz, California. It was not my comfort zone at first. However, God eventually fixed my heart to settle in for a season. He intervened with an excellent job with benefits.
But more than that, God placed a spiritual mentor in my path, Pastor James H. Salters. This man took confidence in me and loved me as only a spiritual father can. When I met him I did not sense my own hunger for counsel and acceptance. His was not a smothering love or forceful discipline. Yet he was not wishy-washy in his own convictions. He was firm but gentle with me. It is difficult to explain the influence he had on my future because it is so vast from the inward place. He was not pushy, just faithful. Perhaps he did not know that he was mentoring me. I know I was not a perfect recipient. He gave me opportunity to serve in ministry, valuing my God given gift of teaching. His confidence in my ability became my confidence to walk in obedience to my call.
Time would bring me to applying for ministerial credentials because of his guidance. No, he never as much as mentioned that process to me, but when I walked into his office that particular evening and asked for a ministerial application, you could sense an awesome spiritual victory in his eyes. His full support followed me throughout the process.
Soon after this I came to his office with Carolyn, who was soon to be my wife. Together we listened to his counsel, again given with gentleness and confidence. Months later he joined us together in Holy matrimony and we began life together, loving God and working together for the Kingdom.
After a time we had to part the physical presence of my mentor, but his spirit always was before us. Several years and events passed, we saw him less frequently, but continued to value his counsel whenever we saw him. We always anticipated seeing him at a district meeting. He occasionally sent timely handwritten words by letter, arriving in our mail box just in the nick of time for our edification and encouragement.
As God would have it, we came full circle to reconnect with him eye to eye for over two years. We came to pastor a church near his place of residence. We got to visit him regularly. Our conversations were of many varying spiritual things and of mutual acquaintances we had come to know along the way. It was a time to converse positively of God's greatness and faithfulness, and then petition through prayer for our needs.
As our reconnecting advanced, his conversation turned to his going home. He felt the tug of heaven. The love he had was not faded; it was merely seen in light of his soon to be manifested faith. He longed to be with Jesus and reunite with those who had gone before him. He spoke of it during every visit. It wasn’t spoken with sadness but with expectancy.
There is not a large accumulation of material goods that he leaves for his heirs. But I sense something far greater. Look at the ministry he cultivated in the multitude of family and friends. His investment is eternal. A tremendous wealth of eternal offerings that will only multiply by the same spirit now imparted to us. This is perpetual, incorruptible and immeasurable wealth.
James Salters is special in my family's life. We are all richer in the grace and mercy of God because of his influence, respect, and demeanor. I know my mentor and I will enjoy a permanent connection soon.
Thank you, James Salters, for being the obedient servant of the Most High and mentoring me. You are a Patriarch worthy of honor. I applaud you.
Addendum:
Now Heaven is sweeter and resounds with "Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold Me Down". I told you so!
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