One of the most humbling truths about following Jesus is that none of us arrive at spiritual maturity on our own. God, in His wisdom, places people along our path who shape our faith, call out our gifts, and model what it looks like to walk with Christ in everyday life. When I reflect on the influences that have shaped my spiritual life and ministry perspective, I am overwhelmed by the legacy of faithful men and women who poured into me at different seasons. Some were mentors, some were family, and some were friends, but each played a vital role in shaping who I am today.

The following are excerpts from interviews with five current and former Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana, staff and church planters.

Early Ministry Models

The first significant influence was my youth minister. He was stepping into his first full-time ministry role after years of bi-vocational service, and he brought with him an intentional heart for relationships. He did not simply preach at us on Sundays; he invested time in shaping us, giving us opportunities to serve, and challenging us to grow. Even when I thought my path would lead toward the medical field, He treated me like someone God could use. The way he loved people, the way he spoke, and the way he lived those lessons from the summers of 1986 and 1987 still echo in my life. His example reflected the wisdom of Hebrews 13:7, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.”

A few years later, the longtime pastor of the same church, added another layer of influence. He did not necessarily sit me down with a formal mentoring plan, but he invited me into ministry life. Serving alongside him for five years, I witnessed his quiet faithfulness and unwavering commitment to God’s people. Sometimes the most powerful influences are not through direct instruction but through consistent example.

Later, while serving a church in Texas, I crossed paths with an intentional interim pastor. His ministry showed me how a godly leader can step into a spiritually dysfunctional environment and love people toward health. I saw him preach truth with compassion, stabilize a struggling church, and display pastoral courage. He taught me that ministry leadership requires both tenderness and strength.

Mentors Who Gave More Than Advice

Influence is not only about being seen; sometimes it is about being directly invested in. For me, that came in the form of my father-in-law, who served as an interim pastor before I even met my wife. He knew I was wrestling with a call to ministry and took me under his wing. He taught me how to pray, how to study Scripture deeply, and even how to develop a sermon. More than that, he taught me how to hear God’s still, small voice amid life’s clutter. What he offered was not just ministry training, it was a way of life shaped by intimacy with Christ. His mentorship reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful [a]people who will be able to teach others also.”

The Legacy of Family

Perhaps the most enduring influence came from my grandmother. She was the one who led me to Christ, and she remains the most effective evangelist I have ever known. She had the intellect and drive to pursue high ambitions; she once dreamed of becoming the first woman on the Supreme Court, but when Jesus transformed her life, her ambitions shifted toward eternal significance. She spent her life pointing people to Christ.

Years after her passing, I met someone whose family came to faith through her witness, and that individual was now in ministry. That moment reminded me that a faithful life leaves ripples long after we are gone. Like the woman at the well in John 4, she could not keep her encounter with Jesus to herself; she had to tell others. And her testimony bore fruit in ways that are still unfolding today.

Friends and Fellow Servants

God has also used friends and peers to influence my spiritual journey. People like a church planter in Arizona, or a faithful ministry partner in Phoenix, have sharpened me through friendship, accountability, and encouragement. Their example shows that influence is not only something from the past; it continues in the present through community. Proverbs reminds us that, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17, NASB). These friendships push me toward Jesus and keep me grounded in the mission of the gospel.

Called Out by Leaders

Finally, I think of men like my former student ministers, both men who demonstrated passion for Christ and genuine care for me as a young man. Later mentors, such as the directorat the Baptist Student Union, invested in me by giving opportunities to serve and affirming God’s work in my life. Others did not just see potential in me, but they called it out, encouraged it, and gave me space to grow. Their investment followed a clear biblical pattern: to recognize the gifts God has placed in others and nurture them for kingdom impact.

The Common Thread

As I look back across these names and faces, I see a common thread. None of them were perfect, but all of them were faithful. They cared enough to give me their time, to encourage me, to challenge me, and to point me to Jesus. Their lives embody Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

In the end, spiritual influence is less about one dramatic moment and more about a lifetime of consistent faithfulness. My story is really a mosaic of people who said “yes” to investing in the next generation. And in turn, their influence challenges me to do the same.

Reflect and Pray

“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7, NASB).

Spend a few minutes reflecting on the mosaic of mentors who have called out greatness and invested in you.

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, NASB).

How are you multiplying ministry influence? Ask God to allow you to leave a lasting Kingdom-building imprint on a new generation of missionaries, ministers, and pastors.