Letters to an Apprentice: A Culture of Mentorship

by J. Taliaferro

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 in uence 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 lled 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Leadership

132 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2020

About the author

J. Taliaferro is not your stereotypical missionary. Originally from a small Texas town, he has traveled the world for the sake of the gospel. He has more than 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 the 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 J has trained 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.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a kid when J was on the mission field with my family. I always looked up to him as one of God’s most powerful warriors in the jungle. In my eyes, he and the extreme team were the embodiment of heroes for God. God did a lot through them in the jungles of South America - and He is not finished.

Very personal book on the art of mentoring and being an apprentice. J writes with honest humility of the ways people have invested in him over the years and how it played out in his own life. Excellent read. Thank you J for serving God faithfully over the years. Keep pressing on.

[Andy Deck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeremy has provided an innovative, tangible approach to the mentoring process. The book is very readable and full of practical, honest advice about why and how mentoring should be an integral part of your life. I have personally observed Jeremy work with his team in Uganda, witnessed the fruit of their labor, and enjoyed his family’s hospitality in their home. His genuine life stories and lessons are refreshing. You will be glad you read this book!

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Key takeaways. Jeremy Taliaferro will help you improve your relationship with God through others experiences. Relationships with mentors in faith are important, and he really shines light on this. Not only should you learn from others, but you should teach others what you learn. There are so many places you can share your faith and I think this is a great representation of the process by which people can grow and spread faith.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a heart for mentoring or desire to be mentored this book is for you. The author begins by telling inspiring stories of those who touched his life in different ways through changing seasons concluding by equipping readers with tools for both being a mentor and mentee. I’m excited about getting to share this book in our church’s student ministry but it is equally applicable to adults.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several of these types of books lately and I love the different perspective you get from each one. This book really does shine a light on a different aspect of faith and how to not only implement things in your life, but eventually share that faith with others. It's so very well done, I was very impressed!

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with so many aspects that you can take with you and apply to your life.

Many quotable elements as well! It's a practical take on the genre.

This book not only delivers on what it says, but it does it in an easy to understand way.

[Anna Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This proved to be a refreshing and challenging read, as I got to learn not only from the wisdom of Jeremy Taliaferro but also from many of his mentors. I have heard for years of his heartbeat for mentorship, so it was a real honor and you to get to be his student as I flipped through the pages of his experience. I read this book in one day, but I look forward to the lifetime of impletementing what I have learned through this book and from mentors in my own life.

[Michael Rains · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! We live in a world saturated with head knowledge. The problem is that the same issues remain. J rips off the bandage with a call to return how God intended for the church to function and how we must prepare the next generations of believers, through intentional mentorship. J gets straight to the point without fluff. He shares his story both having been mentored and as a mentor. He shares his real experience not theory.

As the world reevaluates everything in the wake of global pandemic (with church doors staying closed), this book is a seriously needed wake up call to all of us. I pray that this book can serve as a catalyst for building strong, healthy believers in the church, the next generation of pastors/missionaries, and a church that will impact the world greatly with the Gospel.

I would challenge any believer to work through this book and find their place in impacting the world through impacting others through mentorship.