Investing in Lives

Investing in Lives

by Ray Bachman

“One day a missionary came to our church showing a video on mentoring others and how you can incorporate it in your everyday life. Sponsored by a nondenominational ministry, the video was basically about sharing your life with other people one-on-one, and explaining how our calling in life is more than making a buck.

“This missionary started meeting with me and my best friend once a week for breakfast, and he began a two-year program teaching us how to mentor. That was 25 years ago. Since then, my wife Vicki and I have had the privilege of impacting a large number of people through this mentoring process. In turn, these individuals have and are impacting others the same way.

“I usually meet with them on a weekly basis, finding out how things are going and what encouragement they need. We use the Bible as our ‘owner’s manual’ and discuss how it can impact our everyday life. Because families are so dispersed these days, it seems there is no one close by to turn to in times of difficulty and trouble. This mentoring becomes much like a family relationship.

“This is especially true with young people. We have two sons in college and a daughter in high school and, as a result, we hang out a lot with these young folks. Teenagers today don’t spend much time with their own parents, but they really do thrive on adult interaction. We have become adopted parents to multiple teenagers who stop by our house for their traditional chocolate milk and cookies, and they pour their hearts out to us.

“As of now, I am mentoring and meeting weekly with four men. Last summer, I lead a book study for men in our neighborhood that dealt with issues in work, marriage, and family and how a focus of faith in all these areas can have a positive impact.

“This business allows me a platform to meet with guys one-on-one throughout the week, helping them to ‘fight the good fight’ and make a difference in their everyday world. I strongly think that each one of us can carve out some time with someone on a regular basis to encourage them and walk the walk with them through their journey of life.”

This article appeared in the September 2003 issue of HIU (Health Insurance Underwriter —
a well  known publication in the insurance industry).