The Great Value of Mentors.

Blog #13

Mentor is defined as “an experienced and trusted advisor.” The mentors in my life have been much more than that. Some mentors were intentional. Some had no idea of the positive impact they had on my life. Many thought they were great mentors, while teaching me how not to be and what not to do. I’ll bet that, if you think about it, your life’s experience with mentors is similar.

My motorcycle ministry mentors are few, somewhat recent, but powerful. As I mentioned in my first blogs, I didn’t start riding again until about 2013, after a 25 year break. Bob Stephenson, president of Full Armor Bikers, makes it his business to mentor the riders in our group. His focus is not only on safe riding, but also on developing knowledgeable, skilled, confident riders who love Jesus. He intentionally models and teaches the techniques of safety and confidence, especially as it pertains to group riding. It’s important that our group has a culture of constant improvement. Some of us desperately need that environment more than others.

Pastors Sam Barber and David Middendorf continue to be great encouragers and positive Christian-biker roll models. They are both great mentors on how to embrace the biker life while continuing to improve one’s relationship with Christ. The best mentors are the ones that model the lifestyle naturally, seemingly without effort. It’s just who they are. That defines Sam, David and Bob.

Family Mentors.

Sometimes we don’t realize we were mentored by someone until years later. My Grandfather Rinehart was a great mentor on how a gentleman and family man should conduct himself. I certainly didn’t appreciate that at the time.
My stepdad, Bub Bandy, and my biological dad, John Rinehart, were great models on how a real man works hard his entire life to support his family and take care of his commitments, regardless of life’s storms. I could have learned a lot more from my stepdad if I hadn’t had such a horrible attitude. No matter the financial issues of the day, we always ate well and had a roof over our head, even if it meant wild game my stepdad had killed that morning. He was a hunter and we regularly ate wild game that people now pay a fortune for in fancy restaurants. I was not a good stepson. It only took me 50 years to realize and admit that. I have often been my own worse enemy when the Lord presented me with growth opportunities.

Sohio Days.

My uncle Chet Gloyd became a significant mentor on how to talk to people; interpersonal communication skills. When I went to work for him at his Sohio station at age 14, in 1973, I was almost crippled by my shyness and lack of confidence. Over the next four years I developed the ability to talk to anyone about anything. That has served me incredibly well throughout my life. I learned other things at that Sohio station that are not suitable for print.

Army Days.

In 1982, out of desperation to do something right, I joined the Ohio Army National Guard (OHARNG) and took my first plane ride to sunny Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for basic training. I liked it so well that in 1985 I became a full time soldier for the OHARNG. The mentors in that organization were many, but the two who had the most significant impact on my early career and life were Sergeant First Class Mike Howley (retired as the State Command Sergeant Major) and Major Ron Young (Retired from the National Guard Bureau as a Major General). I could not have asked to be mentored by two finer, more professional, dedicated, unwavering soldiers than these two gentlemen. Mike taught me how to be a professional non commissioned officer and MG Young modeled the steadfast, driven, mission focused, always professional Army officer.

My many mentors in the National Guard taught me how to, with great confidence, speak and give a block of instruction to a large group of people; public speaking 101. This was a great gift that has served me very well. The leadership experience and NCO education system still serves me well today, never costing me a single cent. I spent months on two occasions at Ft. McClellan, AL, completing the Army’s basic and advance NCO leadership education, much of it in the field (the reason I don’t care to tent camp anymore.)

Wherever one is on their leadership and life’s journey, the Army works hard to expose you to good mentors in a wide variety of environments. You can’t buy the experience that I was paid to participate in so please do not feel the need to thank me for my service. I was the primary benefactor. Even though much has changed since my service, I highly recommend the National Guard to any young person who is floundering, trying to figure out what to do with themselves.

Law Enforcement Days.

After 12 years of service I felt the call to be a police officer. After completing a night police academy I bid the OHARNG adieu and joined my local, suburban police department as a patrol officer. In spite of many police supervisors who would have done well to serve 12 years in the military, the agency was wrought with opportunity.
Six years in, I was the deputy police chief for Chief Dennis Murphy, another cop who acquired his leadership experience in the US Army, only Dennis had been a Special Forces soldier, completed Officer Candidate School and was a major before giving in to the call to law enforcement. Finally, someone the good old boy network hated even more than they hated me. Dennis was a police officer just three years before he became the chief of a major suburban agency. Those were some wild times, but that’s another story.

These are just a few things Chief Murphy modeled; 1. Your faith and family are always more important than the job. 2. No matter the severity of the storm, it will pass. 3. Never believe the first report. 4. If a decision might impact the family, run it by your wife first. 5. Never let the haters get you down. 6. Get to church and make “commo checks” with God, especially when under the worst attacks. 7. When you make a mistake, and you will, recover and get past it. 8. Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut.
There’s much more and of course, he didn’t lecture this. He lived it. A true mentor without trying.

Another great, life changing mentor that came into my life during my time as deputy chief of police is a guy who lived across the street for several years. We became very good friends, enjoying many meals together before he ever invited me to church. I hadn’t been to a church service since basic training, but my neighbor had become a close friend making it hard to say no. Besides, he had peaked my interest.

Eddie Estep was that neighbor, then the senior pastor of Shepherd Church of the Nazarene. Eddie ended up welcoming me into membership there and baptizing me one Sunday morning. I’ve been a member for more than 20 years now and even met my wife, Phyllis there. Eddie also nudged me to host a men’s monthly prayer breakfast at a local eatery of my choice. That prayer breakfast ran for six years, benefiting my faith walk as much as anyone else. I handed it off when I moved on to the chiefs job in another town. There is great wisdom in Eddie’s ministry and method. I’m grateful for his friendship.

Two points I need to close with.
First, always consider the mentors who tried to help you along the way. Take time to acknowledge and thank them, even if it is many years after the fact. Second, consider your role as a mentor. Who’s watching you and what message are you sending. Are you modeling the best example you can? I know most of us are a work in progress, but we need to consider the mentor we want to be.

Also, please read my book titled “Backroads, Buffoonery & Breakthroughs in Leadership,” available on Amazon.com. Thanks.