In the context of developing leaders and helping them grow in their relationship with God, when you call someone you mentor, coach or train “baby (Insert name)” and they call you “daddy (insert name) or mommy (insert name)” because you are in a way their spiritual mom or dad, it’s just not wise.

Firstly, in a subtle way, it contradicts our aim to make leaders because we negate it with our words. Is there a baby leader?! None.

Secondly, there is a probability that it can subtly create a false sense of unhealthy dependence on you on the part of the person you are helping become a man or a woman of God, a worker/a warrior/a leader (whatever you may want to call it) in God’s kingdom. This unhealthy sense of dependence manifests itself during crises in life. For example, when the person you are mentoring undergoes extreme hardships and you cannot be there for them at the time (which happens sometimes) there is a bigger probability that they will be more affected than usual.  After all, who’s their daddy? You.

“Daddy/Mommy (insert name) is not here, he/she can’t be here for me.. huhuhu” – is the usual reaction. Well, something to that effect.

So instead of training them to become strong by themselves and be dependent in the Lord, we get in the way of God and become their so-called pseudo mommies and daddies but it is not a wise way to build on lives of people.

As we make disciples of all nations, we hope to see an army of leaders making a difference in their generation.

Not an army of “baby leaders”, ready to act like they are called – babies.

As we make disciples of all nations, we hope to see an army of leaders making a difference in their generation.

Blog Entry:

Pastor Jon Dolor – Senior Pastor of Victory Los Baños