It is hard to overestimate the effect early mentors can have on our lives. They catch us at a formative moment. Their impact can be enormous.

I had the pleasure recently to visit John and Grace Tebay, my pastor and his wife in California who played such a pivotal role in the early years of my Christian life. He was the pastor of Calvary Church in Placentia, California for forty-five years.

He was (and is) a disciple maker. She was (and is) a wonderful mother and pastors wife. She also played the piano for our worship in the church, and when I sing those songs today I often remember her and the blessing she was to the church and to my soul.

As we were together again last week, it occurred to me that, in God’s providence, most of the things that I am devoted to today were first planted in me during those early days when we were together at Calvary Church. Here is a list:

Sovereignty of God
Love for the church
Centrality of the local church
Ecclesiology
Expository preaching
Personal discipleship
Relational churches
Submission
Age Integration among the generations
Jonathan Edwards
Authority in the church
Authority and submission in the home
Biblical Eldership
Child discipline
Fatherhood