Relay Racers

In a relay race the passing of the baton is a most crucial piece. Mentors can set things in motion but the work carries on through capable godly leaders.

My friend, Carlos, knows a lot about running well. Years ago Carlos ran a race against the famous Ecuadorian long distance runner, Rolando Vera, and won! Now in his 50s, he only runs to stay in shape, but Carlos is also involved in a “relay race” of a different sort.

Carlos, along with about 25 other pastors, was part of mentoring group that I was privileged to work with from 2004-2006. We met periodically at a retreat center in Calacali, a small town outside of Quito, Ecuador. The “Calacali Group” experienced transformational times together in learning, transparent relationships, and peer mentoring.

The friendship and mentoring with Carlos, and other leaders, continues up to today with online chats, emails, and periodic on site visits. It is a glorious thing to watch Carlos run well. But Carlos is not a solo runner. He runs these relay races with the likes of Medardo, Héctor, Javier, Armando, Teo, Pablo, Germán, John, Marco, and Patricia.

Carlos and company will soon be leading a “Calacali Mentoring Group” for pastors across one district of his denomination. The district pastor Luis was also part of the original group and he is setting this up. Recently, Carlos met with the president of this whole organization and they are exploring ways for Carlos and friends to walk with pastors across the country. If this partnership works out, Carlos and friends will facilitate a process of transformational mentoring across the 300 plus churches. The vision is to see these Ecuadorian pastors continue to run well, and by God’s grace, to finish well.

In the last couple of years, these capable “relay runners” have carried the baton to other places like Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. What a beautiful sight these kingdom relay racers are! I can see the dust rising as their feet move forward in this kingdom venture.