Wisdom & Grace: Mentoring – A wonderful gift

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and brings it out of you.” — Bob Proctor

In writing last month’s article, I mentioned a lady named Madelia “Rusty” Jones. Growing up Rusty was my Sunday School teacher and Junior Youth leader at Havre Christian Church. She not only encouraged me to memorize Luke 2:1-20 for the Christmas Pageant but instilled in me a love of teaching and a commitment to world missions. When I was but in the third grade, Rusty gave me the curriculum for the next week and said, “Here. Read this and you can teach next Sunday.”

I’m sure I looked at her like “Are you kidding?” And she replied in her positive way, “Yes, Ila, you will do just fine.”

One of the activities at Junior Youth Group was to write letters to missionaries. I chose to write to Dolly Chitwood and Leah Moshier, the founders of Kulpahar Christian Children’s Home and School in India. In my early twenties I would meet Leah Moshier at a Missions Conference. It was like a childhood dream come true.

Rusty was our camp nurse for many years. Even when I was married and had children, she always found me when I came home to visit Sixth Avenue Christian Church.

“How are you doing? What are you doing for your church?” And I would tell her about my family and our church in Wyoming.

In 1990, I was home for a few days. My mother and I were traveling down Fifth Avenue on the way to see her cousin. “Oh look,” I said, “There’s Rusty out washing her windows. We must stop on our way back.” But when we came back to her house there was an ambulance in her driveway. Rusty had collapsed washing her windows and had died.

I stayed some extra days and attended her funeral. Before I left Havre, I made my way down Fifth Ave. There was a light on in house. Her daughters Myrt and Lola were there going through Rusty’s things. I went in and almost collapsed in their arms. “Your mother meant so much to me. She encouraged me … and challenged me,” I cried, “I’m going to miss her.”

Together they said, “She loved you, too.”

Rusty Jones was in her late 50s when I was blessed to have her as a teacher and youth leader. I never took the opportunity to say “Thank you, Rusty.” I hope she’s looking down and knows how much I appreciated her.

Not many people in our area know the name June Beeman. But if were from western Nebraska, you most certainly would. June Beeman was my Christian Education professor at Platte Valley Bible College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. I can’t begin to share how valuable the very practical lessons that I learned in her class have been. My education, specifically the classes I took from her, have been invaluable in my jobs as Christian education and youth director, teacher, chaplain and activity director.

June Beeman was born in western Nebraska but raised in Beaver City, Nebraska, after her mother died.

She graduated from Minnesota Bible College. She and her husband, Ellwood, returned to western Nebraska where he was the president and she a professor at Platte Valley Bible College. But Mrs. Beeman was also one of the first women in Nebraska to be hired as a TV news anchorwoman for KSTF. My husband and his siblings remember her for her “Wilmer Worm” show on TV when they would get home from school.

The greatest lesson Mrs. Beeman ever taught me, and many others, was something she ended every class time with and inscribed in our annuals “Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.” Every time we were to teach a class or speak at an event, she cautioned that we could not ever over prepare. She would often add “And if you aren’t prepared, don’t admit it. Within three minutes your students or audience will know you didn’t prepare. Take my advice: prepare!”

Many people in our community remember Jack Rampelberg. He served as the minister of Sixth Avenue and later Fifth Avenue Christian Church on three different periods. During his second time here in the mid 70’s, I was honored by my home minister — Jack — being the Baccalaureate speaker for my graduation from Platte Valley Bible College.

Following graduation, five fellow students and I spent the summer doing missionary work in Hong Kong. About mid-summer I received a letter from Jack (I still have it). “When you return to the states, please consider coming back to your home church, Sixth Avenue Christian Church to be the Christian Education and Youth Director. The elders and I have no doubt that you are very prepared and you will do fine.”

The best advice Jack ever gave me was shortly after I started my new job. He invited me for lunch. As we sat at the counter at the 4-B’s Restaurant, he shared, “I’ve found one piece of advice in my many years in the ministry that I want to share with you. It’s this: There are 10 ways to do everything and that doesn’t mean nine of them are wrong. Remember this and you will succeed at working with people who have a different view than you do. When in doubt, seek the final answer in the Word of God.”

While working as the chaplain and activity director for Northern Montana Health Care, my supervisor was Lori Henderson, Care Center administrator. I have never known anyone with the work ethics and perseverance that she brought. At our leadership meetings she would bring us new information to help each of us to do our very best. She was supportive of anything that would be good for the Care Center residents.

I believe the thing I appreciated the most happened after we had “difference of opinion” meetings. Everything was laid out on the table. But when the discussion was over, and together we had come to a conclusion, it was never, ever brought up again. To me, that is an attribute of a great leader. Lori knew that a good leader provided the best resources, the best hours and pay possible. She wasn’t afraid to say, “Good job!”

Well, the Good Lord has provided me with some wonderful mentors throughout my life. I continue to consider myself the most fortunate woman on the face of the earth.

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and brings it out of you.” Thank you Rusty Jones, June Beeman, Jack Rampelberg and Lori Henderson.

“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7

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Ila McClenahan is a retired chaplain and activity director living in the Amos area north of Havre. She keeps busy writing, speaking at various events and trying to be a good grandmother.