Transforming friendship

John Stott would never have called it 'mentoring', but with an eye to the future and God's glory, he drew alongside younger people, pastoring them gently within the context of a warm, genuine, healthy friendship.

Many remember how he prayed for them, spent time with them and helped them in practical ways. Often he would gently nudge them to venture beyond the confines of their current thinking to think greater thoughts. With his servant heart, he was investing in younger Christians who would one day succeed him and serve the church in key positions - or not.

The obvious model is that of Paul and Timothy in the New Testament. This book weaves together important lessons which we can learn today, whether we are male or female, Pauls or Timothys. It looks at the very real caveats and pitfalls, the mistakes that have been made even by the well-intentioned. Yet even these should not spoil what Stott and many others considered a necessary investment in the church.