by Laila Hollis

As I reflect on my years of being in the church bus ministry, I cannot help but be overjoyed and appreciative of all the people God placed in my life. From the bus workers and Sunday school teachers, to the City Baptist Christian school teachers, pastors, and pastors’ wives, I am so thankful the Lord used those people to impact my life in miraculous ways. I started riding the church bus when I was ten years old. I was reached by two male workers who knocked on my door and invited my siblings and me to First Baptist Church of Hammond on Goldfish Sunday. As much as I was fearful to get on the bus that first Sunday, my spirit soon changed as I was met by workers who didn’t know me but loved me. They challenged and provoked me to become faithful to church, which opened the door for me to accept the gift of salvation and surrender my life to the mission field as I got older. I can remember the countless Bible verses they taught me, as well as the Bibles they gave me through the years, one of which I still have today.

On one Sunday night, my pastor spoke about the relationship between Paul and Timothy.He mentioned the friendship between Paul and Timothy and the importance of mentorship.I never truly understood the importance of mentorship until the Lord convicted me that night as He spoke through my pastor.He challenged the church family to “Make someone else’s spiritual maturity your responsibility.”

I realized that not only had my life been influenced greatly, but that thoseI realized that not only had my life been influenced greatly, but that those who invested in me had also made an eternal impact. After the service, I went to the altar and asked the Lord to “Use me to make an eternal impact in someone else’s life.” I begged the Lord to allow me to find my Timothy.

Shortly thereafter, the Lord brought Jaylin into my life. Jaylin and I had shared a special relationship when I was a seventh grader and she was a kindergartener at City Baptist School. We were, as I liked to call us, “bus buddies.”

She was my buddy whom I sat with, and we shared many precious memories while we returned to Chicago after school. Due to certain circumstances, we lost touch with one another, and I was unable to connect with her for two and a half years.

Nevertheless, the Lord used that short season to reveal His long-suffering, mercy, and grace in my life. All along, the Lord was preparing the time for Jaylin to reconnect with me during my sophomore year at City Baptist.

The “Timothy” I prayed for was right in front of me, and in due season, God revealed my Timothy to be Jaylin. The Lord brought many opportunities for Jaylin and me to connect and grow together through Wednesday soul winning, choir practice, school trips, Bible studies, teen camps, youth revivals, and having a heart for the mission field. I found that the more time we spent together, the more God continued to bless and honor our friendship.

God began to do a work in Jaylin’s heart to start knocking on doors, passing out tracts, reading her Bible, taking notes during the service, and being fully committed to the things of the Lord by surrendering her will to His at a youth revival. I remember how excited I was to get involved with my youth group at her age, and witnessing God’s work in Jaylin’s life encouraged me to continue to serve the Lord because the Bible teaches believers to continue to grow: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

With Jaylin as my Timothy, I’ve learned the importance of being faithful to church, making my walk with the Lord a priority, and continuing to use my gift of exhortation to build young believers and for the glory of the gospel.

In 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul urges Timothy to stay faithful to God’s Word, to be rooted in righteousness and mission-minded. I prayed for my relationship with Jaylin to be one like Paul and Timothy’s. I hope that one day Jaylin will become someone else’s Paul and share the love of exhortation and Christ with them.

I am so thankful I learned from those who were funnels in my life so that I could become a funnel for younger girls and make an eternal impact for the cause of Christ.

Let’s all strive to be Pauls looking for a Timothy!