Interview with Jason Salyer
Jason Salyer is the student minister at First Baptist Church, Bluff City, TN. He is also a faithful prayer mentor. This interview was conducted on Thursday, December 10th, 2009.
Steve Gervasi
Good morning Jason! Let's talk about your perspective on prayer mentoring as both a student minister and prayer mentor. Where would you like to begin?
Jason Salyer
Well there are so many aspects to this thing but I think prayer mentoring is certainly one area where you want to practice what you preach. I was just thinking about the last couple of years with our student (my wife Bethany and I pray together) and how we have seen him grow and mature in his faith. Almost a year ago he actually publicly stated a call to the ministry so I really feel like I know how I need to be praying for him. We also meet each week to go through Scripture on issues of character for those in the ministry.
Steve Gervasi
Wow! So you believe it's important for the student minister to be involved as a prayer mentor right along with everyone else?
Jason Salyer
Yes absolutely! I remember asking you about that when we were first getting Shout started and I see now how critical it is to the ministry. It helps me see the perspective of the mentors and provides a good example, but most of all it's a blessing I'm glad I am not missing out on!
Steve Gervasi
Thanks for the affirmation Jason! I'm learning a lot about what it means to pray persistently and effectively as a student minister/prayer mentor as well! Okay, so tell me more about the growth you have seen in your student and the part you believe prayer has played in that.
Jason Salyer
It is really like joining them in a battle. I get to see what areas he is struggling in and pray specifically for Him to depend on God's grace through those areas. Then another issue or battle comes along and I pray for Him to grow through that as well. Looking back over the course of several months, I can see not only how God has worked in His life but how He is developing something in our student through all these things that will be used for His glory.
There's an old quote that said something to the effect of if I could hear Jesus praying in the next room for me then I would not fear a million enemies. While I'm obviously not Jesus, He has given me that responsibility to pray and I hope it gives our student that same kind of boldness to know I am praying for him.
Steve Gervasi
Jason, that is a very insightful perspective... I mean that prayer is like joining your student in the battle! It makes me think of the older generation represented by Moses lifting his hands and staff to God while the younger generation was battling against the Amalekites below!
Jason Salyer
Exactly. God was showing us something there. As a student pastor I've also encouraged the church as a whole to be the supporters (Aaron and Hur) holding up the hands of Moses. It has to be a joint effort from everyone in the body of Christ.
What a humbling and amazing responsibility to know that the battle was not won by their strength and abilities but by the intercession provided for them!
Steve Gervasi
Amen! And with your above quote in mind, we are joining Jesus before the throne where He ever lives to make intercession for us! And, as you say, it is humbling and sobering to think the battle this generation is fighting against the culture, at its most basic level, will be won or lost depending upon the prayer support we as adults give to them!
Jason Salyer
I think, in the midst of the church vs culture battle, the priority of prayer can sometimes get lost. Don't get me wrong, we need to speak to issues in the culture and offer hope in the gospel to everyone. But we also need to realize that real change is only going to happen through this next generation and we shouldn't spend more effort trying to shape a "Christian subculture" than we do praying for these students to be transformed by the power of the Spirit and, in turn, to change their world. I think that's what we see Jesus praying for His disciples as well, that they wouldn't be taken out of the world but that they would endure and be found faithful.
Steve Gervasi
Jason, it is such an encouragement to have a brother like you who sees things so clearly. If the adult generation, student ministers and pastors across this land could grasp the concept of where the battle is won and lost, we would devote ourselves to prayer along with the ministry of the word like the early church did!
Thanks so much for your time. One last thought, if you could give one piece of advice to prayer mentors and one piece of advice to fellow student ministers about prayer mentoring, what would that be?
Jason Salyer
To prayer mentors: I would encourage them to keep in mind that prayer is not unlike many other areas of the Christian life in that it comes down to faithfulness and endurance. Prayer is powerful. We know that. But so often we can get discouraged when we don't see immediate results the way we want them to be. Jesus is joining us in this prayer and intercession and He was even praying for His followers when they weren't acting like His followers. He has a purpose and a plan we just have to join Him in that.
To student pastors: I would say, “fan the flame”. In student ministry we are constantly evaluated based on the many outward things we think people want to see and we can forget we will ultimately be "evaluated" by our obedience to what God has called us to do when we stand before Him. Remember that, and encourage your congregation to keep that fire burning because we know God is up to something.
Steve Gervasi
Advice that goes right to the heart! Thanks Jason! It's been a pleasure. Now I'm off to middle school lunch! Love ya man!
Jason Salyer
Love you too bro! Thanks for the chat, always encouraging to talk with you!