Bible Education and Mentoring

07/16/2025

It has been almost two years since I began serving with MentorLink Canada. Below is a recent update of my ministry.
Dear Friends,
In the past several months, since my last letter, I have thanked the Lord for the privilege of being involved in the mentoring of men and with MentorLink Canada. It has been a blessing to see the Lord at work in the lives of those whom I am mentoring and in the work of the MentorLink Canada team.

Recently, the words of Isaiah 40: 31 have reminded me about the Lord’s faithfulness and His continued care for us. “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” This promise of the Lord’s strength and renewal is precious to me and is a reminder that all of our work in the lives of others must be dependent on looking to the Lord in the trust and patient belief that He is at work in our lives and theirs.



MentorLink is a growing movement to develop Christ-like leaders. The MentorLink Canada website describes our mission as, “MentorLink is a worldwide movement and a network for equipping leaders and mentors globally who lead like Jesus and develop others to do the same.” Our Canadian team is working together to develop opportunities to train mentors who are able to mentor others. Our desire is to see mentoring relationships continue to grow and flourish in Canada. We are also partnering with churches in Africa to develop mentoring programs through the Africa Mentoring Initiative and the Church Mentoring Program. Members of our team will be travelling to Ethiopia in October to assist in the training of Mentors within the Kale Hywet Church.

In April we met in Toronto, as a Canadian Team, to discuss ways to develop mentoring among Canadian Churches. We also met with Dr. Wondimu Abebe, Deputy Secretary of the Kale Hywet Church in Ethiopia, and were challenged by his reports of the work their church is doing to promote mentoring in churches across Ethiopia. Health issues prevented Marvin from joining us but we were able to visit with him, pray with him and receive the blessing of his encouragement.



I have been involved with several men in the region of Southwest Nova Scotia and have been developing contacts with men who are further away. I am glad to be continuing in mentoring a young pastor from the Czech Republic. We meet virtually every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on schedules. Our focus in our mentoring sessions has been working through our MentorLink Leaders Covenant, sharing joys, sorrows, challenges and concerns, as well as, encouraging and praying for each other.

I maintain contact with a student from Sudan who is studying in Jordan. His circumstances prevent him from returning home to Sudan to see his family. We are praying for a new opportunity for him to visit them and to have clarity on his direction in education.


I have also been volunteering at The Carpenter’s Shop, a residence for men dealing with and overcoming addictions. Lord willing, I will be volunteering as an Alpha leader when the next class of men is welcomed to the program.

Monthly team meetings with my colleagues on the MentorLink Canada Team continue to be a source of encouragement, learning and personal support. I am very thankful for these leaders and the difference they are making in the lives of those whom the Lord sends to them. As a Canadian Team, mentoring is happening in many parts of our country and we look forward to that expanding. Members of our team are also involved internationally with the Church Mentoring Program in Ethiopia and the African Mentoring Initiative, for which the inaugural event was in Rwanda with pastors, denominational and ministry leaders, women's leaders, and business people gathered from 19 African nations. Mentoring movements are spreading in many of these countries.

I have been assisting Tim Jacobsen in facilitating an online peer mentoring course entitled Leaders Follow Jesus. This course is part of our MentorLink resources. We are blessed to meet with Christian leaders from Ethiopia and India on a regular basis.

Looking to future plans, I am in discussion with a local pastor about initiating a leadership training center to help small churches in our area with developing leaders to help them in their ministry. I am continuing to do research and networking with individuals and organizations that may be interested in such a venture.

I am available to discuss mentoring relationships and the ministry of MentorLink with individuals or churches who may desire further information. The MentorLink website is an excellent of resources for personal development and information about the movement. It can be found at MentorLink.org. Canadian content can be found at https://mentorlink.org/canada/
I appreciate your prayers and encouragement as I continue this ministry. As a member of the MentorLink team I serve as a volunteer. It is a blessing to be involved in the lives of those whom the Lord directs my way. There are expenses involved in the ministry. If you are able to contribute and the Lord lays this on your heart you may make a donation by going to the website: https://mentorlink.org/canada/donate-to-ml-canada/ Donations for my ministry expenses should be marked for Jim Rhyno.

Ruth Anne and I look forward to time with family this summer and having some quiet times to rest and refresh, as well, in July and August.

May the goodness and faithfulness of our loving God fill you with peace at this time and may God’s blessing be on all of your celebrations in the coming

In Christ,

Jim

07/16/2025

Dear Friends,
In the past several months, since my last letter, I have thanked the Lord for the privilege of being involved in the mentoring of men and with MentorLink Canada. It has been a blessing to see the Lord at work in the lives of those whom I am mentoring and in the work of the MentorLink Canada team.

Recently, the words of Isaiah 40: 31 have reminded me about the Lord’s faithfulness and His continued care for us. “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” This promise of the Lord’s strength and renewal is precious to me and is a reminder that all of our work in the lives of others must be dependent on looking to the Lord in the trust and patient belief that He is at work in our lives and theirs.



MentorLink is a growing movement to develop Christ-like leaders. The MentorLink Canada website describes our mission as, “MentorLink is a worldwide movement and a network for equipping leaders and mentors globally who lead like Jesus and develop others to do the same.” Our Canadian team is working together to develop opportunities to train mentors who are able to mentor others. Our desire is to see mentoring relationships continue to grow and flourish in Canada. We are also partnering with churches in Africa to develop mentoring programs through the Africa Mentoring Initiative and the Church Mentoring Program. Members of our team will be travelling to Ethiopia in October to assist in the training of Mentors within the Kale Hywet Church.

In April we met in Toronto, as a Canadian Team, to discuss ways to develop mentoring among Canadian Churches. We also met with Dr. Wondimu Abebe, Deputy Secretary of the Kale Hywet Church in Ethiopia, and were challenged by his reports of the work their church is doing to promote mentoring in churches across Ethiopia. Health issues prevented Marvin from joining us but we were able to visit with him, pray with him and receive the blessing of his encouragement.



I have been involved with several men in the region of Southwest Nova Scotia and have been developing contacts with men who are further away. I am glad to be continuing in mentoring a young pastor from the Czech Republic. We meet virtually every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on schedules. Our focus in our mentoring sessions has been working through our MentorLink Leaders Covenant, sharing joys, sorrows, challenges and concerns, as well as, encouraging and praying for each other.

I maintain contact with a student from Sudan who is studying in Jordan. His circumstances prevent him from returning home to Sudan to see his family. We are praying for a new opportunity for him to visit them and to have clarity on his direction in education.


I have also been volunteering at The Carpenter’s Shop, a residence for men dealing with and overcoming addictions. Lord willing, I will be volunteering as an Alpha leader when the next class of men is welcomed to the program.

Monthly team meetings with my colleagues on the MentorLink Canada Team continue to be a source of encouragement, learning and personal support. I am very thankful for these leaders and the difference they are making in the lives of those whom the Lord sends to them. As a Canadian Team, mentoring is happening in many parts of our country and we look forward to that expanding. Members of our team are also involved internationally with the Church Mentoring Program in Ethiopia and the African Mentoring Initiative, for which the inaugural event was in Rwanda with pastors, denominational and ministry leaders, women's leaders, and business people gathered from 19 African nations. Mentoring movements are spreading in many of these countries.

I have been assisting Tim Jacobsen in facilitating an online peer mentoring course entitled Leaders Follow Jesus. This course is part of our MentorLink resources. We are blessed to meet with Christian leaders from Ethiopia and India on a regular basis.

Looking to future plans, I am in discussion with a local pastor about initiating a leadership training center to help small churches in our area with developing leaders to help them in their ministry. I am continuing to do research and networking with individuals and organizations that may be interested in such a venture.

I am available to discuss mentoring relationships and the ministry of MentorLink with individuals or churches who may desire further information. The MentorLink website is an excellent of resources for personal development and information about the movement. It can be found at MentorLink.org. Canadian content can be found at https://mentorlink.org/canada/
I appreciate your prayers and encouragement as I continue this ministry. As a member of the MentorLink team I serve as a volunteer. It is a blessing to be involved in the lives of those whom the Lord directs my way. There are expenses involved in the ministry. If you are able to contribute and the Lord lays this on your heart you may make a donation by going to the website: https://mentorlink.org/canada/donate-to-ml-canada/ Donations for my ministry expenses should be marked for Jim Rhyno.

Ruth Anne and I look forward to time with family this summer and having some quiet times to rest and refresh, as well, in July and August.

May the goodness and faithfulness of our loving God fill you with peace at this time and may God’s blessing be on all of your celebrations in the coming

In Christ,

Jim

03/22/2025

Below is a short poem I have been working on, It is an attempt to use some of the characteristics of Hebrew poetry (parallelism and alphabetizing). It is my first attempt with this format. I am trying to challenge myself to different styles.

A Personal Psalm
Jim Rhyno, March 22, 2025

Awaiting to hear from the Lord;
Wondering when the answer will come.
Being content with everyday blessings.
Thankful for what the Lord has done.

Coming to Him with arms open wide;
Seeking His presence in my heart’s darkest hour.
Daily accepting the strength of His arms.
Believing each day in the help of His power.

Easing the burden of the load that I carry.
Giving to me a new sense of His grace.
Faith lifts me up to understand mercy.
Trust helps me see love in His face.

Grateful for God’s patience with me;
Thankful he stays closer than a brother.
Hopeful again in the midst of the storm.
Assured every day of the peace of our Father.

Instill in me the desire to pray.
Help me remember on You I can call.
Jesus, I know in You I can trust.
Spirit remind me You won’t let me fall.

Knowing You follow each step I take;
Assured You are watching as I follow the way.
Love never ceasing to hold me in awe,
Compassions that are renewed every day.

Mercy expressed in each part of Your Word.
Grace is the centre of spiritual law.
Nothing separates me from that truth;
Love so amazing I gaze at in awe.

Open my eyes to Your presence unseen.
Let me see You at work in this world.
Place me in the shelter of your wings,
Safely protected from all this life hurls.

Quietly before You I humble myself,
Silently bowing in submission.
Raising me up at just the right time;
Lifting my eyes to receive Your commission.

Singing a new song of hope and purpose,
Voicing my praise and wonder of You.
Trusting each day that You’re in control.
Believing each day Your mercies are new.

Under the cross I find forgiveness.
In the presence of Christ I am freed.
Vastness of love like the depths of the sea;
Your grace in weakness is all I need.

Wonders of knowing You are beyond my thoughts,
Amazed each day by new kindness You show.
Exuberant praise I offer to You;
Songs of love from my lips now flow.

Your power at work in my life never fails;
A plan that’s constant even when I stumble.
Zeal for praises fills my whole heart.
Wonder of Your love always will humble.

11/10/2024

Dear Friends,
I am grateful for the encouragement and support from many who have been learning about the ministry of MentorLink. It has now been almost a year since I was appointed as an Associate for the MentorLink Canada Team, serving in Atlantic Canada. It has been a joy to share in the lives of men with whom the Lord has given me the privilege of being in a mentoring relationship.

In the past few weeks the words of Ezekiel 34:11-16 have been speaking to me about the Lord’s faithfulness and His continued care for us. Verses 11b and 12a say, “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep…” This promise of the Lord’s care is precious to me and is a reminder that all of our work in the lives of others must be dependent on looking to the Good Shepherd for wisdom and guidance. He alone can seek and find those who are lost.



MentorLink is a growing movement to develop Christ-like leaders. The MentorLink Canada website describes our mission as, “MentorLink is a worldwide movement and a network for equipping leaders and mentors globally who lead like Jesus and develop others to do the same.” The emphasis of MentorLink on Christ-like character development, individual peer mentoring
relationships, as well as, the development of peer mentoring groups both locally and globally is refreshing to me in regard to ministry at this stage in my life.

I have been involved with several men in the region of Southwest Nova Scotia and have been developing contacts with men who are further away. I am glad to be involved in mentoring a young pastor from the Czech Republic and a student from Sudan who is studying in Jordan. We meet virtually every 2 to 3 weeks, depending on schedules. Our focus in our mentoring sessions has been working through our MentorLink Leaders Covenant, sharing joys, sorrows, challenges and concerns, as well as, encouraging and praying for each other.




I have recently met with the leadership team of The Carpenter’s Shop, a residence for men dealing with and overcoming addictions. I will be volunteering as a night supervisor and Devotional/Bible study leader for two nights a month when the facility opens in the near future.

Monthly team meetings with my colleagues on the MentorLink Canada Team continue to be a source of encouragement, learning and personal support. I am very thankful for these leaders and the difference they are making in the lives of those whom the Lord sends to them. As a Canadian Team, mentoring is happening in many parts of our country and we look forward to that expanding. Members of our team are also involved internationally with the Church Mentoring Program in Ethiopia and the African Mentoring Initiative, for which the inaugural event was in Rwanda with pastors, denominational and ministry leaders, women's leaders, and business people gathered from 19 countries. Mentoring movements are spreading in many of these countries.



We have celebrated two weddings in our family this year. In August our daughter Emily married Alexander Berwick. In October our son James married Kaitlyn Goodwin. We pray God’s blessing on their marriages.




Looking to future plans, I am in discussion with a local pastor about initiating a leadership training center to help small churches in our area with developing leaders to help them in their ministry. I am hoping to have more information about this in the next few months. Please pray for us as we continue to do research for this project.

I am available to discuss mentoring relationships and the ministry of MentorLink with individuals or churches who may desire further information. The MentorLink website is an excellent of resources for personal development and information about the movement. It can be found at MentorLink.org. Canadian content can be found at https://mentorlink.org/canada/

I am grateful for prayer support as I continue this ministry. As a member of the MentorLink team I serve as a volunteer. It is a blessing to be involved in the lives of those whom the Lord directs my way. There are expenses involved in the ministry. If you are able to contribute and the Lord lays this on your heart you may make a donation by going to the website: https://mentorlink.org/canada/donate-to-ml-canada/ Donations for my ministry expenses should be marked for Jim Rhyno.

May the goodness and faithfulness of our loving God fill you with peace at this time and may God’s blessing be on all of your celebrations in the coming

In Christ,

Jim

10/20/2024

The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1

10/08/2024

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

08/23/2024

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies" Psalm 36: 5

03/06/2024

Dear Friends,
In April of 2023 I felt that the Lord was leading me to retire from full time pastoral ministry and, after a time of rest and reflection, begin to serve the Lord in a ministry which I called Bible Education and Mentoring. I believe that there is a need in our region of Nova Scotia for training leaders to strengthen the ministry of local churches that are struggling.

In the last two years of ministry, I had become acquainted with Tim Jacobson, of Serving In Mission (SIM) and of MentorLink Canada. When I contacted Tim in the spring of 2023, he had become the new Executive Director of MentorLink Canada. I shared with him my sense of calling to Bible education and mentoring. As a result of that conversation, I began talks with the leadership and Board of MentorLink Canada about the possibility of joining the Canadian Team.

This has been an exciting time for Ruth Anne and me, as we have sensed God’s direction in this new ministry opportunity. In November 2023 I attended the Gospel Proclamation Congress, Panama City, Panama. MentorLink International had a major part in the conference in the area of Informal Leadership training. I sensed the leading of God in this and was encouraged by members of the MentorLink team. Later the same month, I was appointed to the MentorLink Canada Team.

MentorLink is a growing movement to develop Christ-like leaders. The MentorLink Canada website describes our mission as, “MentorLink is a worldwide movement and a network for equipping leaders and mentors globally who lead like Jesus and develop others to do the same.” The emphasis of MentorLink on Christ-like character development, individual peer mentoring relationships, as well as the development of peer mentoring groups both locally and globally is refreshing to me regarding ministry at this stage in my life.

Since joining MentorLink Canada I have been developing contacts in our local area of Southwest Nova Scotia, who may be interested in individual mentoring or a peer mentoring group. I have been encouraged by the response and am in regular communication with several local men.

This ministry has also given me the opportunity and privilege to be involved in a global peer mentoring group with men from Canada, Czechia, India and Nepal. We meet by way of Zoom about once a month. I am also privileged to be in a mentor relationship with one young man from Europe. It is a pleasure to see how the Lord is working in his life.

Monthly team meetings with my colleagues on MentorLink’s Canada Team have been a source of encouragement, learning and personal support. I am very thankful for these leaders and the difference they are making in the lives of those whom the Lord sends to them. At the present time I am also involved in personal growth through the MentorLink Institute and the development modules offered there.

I am available to discuss mentoring relationships and the ministry of MentorLink with individuals or churches who may desire further information. The MentorLink website is a source of excellent resources for personal development and information about the movement. It can be found at MentorLink.org. Canadian content can be found at https://mentorlink.org/canada/

I would greatly appreciate your prayer support for this ministry of mentoring. As a member of the MentorLink team I serve as a volunteer. It is a blessing to be involved in the lives of those whom the Lord directs my way. There are expenses involved in the ministry. If the Lord lays this on your heart you may make a donation at by any of the means noted in the footer: by cheque, by e-transfer, or on the website through Canada Helps. Donations for my ministry expenses should be marked for Jim Rhyno

Psalm 3: 3-4 are verses that have been a source of encouragement to me this year. “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill.” May they be a blessing to you and your family, as well.

In Christ,

Jim

Below - John and KC, members of our Global Peer Mentoring Group in Panama

02/28/2024

In November 2023, I was appointed as a member of the Canada Team for MentorLink Canada https://mentorlink.org/canada/?fbclid=IwAR0pMFlQZtzNSjXXVqztF3Ar3X24z-SIu3Rb9adrCdkWKP1mc01ERx2W9k. I am excited about the possibilities of this new season of ministry and ask for your prayer support as I begin to develop individual mentoring and peer group mentoring relationships. MentorLink's primary purpose is to develop Christlike leaders through mentoring relationships.

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