When God was molding my heart and speaking to my spirit about His call to the South Bronx, God brought one of the most humble, godly men I ever met into my life. At the time, Floyd McClung was the International Executive Director of YWAM (Youth with a Mission), one of the largest mission organizations in the world. God spoke to his heart to pour into my life and marriage.

I had met Floyd a few times, so he knew who I was. But it was when I was leading worship at a national conference on missions and world evangelism that God bound our hearts together. It did not happen in the way I would have planned.

After a service when I led worship and he spoke, Floyd said, “Tom, let’s grab a snack and get to know each other better.” I felt like this was my opportunity to talk about ministry and share about the things I was doing. Instead, I sat before him and shared my struggles and failures with brokenness. As I finished, I thought, “Tom, what did you just do?”

Then Floyd said the words that changed my life: “Tom, I never knew I could love you as much as I do right now.”

Beginning that night and for the next three years, years of formation of our vision and of launching our ministry in the South Bronx, Floyd poured Jesus into my life. He taught me about servant leadership, being faithful with little things, pride and humility, living in the Lordship of Christ, and learning to hear the whispers of God. He taught me about spiritual warfare. He shared his journey with many of the challenges he had faced and lessons he had learned walking by faith. He prayed for me. He listened to me. He did the same with my wife. No one influenced my life and ministry as much as that man.

After three years, that relationship of mentoring and spiritual cover came to an end. Floyd launched into another ministry and God had accomplished in my life what He wanted Floyd to do, leaving fingerprints of God that have never faded away.

Then God brought another man into my life. I did not pursue him. He came to me. That was Pastor David Wilkerson. Few men of God in our nation had the experience and anointing this man had to work in some of the toughest harvest fields of urban America. Few had endured what he had endured, both on the streets and from the church that did not understand how God was leading him.

Pastor Dave became a spiritual father, providing prayer cover so desperately needed in the pioneering of our work. He gave godly counsel and advice that had come from years of experience and pursuing the heart of God. His advice was always on point. His words so often seemed straight from the heart of God. Sometimes the words stung, but they were from a loving and compassionate heart that wanted God’s best for me, my family, and the people we were reaching.

A friend in ministry leadership once met with Pastor Dave in the office of Times Square Church. My friend called me afterwards and said that they talked about me. He said, “Tom, Pastor Dave sees himself in you during the early years of his ministry.” When I met Pastor Dave’s wife, Gwen, Pastor Dave proudly spoke to her about our work. That’s a spiritual father.

Spiritual cover is vital. It should be a part of the spiritual journey of every believer, and especially every servant leader. At its best, it provides protection, encouragement, support of our individual calling, advice in our pursuit of Christ from those who have traveled the road before us, and importantly, cherished partnership in prayer. It is to be fulfilled in a relationship of agape love, a relationship with someone who is always there for us, always praying for us, and always pointing us to Jesus in every situation.

Spiritual cover is not control. It should never involve controlling or “lording” over a person. Rather, spiritual cover empowers and releases to fulfill what God has called a person to do. It is present to impart what God has given over years of experience following and serving God. It’s a ministry of empowerment and encouragement, of mentoring, teaching, and discipleship. It provides wisdom and godly advice in times of success and of failure, pursuing the heart of God to make the most from every experience and to grow and mature through them. All wrapped up in a beautiful relationship that propels us forward to complete God’s divine plan in our lives.

What we far too often see in the church is a failure of empowerment. It is often structural accountability imposed upon a person rather than wrought in relationship and love. Leaders empower only to a point and then don’t fully release because they fear rebellion. In actuality, empowerment that controls is what fosters rebellion. Empowerment that releases to walk in the giftings and the calling and the anointing that God has placed on a person is empowerment that produces respect, honor, and partnership, with a passion to fulfill God’s plan, eternally grateful to the one who poured so much into your life.

There is no scriptural spiritual cover in the New Testament that is void of relationship.

Godly spiritual cover does not impose methodology. God gives a unique vision for each individual ministry. In a relationship of spiritual cover, we work together to accomplish that vision. It is never “me telling you this is the way you’re going to fulfill that vision.” It’s talking, sharing, and praying together. Sharing what has been learned over years of ministry. Seeking God’s heart for the decisions and situations you face. Warning of dangers that may be ahead. Speaking the truth in love. The wisdom imparted has been birthed from years of trial and experience. You take that counsel before the Lord and apply what God is speaking into your heart.

Godly spiritual cover listens not only to the words, but to the heart of the person who is sharing. It seeks to bless and mold, to impart and release, according to how the Spirit of God is leading. You are covered in prayer. You are covered in love. You have a spiritual father or spiritual mother, an elder spiritual brother or sister, who is standing with you in your journey to help you fulfill God’s unique call upon your life.

Eventually, the one providing the spiritual cover joyfully stands back and applauds God as He accomplishes great things through you.

Do not fear spiritual cover. Seek it. Embrace it. Make it a cherished part of your journey. Through it, the fingerprint of God will deeply impact your life and ministry.