Blessed Beyond Measure - Feature Mentor Phil Dietz
Phil Dietz, Mentoring With Faith Since 2001
Knowing Phil Dietz is somewhat like knowing Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the Presence of God), so the story - like the man - has a strong spiritual component.
The guardian of one of our kids specifically asked for “a man of God” to mentor her grandchild, so I went about the task of finding him by looking to a faith institution. Early one morning in 2001, I woke suddenly and knowingly exclaimed, “I’m going to get Evan’s mentor today.” There was no doubt in my mind. I went to Multnomah University - a private nondenominational Christian university in Portland, Oregon - and they allowed me to stand there all day, telling people about the mentoring program and inviting people to volunteer. Phil Dietz answered the calling.
Phil said he wanted to become a mentor in order to give back to a young person some of what he had been given all his life, by those who had mentored him. He describes it as “an unconditional love that says no matter what you've done or are doing - I still do, and always will, love you.” After being mentored by Phil for one year, the young man told me, “The day I met him, I thought, ‘What’s this guy’s aim? No one is that nice,’ and then I found out, that’s who he really is.”
Graduating from Multnomah University at the age of 52 and becoming a pastor to senior adults, Phil says, is his greatest accomplishment. He really loves the art of public speaking and communicating with love and encouragement. He lives each day with an aim to be “the best relational person to each and everyone that is in my life during that day.”
Possessing virtues of patience, encouragement and understanding really do allow Phil to bless others on a daily basis. Possessing loyalty and caring about others ahead of himself allows him to be a life-long blessing. He always said that, even though the mentoring program was asking for a 12-month commitment, he would be his friend’s mentor for as long as his friend wanted. They are friends to this day!
They have been through a great deal in their eighteen years together. He says that being a friend who is available and accessible to spend time with you, particularly when things are not going well, is a very special way to say, "You are important to me.”
Phil says it has been a joy to witness “tremendous improvement in the individual growth and maturity” of his friend. He was particularly pleased to see his friend recognized as an Exceptional Citizen in his community for some of the work he did as a volunteer at a local animal shelter, and wanting to serve in the military. Phil hopes to encourage growth and maturity for a lifetime of success.
Phil is happiest when he is sharing time with his lovely wife Peggy, their four children and seventeen grandchildren (and their new dog, Karl). To everyone in his life, Phil hopes that “the love of Christ will shine through me so that others will be blessed.”
For all these years, I have observed Phil signing his emails, “blessed beyond measure.” This is his true valediction. Those who know him well may also add that by knowing this man of God, we are also blessed beyond measure.
"The reward is making something not only out of your life, but helping other people make something of theirs as well."
Evan
You can hear more from Phil and Evan in the unscripted video on our media page; click the video on the right.