Here's to the mentors!

I think I prefer the word 'mentor,' since it is more relational than the word 'leader.' At least when considering the nuances of our cultural perception words. I really don't have anything against the word 'leader' - but rather, against cultural understandings of it that are opposed to how the kingdom of God operates. 'Mentor' seems to capture the servant quality that Jesus manifests, while 'leader' tends toward an understanding that emphasizes the platform, or climbing the ladder above others. Real kingdom leaders could care less about either.

I do believe that some people can lead you closer to Jesus by living as a visible example without necessarily being directly involved in your life. For me, those people include Graham Cooke, Wolfgang Simson, Micheal Frost, Bill Johnson and Heidi Baker among others. But, for the purposes of this post, I want to talk about people who have been part of my life either for a season, or permanently (not in any specific order).

Thank you:

Georgia Penniman, for teaching me to hear God's voice, and facilitating deliverance and healing in some very broken areas.
Ron Jones, for modelling the father's heart toward me when I had no other godly model.
Shannon Jones, for being a praying mother. I would probably not even be alive, much less walking with Jesus if it weren't for you.
Joe Ozawa, for showing me what it looks like to genuinely care about people - little, insignificant people, in a sea of self-promoters who had bigger fish to fry. You were truly subversive in that way, and you taught me about the narrow gate and the humble way.
Alistair Petrie, for modelling how to affirm the good in everyone. And how to draw out of others what God has placed in them.
Heidi Plympton, although younger than me, I consider you a mentor for being a catalyst to rock my religious world and showing me what radical dependence looks like, among so many other things too numerous to list here.
Pete & Pip Gardner, for modelling what it looks like to radically obey when it costs you everything that you've spent years investing in and building. It's not often you meet people who are willing to lay down an entire ministry when God asks them to. You guys are my heroes! The best is yet to come...
Sheryl Lindberg, for showing me how to take off the Christian burka, and speak boldly and freely as a woman surrendered to God.
Charis Enns, although you are a relatively new friend, you're included on this list for breathing life and pouring water on a very dry and thirsty ground. I have a feeling I will continue to learn from you. :)

And, although you all are not part of my 'real' social life, thank you to all the bloggers in bloggerland encouraging and teaching and pouring forth the things God has given you. I am so much richer for it!