Thanks for My Mentors

As I wrap up another calendar year, I've been thinking about my journey over the past twelve months. I've covered some rough terrain. Its been a year since I changed majors and begun to think about what it means to follow Christ with my whole life. Along the way I've had some incredible mentors. I simply wouldn't be where I am with out the other characters (some of them indeed are quite a character) who have been performing on this stage of discipleship with me. Because I know there's many outside of our core community who read this blog, I want you all to know that if you're reading this you are a part of our community. These mentors that have shaped me are also a part of this community - its time you all meet some of the people who have shaped me.

So here they are... A special thanks goes out to all of them...I love them all dearly...I'd not be where I am with out you all! Thank-you.

Greg Ronning, our rockin' campus pastor
Greg has been an incredible mentor through-out the last year as Intermission has taken huge steps and he also was part of the mentoring team that I worked with this summer. He continues to invest in me and others around me in profound ways. Plus my dad and I went to the bar while he was in town, we had beers and watched Greg rock out with his charity rock band "The Harleys" - good times


Peggy Contos Hahn
Peggy has been walking along side me for the past five years. Many times she's walked along side from from a distance, but always with an eye out for me. She's always challenged me in ways I've never thought I could be challenged and her insistence on being a catalyst in this church and this world have be a profound impact.

Rozella White
Rozella, your friendship and your words of care and support are stunning. Your transparency and your grace is exactly what I'm looking for in communities to grow in. Thank-you for both the space and nurturing to grow.

Jenna Davis
Jenna was my "peer mentor" during my internship. Jenna, your tenderness, your deep insights, and your beautiful soul speak in unique ways to my worldview - thanks for pushing when I needed a push and listening when I needed an ear.

Aaron Strumpel
There aren't words to thank you Aaron. Your investment in me has sent me on a chase...a pursuit of this God who speaks out in love in ways I don't even understand yet. Your mentorship has shaped me in profound ways. Thank you for being patient with me, for walking with me, for challenging me, for tending both to my soul and my mind, for teaching me about community, for showing me how deep our artist-Creator-God speaks to us and for allowing me to be a speck on the radar of your journey. Thank-you. Thank-you. Thank-you.

Marc and Dana Reed
There isn't enough I can say about these two. Marc and Dana have been my spiritual father and mother. They have this distinct sense of call to be a father and mother to God's children in order to care for their hearts. Marc and Dana, thank-you for adopting me - for providing not only opportunities for ministry, but for your complete embrace. Your embrace must be exactly what God had in mind when He called his church to love for one another. You guys have blessed me more than you even know. I can't even wrap my mind around your love for God and his children. Thank-you for answer yes to God's call to be a spiritual father/mother ...thank-you.

There are others too...I'll save them for another shout-out.

with love,

Tim