Page 32 - Empowering Missional Artists - Jim Mills.pdf

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the Lordship of Christ over all of life. A Biblical worldview will propel them forward with a great

sense of confidence that in their world of work, they are carrying out Kingdom business,

demonstrating the intrinsic beauty of redemption worked out in everyday life. Pastoral

stewardship involves providing a scriptural endorsement, which empowers all those in our care,

including artists, to employ their God-endowed talents in the world of service that God has called

them too. Teaching a balanced worldview is indispensable.

Mentors are men and women of God, sometimes unaware of their influence, who line the

corridors of our lives and who make a major impact on each of us, even through one-time

encounters. In the notes for this leadership module, Douglas Webster profoundly stated: “It is

immensely important to recognize those who have left their mark” on our lives.” (Webster 2007)

A few examples will assist in bringing this point across.

To this day, I recall when God used a woman to speak something deeply into my spiritual

journey. And that was before I was even sure that it was Biblically correct for women to do that.

Joy Dawson’s teaching on knowing God and then later her series on the fear of God turned my

world upside down. Loren Cunningham overwhelmed me through his example of trusting people

and genuinely loving them without a hidden agenda. Also, his wife, Darlene, without realizing it,

planted the marvelous DNA of honoring people and understanding hospitality. Arthur Katz

transplanted his passion for absolute surrender to Christ as the foundation for living. Finally, my

own precious Father again, James Walter Mills, Sr., mentored me in the arena of integrity and

faithfulness. In turn then I have been privileged to pass on this same DNA to those we serve.

An example of an ‘organization mentor’ is our relationship with Youth with a Mission. As I

mentioned earlier, our first nine years in ministry in Europe was spent with that mission for which

I am eternally grateful. In many ways, YWAM still plays a major role in our service. Our

character and our ministry philosophy were born out of YWAM’s DNA. Also, in our years with