There is no television broadcast, no radio announcements, no billboards, no shoes named after them; and yet, they are heroes. You won’t find their stories in a book or their names on a wall, but they are heroes. When they do well they don’t pump their fists or point to the name on the back of their shirt, but they are heroes. You won’t find a poster of them in a little kids room and you can’t buy their trading card, but they are heroes.

Who am I referring too? I’m referring to the man who rides his motorcycle for hours on dusty, bumpy back roads to give a hug and a prayer. I’m speaking of the woman whose first name is Christi and last name is apparently “my good friend.” I’m thinking of the man who is recently married, has ten kids already, all orphans, pastors two churches and has another full-time job. I’m talking of single women who learned a new language and moved to another country to share the love a Christ with the hurting and the lost. I’m referring to the guy who spends his days serving by teaching others, even though it would probably be easier to just do it himself.

Crazy you’ve never heard of them right? Not really. They’re not trying to sell merchandise or build a brand. The One they follow asked them to love mercy and walk humbly. They are too busy spreading the gospel to have time for a celebration tour. Where they live camera crews don’t want to go. It’s hot. It’s dusty. Almost every single thing you need to do is hard. There’s no glitz, no glamour, no bright lights. And I’m glad because that tells me what I’m watching is not a show, it’s the real deal, and I’ve been inspired. Inspiring, isn’t that what a hero should be? If you don’t know the people pictured in this post I pray you get the chance to meet them at some point. They are truly inspiring.

One quality many heroes have is an obsession with one thing. Some obsess with putting a ball in a hoop, or a net, or a hole, or through some posts; others are obsessed with physical training, combat training or mental toughness. These heroes are obsessed with the gospel. It is this obsession that allows them to answer the same simple questions a hundred times a year for a hundred different people. It’s this obsession that gets them up early and lays them down late at night. This obsession is what drives them to leave family, friends, comfort, and familiarity. They are so consumed with this one thing that they have given up all the world is offering so others can join them in an everlasting eternity of worship to our Creator.

So I encourage you, print the pictures on this blog. Make posters, put them on the fridge, tell your kids about them, tell your church about them, something…anything. These are heroes. To be in awe of what they are doing is to be in awe of the One who created them and who has consumed them. These men and women have every right to say, as Paul did, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” I’ve had a blast this week. Rubbing shoulders with your heroes should be an amazing experience, and this one has lived up to the hype!

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