Russ Murphy (Australia)
My experience with the IMN was a unique one. Partly because I and a few others were responsible for the “I” in the IMN; we took our responsibility as cultural outsiders quite seriously. Partly because chaotic events ensued that my life would be radically different as a result of taking part.
You get out of these things what you contribute to them, so as a youth pastor I was impacted by the learning environments, both online and face to face. The impact came not only through the content, which was usually incredible, but also through the interaction with others who where wrestling with the same concepts in different contexts.
I was amazed at the affinity I felt with my network members as we assembled in Los Angeles for our immersion experience. I was overwhelmed when this same network stuffed cash in my pockets and under my pillow after my mugging at Midnight in Pasadena, and confident of their support and counsel as I navigated the path to a new future.
I’ve gained a network of allies, advocates, supporters and friends that I could not have garnered on my own through my time at the IMN. I’ve been catapulted into a new way of thinking which has in some ways ruined me forever and burnt bridges behind me. I have, without a doubt, been blessed beyond what I could ever have hoped or imagined.
I would not trade a minute of what I experienced.
I found a tribe to run with.
Russ Murphy
For more info …
IMN
7-Day dates, tuition and fees
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
Trackback link
http://internationalmentoringnetwork.voxtropolis.com/2008/07/10/the-imns-signature-7-day-immersion-russ-murphy/trackback/
July 13, 2008 at 7:06 am
Lon
awesome russ, i love the cash stuffing story…
July 13, 2008 at 11:32 pm
parepidemos
Oh, he’s leaving out a number of other great stories.
I have a couple of great photos of him using a skilsaw to score the wrongly-set lintels of a house under construction– that involves holding a 20lb shrieking circular-saw over one’s head for five minutes at a time, about fifteen minutes per lintel, pressing it over and over across the stubborn lumber about seven feet off the floor, showering oneself with splinters and sawdust in the process. At the same time a shop-vac is attempting (unsuccessfully) to collect some of that debris from mid-air. Deafening, sweaty, exhausting work. In my photos, Russ is wearing swim goggles to keep the stuff (sweat, sawdust & splinters) out of his eyes.
Having seen Russ work, I have no doubt he’ll have the moxie to build (or rebuild) any bridges necessary to his future ministry.
Grace and strength to you, Russ!
(and thanks again for all your hard work!)