Back My Book with a Birthday Fundraiser—Empower Heroes!

Welcome, Hero!

There are no ordinary people.

C.S. Lewis

May I call you hero? Indulge me. I like to call people heroes not because they're living eye-catching, binge worthy lives (though many are) but because I'm a writer. I think in literary terms. In story language, the hero is the main character (protagonist) around whom a story unfolds. So to me, you are the hero in your own story. No one else is living your life.

You may resist the title, to be humble and avoid pride or narcissism. Fair enough. You may feel like an ordinary person, a small-h hero, living an ordinary life. Tell that to C.S. Lewis or Jesus. There is nothing ordinary about following Christ.

A quote usually attributed to J.R.R. Tolkien says, “You are living in a very great story.” He meant God's metanarrative, the greatest story ever told, into which God places you. The Bible describes it as a way a pilgrimage, and exile. Story language calls it an adventure. I call it a hero's journey.

Story pivots on a hero's transformation or failure to do so. The adventure moves like a three-act play, with a beginning, middle, and end. We’ll unpack the twelve stages in the next section.

Hello! My name is Pat Butler and you’ve just read the opening to my new book, Embark (soon to be retitled). Now I’ll pull some updated language from my previous GoFundMe for Embark from two years ago:

Your “very great story” doesn’t always feel so great, does it? On your way to Paradise, a fire-breathing dragon unleashed his unholy goons to stop you. Friends cancelled you and allies fled. Your family disowned you.

When Christ calls us, we embark on a faith journey with high hopes but soon discover we have enemies—external and internal. Some are in our church (Matthew 13:25). We flounder in church politics and divisions. Other enemies rise from within: doubts, discouragement, and temptations. A dragon wages war on the saints (Revelation 13:7).

Many who followed Jesus abandoned him. Too radical. Pick up a cross and carry it? No thanks. Fire-breathing dragon? Hard pass.

Can you relate?

How do Christ-followers stay on the path God sets before them while navigating doubts, divisions, temptations, and a dragon?

My new book, Embark, With Christ on a Hero’s Journey, suggests a creative alternative to stay afloat—avoiding spiritual shipwrecks and monsters under the bed. To pick up our crosses and find the abundant life Jesus promised. Because spiritual life isn’t random—it has structure and pattern —the hero’s journey.

What is the hero’s journey?

• A literary device writers use to craft epic stories.

• A storytelling structure that revolutionized my writing, faith, and ministry.

From that revolution, I charted a path through those mysterious parts of spiritual life that confuse us. I shared my thoughts with others, and it proved an effective discipleship model for Jesus followers.

The hero’s journey is a structure for growth and support, like a trellis for a vine. It narrows our focus to key passages of spiritual journeys and brings order to 21st C. chaos. Engaging intellect and imagination, it sets the stage for transformative results.

I’d love for you to partner with me in producing this book!

Your support will help release a book into the church, raising a deeper awareness of the developmental stages of spiritual life. Embark will equip Christ followers to proactively pursue their hero’s journeys, not react to circumstances.

If you’re longing for a breakthrough in your life with Christ, Embark offers you a next step.

Imagine other heroes, hiding in caves like Elijah. What if you led them out of darkness into light? Embark will hand you the tools.

Imagine activating, training, and mobilizing leaders. Embark seeks leaders seeking heroes.

Are you on board?

Here are four ways for you to get involved:

1. Give: To complete the publishing and marketing process, I set my goal at $7000 to cover

a. Phase 3: Complete manuscript, editing, proofreading, cover design, text formatting, eBook: $1-2K

b. Phase 4: Book Launch and Marketing: $2K

c. Operating Expenses: $3K

2. Pray: would you like to join my prayer team? If you’re not already on my mailing list or FB group, let me know—I’ll send you an invite!

3. Share: consider who you could share this message with, then go to that share button and blast away—a book’s success depends on a street team getting the word out! (And if you’d like to join my book launch team, let me know!)

4. Suggest supporting Embark as a small group project at your church, writer’s group, or book club.

With your help, we can embark on a hero’s journey to flourish in our spiritual lives and equip others to withstand the bad guys, the overwhelm, or shipwreck.

Thank you for prayerfully considering this project. Your donation will impact the local and global church—and your story!

As C.S. Lewis said, “There are no ordinary people.” Let’s go slay some dragons!

Pat Butler

Website: Mythic Monastery

FB: The Mythic Monastery

IG: @mythic_monastery

#herosjourneyoffaith #spiritualjourney #rhythms #mythicmonastery