Bakht Singh (1903−2000) was dedicated by his parents to become a Sikh. The British missionary school he attended in Punjab gave Bakht Singh the impression that Christianity was an arrogant cultural identity rather than an authentic, life-transforming relationship with Jesus. Though fiercely loyal to his religious heritage, he sensed that neither his affluent lifestyle, nor Sikhism, nor any of the faith traditions he investigated were able to produce real happiness or peace. As a young adult, Bakht Singh had a spiritual encounter with Jesus and recognized the Living Christ as the Teacher of truth and goodness he had longed to meet. Bakht Singh eventually became a world-renowned preacher and revival leader, and is considered the ​“father” of India’s indigenous church movement. 

Sojourner Truth (c. 1797 –1883), born Isabella Baumfree, was an American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Truth was born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. After going to court to recover her son in 1828, she became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man. She was a powerhouse preacher who readily shared whatever God laid on her heart with listeners from all walks of life.

Richard J. Foster is the innovative pioneer who reintroduced ancient spiritual resources to contemporary Christians, especially among evangelicals and other Protestants. The author of several bestselling books, including Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water, he is the founder of Renovaré, an infrachurch movement committed to the renewal of the Church in all her multifaceted expressions. Having studied at George Fox University and Fuller Theological Seminary, Foster has served as a pastor and taught worldwide on spiritual formation. He and his wife, Carolynn, have two grown children, many grandchildren, and live near Denver, Colorado.

Tina L. Dyer is the founder and principal of Grafted Together Consulting, which exists to support leaders, individuals, and teams in cultivating spaces where truth and authenticity are welcomed, creativity and innovation are unleashed, and equitable and inclusive practices are normalized to create a sense of belonging where all people can thrive.

Tina holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of California at Davis, and a Master of Arts in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Friends University, Wichita, KS. She is an alumna of the Renovaré Institute and serves on the Renovaré Board as Treasurer. Tina is a joyful Mom to two young adult children.

Grace creates and curates resources for spiritual formation as Renovaré’s Content Manager. She loves reading and sharing words of wisdom, and it is her great pleasure to help shape Renovaré’s contribution to ​“the great conversation of the soul” through podcasts, publishing projects, workshops, and in-person teaching. Also an author and professor, Grace’s favorite subjects to write and teach about are children’s spiritual formation and early Christian desert spirituality. Grace graduated from the Renovaré Institute, Erskine Theological Seminary, and Davidson College. She lives in South Carolina with her husband William and their two children.