Years ago while full-time RVing, we parked for three weeks at First Presbyterian in Colorado where Mimi Dixon was entering her third decade of pastoral service.

Mimi offered me a table in her church office for my remote work. I just needed wifi and a workspace. What I got was a masterclass in pastoral pace and presence. 

Her door stayed open most hours. Members and staff meandered in and she listened to each one. She saw each one. And as anyone who has experienced it will tell you, to be seen by Mimi is to know your worth. Those three weeks were a window into a way of pastoring that prioritized people over projects. 

Of her forty-plus years pastoring, thirty-four were spent at First Pres. as senior pastor. Some years were dry and difficult. Sometimes she felt like a failure. She invited people to take Jesus at his word and follow him into life abundant. Turns out his narrowing way isn’t super popular. ​“Come and die doesn’t sell very well,” she once joked. So the church was big and small — big in transformation and small in size. 

When the time came to retire, Mimi bowed out instead of burned out. She had taken care of her own soul so she could care for the souls of others; in this new season she continues to do both.

Mimi will be the first to tell you her flaws. She might squirm a little at this spotlight I’m shining toward her (love you, Mimi). But living testimonies are better than abstract principles. So with our theme this week being soul-healthy pastors and leaders, I wanted to show you a life.

I’ll leave you with a few things I’ve observed in Mimi’s life and ministry, then an off-the-cuff prayer Mimi offered to close a podcast interview.

She puts first things first; she makes time to know and adore and be with and listen to the living Christ. 

She led with a team.

She sought out mentors and guides to grow in the way of Jesus and better serve his church, not to advance her career.

She practiced the wisdom of stability and stayed where God asked her to stay.

She made time to know and be known by peers outside her church. For decades she met with eight other local pastors from different denominations — they called themselves ​“The Company of the Failed” — to share joys and disappointments and to call one another to follow Jesus.

She said no to invitations that would have elevated her status but were outside her call to the local church.

She continues to pour into other pastors.

She sees me.

—

And here is that (lightly edited) prayer from Mimi…

Heavenly Father, 
Lord Jesus Christ, 
indwelling Holy Spirit, 
you are hovering around us. 

You have enclosed us
and all of history
in your enormous embrace. 

You will not ever break our ability to choose.
You hold our free will precious. 

Lord, please reveal and heal us 
from areas in our lives 
where we choose to live like prisoners 
instead of people of the light. 

I ask that you come alongside this day anyone 
who is struggling or feeling off balance 
or feeling invisible to you. 
I ask that you reveal yourself in a personal way. 

Help each of us
to experience your life
and your love
and to rest in your love
and to know that in the end
all shall be well. 

Give us the courage to look to you and
the discipline to spend time with you,
to listen for your voice,
to respond to you.

Help us to be present
to where you are present in our lives.
Give us eyes to see. 

We ask this in the powerful, 
enabling name of Jesus.