Pathway Profile

Research and write a profile for: $ARGUMENTS

$ARGUMENTS should include a person's name or a pathway slug + "profiles" (e.g., Wesley, Bonhoeffer, metanoia profiles, mdna leader-profiles). Optionally specify how the profile connects to a pathway.

Step 1 — Load Context

1. Read the voice spec: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/intelligence/leader-research/alan-hirsch/profile/voice-system/ALAN_HIRSCH_VOICE_AND_STYLE_PROMPT.md
2. Read existing leader profiles: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/knowledge/core-content/case-studies/ (includes leader profiles for Wesley, St. Patrick, etc.)
3. Read the story index: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/knowledge/core-content/story-index/
4. Read Alan's own biographical material: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/intelligence/leader-research/alan-hirsch/profile/biography.md
5. If the person is from one of Alan's books, read the relevant chapters

Step 2 — People Alan Writes About

In His Books (searchable at /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/books/english/)

Biblical Figures:

• Jesus (throughout — especially rejesus, metanoia ch04)
• Paul/Saul (movement dynamics, the-forgotten-ways, on-the-verge)
• Peter (Jerusalem Council, metanoia)
• James (Jerusalem Council, metanoia)

Historical Movement Leaders:

• John Wesley (Methodist movement — the-forgotten-ways, on-the-verge)
• St. Patrick (Celtic mission — reframation, the-forgotten-ways)
• Columba / Aidan (Celtic missionaries — reframation)
• William Booth (Salvation Army — the-forgotten-ways)
• Count Zinzendorf (Moravians — on-the-verge)
• Karl Barth / Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Barmen Declaration — metanoia)
• Lesslie Newbigin (missional theology — reframation, right-here-right-now)
• Roland Allen (missionary methods — the-forgotten-ways)

Theologians/Thinkers Alan Engages:

• Abraham Kuyper ("every square inch" — reframation)
• Charles Taylor (immanent frame — reframation)
• Gerard Manley Hopkins ("charged with grandeur" — reframation)
• Peter Senge (learning organizations — metanoia)
• Howard Snyder (church renewal — the-forgotten-ways)

Contemporary Figures:

• Pat Kavanagh (The Main House — untamed)
• George and John (Greek brothers — untamed, the-forgotten-ways)
• Brad Brisco (co-author, missional practitioner)

Research Process

1. Grep the person's name across all books:

   Grep: pattern="[name]" path="/Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/books/english/" output_mode="content" -C=5
   

2. Read the chapters where they appear — understand how Alan frames their story

3. Extract:

   • What Alan highlights about them (what details does he choose?)
   • How he connects their story to his framework
   • What principle or pattern they illustrate
   • Any direct quotes from or about them

Step 3 — Write the Profile

Profile Structure

1. Opening Hook (50–80 words)

   • A single vivid moment, decision, or image that captures who this person is
   • Not a biographical summary — a narrative entry point

2. Who They Were / Are (100–150 words)

   • Context: time, place, situation, challenge they faced
   • What they did that matters for this pathway
   • Specific details: numbers, dates, outcomes where available

3. What Alan Sees in Them (150–200 words)

   • How does Alan frame this person's significance?
   • Which of his frameworks does their story illuminate?
   • What principle do they embody?
   • Use Alan's own words where possible (with citation)

4. The Transferable Insight (80–120 words)

   • What does this story open up for the reader?
   • How does it connect to the pathway's core thesis?
   • Invitation, not prescription — "what if we…"

Voice for Profiles

Profiles are narrative + theological. Calibrate:

Anti-Patterns

• Never hagiography — Alan is honest about complexity and failure
• Never reduce a person to a lesson — they are human beings first
• Never invent biographical details not found in Alan's books or documented sources
• Never separate the story from the theology — they are one

Output

---
pathway: [slug] (if pathway-specific)
section: profile
subject: [person's name]
books_cited: [list]
---

## [Person's Name]: [Subtitle — role/significance in 5 words]

[Opening hook — 50–80 words]

[Who they were/are — 100–150 words]

[What Alan sees in them — 150–200 words]

**The Insight:** [Transferable insight — 80–120 words]

*Sources: [Book citations]*

Save to: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/pathways/[slug]/profiles/[person-slug].md or /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/knowledge/core-content/case-studies/leader-profile-[person-slug].md