apostle

The word carries a heavy weight of devotion and mission. When used in a religious sense, it implies a divine appointment and an authoritative role in founding a faith. It is not merely a follower, but a pioneer who is sent out to establish a community. In secular contexts, the term suggests an almost religious zeal for a non-religious cause. It describes someone who doesn't just support an idea, but actively converts others to it with unwavering passion and conviction, often bordering on the obsessive.