An email from Bill
According to Robert Clinton, few leaders finish well. Here’s one movement catalyst who’s an exception to the rule. What can you learn from his email to friends and supporters?
To a few friends.
Tomorrow I leave for a two-week trip to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Good Lord willing & the creek does not rise, I should be back home early next month. I greatly appreciate your prayers for me, John, traveling with me and the local believers hosting us.
Travel is always sketchy. From home in North Carolina outbound there are five airports in three countries, one small boat across a river delta, one borrowed four-wheel vehicle and several two-wheel vehicles. Return is also five airports in four countries. Daily we will be traveling to varied teaching locations about forty-five minutes one way on a local obstacle course dodging goats, potholes, big trucks and meandering herds of cows. Meal plans are yet to be determined. I am up to date on my malaria meds. Prayer for traveling safety is appreciated.
John has been coaching three local team leaders online. This will be the first time for all of us to meet face-to-face. Prayer is needed for bonding, and good cross-cultural communication as we will operate in several languages.
I have been to this country many times. I have never met these three local believers who are working in a part of the nation I have not previously visited.
The local majority religion is about a week away from completing fasting month. Most of our participants were formerly part of that culture. A few were well-recognized leaders in local communities. During this month of religious zeal, it is not uncommon for ordinary events to generate conflict. It is always possible for conflict here to move from verbal to physical violence. Intercessions that our guardian angels will be especially vigilant for our hosts and us appreciated.
We look forward to hearing the testimonies of new family members. We plan to model activities that can safely be celebrated in homes. Many have already been dunked. Some are already hosting home groups. Our visit supplements and complements the excellent online equipping John has been providing. A solid foundation has been laid. I anticipate many late-night sessions of good book discovery expeditions.
We have been asked to prepare subjects such as persecution, multiplying disciples in villages and neighborhoods, how to lead and multiply discovery Bible studies, dealing with conflict both inside and from outside, and how to sustain churches of former members of the majority religion. A perennial favorite is walking through the life of the Messiah and tracing lessons learned from the Book of Acts.
The trip will provide the opportunity to continue training face to face which I much prefer to Zoom.
In the last month, I have helped teams in Somalia, Lebanon, India, the Middle East, Indonesia, Pakistan, and one team in the Washington DC area. As much as I praise God for the internet that allows us to connect around the globe, I really enjoy the face-to-face and multi-hour sessions, especially around meals.
Our lodging has promised that they have internet, but electricity may be intermittent. I’ll try to contact Susan regularly.
Special thanks to several who have contributed support and those who have donated good books that are hard to find in that country.
Bill
When I grow up, I want to be like Bill.
