5 Big Transition

5

Big Transition

In August 2003, we had an OM conference at Keswick with about two thousand people. After 46 years of leading OM, I had the joy of turning over the leadership to Peter Maiden.

Some people worried how I would react to this adjustment in my life. As I thought about this, seven key words came to mind. They speak of the grace, motivation, and reality I have experienced during this change in roles. They also speak of the continuance with my journey so far.

The first word is quite simply. . .

Change

I’m a great believer in change. I have been blessed to help lead many major changes we have made in the entire work of OM over the years. I learned to accept change even when I didn’t initially agree. Marriage has helped me learn this! At times of change, relationships can be challenged. Unity is so important; God’s unity is in the midst of great diversity. I have learned that unity has a complex price tag that sometimes involves compromise and yielding to the plans and ideas of others.

People

I have as many opportunities to love and serve people now as I did before. In fact, the reality is that now I have more freedom and in how I go about it! It may sound strange to some, but even though I was heading up a mission organization, a lot of my efforts needed to be put into spending every necessary time with other leaders and other Christians. Now that I am released from those responsibilities I’m actually getting more time with people who do not know Christ, and that of course, is the heart of the mission.

Prayer

Almost since my conversion, about 50 years ago, this has been one of my greatest passions. I now have just as much opportunity for this as ever. In fact, I’m able to find more time to pray now, which includes worship, praise as well as intercession.

Preaching

I started to preach at 17 and now more than 20,000 messages later, I still sense God’s call to preach and teach. In God’s mercy I am flooded with invitations from around the globe. Since my role changed I have had hundreds of meetings and hope to continue in this as long as I have the voice and strength.

Projects

OM has allowed me to continue with projects all over the world. These are mainly concerned with literature and audio visuals. I have a small field structure and the responsibility with a small team raising money for projects as well as coordinating them. I always seem to have four times more work than I can handle—but I am really happy with the challenge! There is not much time to think about my old leadership role.

Trust

I have a deep trust, which is linked with faith, that the work I have been involved with all these years is God’s work and I believe he will continue to have his hand upon it.

Vision

My vision has not changed, only my role. The vision for prayer, mobilization, world evangelism, and discipleship remain extremely strong. I can honestly say that it is a motivating factor almost every hour of every day. God has added to that a greater vision and commitment to social concern and action.

That’s the answer to the question of how I am doing. But this isn’t all about me, we all live in times of great change. Finally, I pray that those who read this and those going through a transition or change in their own lives will lay hold of God’s grace in a powerful way. I have always had many weaknesses and struggles in my Christian life and still have much to learn. I believe if a needy character like me can keep running the race in my senior years, then no one has an excuse not to! Let’s keep on keeping on.