dispatchesfrombrian

Over a year now in serving as Global Ambassador for the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has led us to some interesting and tough places. It began with a trip to Somalia. Protected by a warlord—five soldiers and a truck—they guarded me as I visited refuge camps, examining the safety and viability of Christian aid groups being able to get back into this lawless land. All the while as they kept eye out for al-Shabaab, the terrorist group. Then Indonesia – a world conference with delegates from the Vatican, the World Council of Churches and WEA – and a week in Japan, visiting the north east coast where the tsunami wrecked so much havoc. Three weeks in Egypt with pastors and leaders during the elections then on to South Sudan and peace conference and Lebanon. As well as our travels and speaking, WEA is planning a world assembly in 2014 in South Korea. In prep for that am serving as general editor for a World Handbook on Evangelicals in the 21st Century, to be published by Thomas Nelson. Later 2012 a 5 week trip through Asia: Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. As I visit I write perspectives for Dispatches and articles for newspapers and magazines. Fall 2012 my latest book was launched: Find a Broken Wall – 7 ancient principles for 21st century leaders.

Successful careers are not planned. They develop when people are prepared for opportunities because they know their strengths, their method of work, and their values. — Peter Drucker

“Every time I move out of my comfort zone, the Lord expands my world.” —From my Journal

"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confessional, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus-Christ - living and incarnate." -Dietrich Bonhoeffer