David Shibley - Great for God: Missionaries Who Changed the World

First printing: April 2012

Copyright 1989, 1993, 2012 by David Shibley. This is revised and expanded from Heavens Heroes . All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. For information write:

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ISBN: 978-0-89221-709-0

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2012935000

Cover image: Peeter Viisimaa, Getty ImagesInterior images: Global Advance: 9, 15, 27, 31, 61, 83, 95, 125 Shutterstock.com: 15, 19, 27, 31, 35, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 79, 83, 89, 95, 99, 105, 111, 117, 121

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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To be called to a life of extraordinary quality, to live up to it, and yet to be unconscious of it is indeed a narrow way.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Cost of Discipleship

Most people plot and plan themselves into mediocrity, while now and again somebody forgets himself into greatness.

E. Stanley Jones

Abundant Living

Forbid that we should ever consider the holding of a commission from the King of kings a sacrifice, so long as other men esteem the service of an earthly government as an honor. I am a missionary, heart and soul. God Himself had an only Son, and He was a missionary and physician. A poor, poor imitation I am, or wish to be, but in this service I hope to live. In it I wish to die. I still prefer poverty and missions service to riches and ease. This is my choice.

David Livingstone

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, Im grateful to my wife, Naomi. She is my beautiful partner in life and ministry. Throughout much of the holidays I was tucked away in my study or researching in seminary libraries. Naomi didnt complain. She believes in the mission and ministry of this book. It never would have been completed without her support and encouragement. To see our sons embrace the call of the Great Commission (Jonathan as president of Global Advance and Joel as a Christ-honoring businessman) is a great joy to us both.

Im grateful to Tim Dudley, president of New Leaf Publishing Group, who believed in me as an author and helped resurrect this avenue of ministry for me. Laura Welch, my editor, and the entire team at New Leaf have done an excellent job.

Much of the biographical information has come from Ruth Tuckers voluminous research. She has chronicled the advance of the gospel through human instruments in her epic book, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya.

When I was a young preacher, four professors helped ground me in a solid theology that is both evangelical and evangelistic: Andrew Bowling and Jim Walters at John Brown University and James Eaves and Roy Fish at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I gratefully acknowledge three men who were profoundly involved in shaping my missiology. My dad, the late Warren Shibley, modeled sacrificial giving and a heart for the world. T. L. Osborn conducted nation-shaking evangelistic meetings that introduced vast multitudes to the living Christ. I share the opinion of the president of Southwestern Seminary that the late Cal Guy, my missions professor and a member of the International Mission Board for Southern Baptists, was the greatest missions professor in the world. Dr. Guy championed the cause of the indigenous church and the raising up of national leaders to reach their own people and surrounding peoples with the gospel.

This emphasis on equipping those we call frontline shepherds led to the founding of Global Advance. I am humbled and honored to serve with Global Advances staff, international representatives, volunteers, and partners in bringing Jesus global glory and helping to fulfill His Great Commission.

Last but by no means least, our personal prayer team, led by Roger and Charlotte Merschbrock, literally prayed me across the finish line in writing this project. Here is your faith made sight.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Needed: Leaders Who Are Great for God

You can be great for God.

You should be great for God.

Our times beg you to be great for God.

You and this book have met at just the right moment.

A call to greatness in no way contradicts the strong teachings of Scripture regarding humility and servanthood. It does require that our definitions of greatness and success be biblical. Jesus view of greatness stands in polar antithesis to the worlds view. You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, He said, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant (Mark 10:4243). Only servants can lead in His kingdom.

Christs servants today stand on the shoulders of His servants of earlier eras whose lives were often packed with more adventure than the most riveting novel. The profiles in this book will introduce you to the extraordinary lives of servants who shook the world. Their greatness had little to do with status, wealth, or acclaim (all of which they often lacked). Yet their lives soared above mediocrity, lifted millions, and brought great glory to God.

You will read how a campus Christian meeting changed everything for a young dreamer named John R. Mott. That pivotal night at Cornell, Mott heard a renowned missionary issue this challenge: Young man, seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not! Seek first the kingdom of God (see Jer. 45:5 and Matt. 6:33). Suddenly everything inside this college student snapped to attention. From that night, his focus was clear. He would be great because he would tether his life to a great Lord and His great cause.

Such defining points mark us and shape our future. The subjects of this book were visionary, motivated, and imperfect. They sought great things but not for themselves. They were great for God . They lived out William Careys daring challenge, Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.

Christs servants never pursue greatness for its own sake. Those who are great for God are passionate about God and His purposes. The end game is Gods glory and advancing His kingdom. Their lives point past themselves to a great Redeemer. They echo the prophets desire for the fame of His name: Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts (Isa. 26:8; New International Version).

In todays warped world we have traded greatness for mere celebrity. But laurels and limelight are never at the forefront of those who are great for God. You will see in the lives of these great servants a refreshing disregard and distrust of accolades. One can only imagine what their reaction would be to todays fixation with celebrities. No doubt they would have labeled it real, repugnant idolatry. We all appreciate affirmation, but the applause these great ones sought most was the applause of heaven.