For many years we missed celebrating Thanksgiving with family. While overseas we would try to gather with missionary colleagues to give some semblance of gathering with family for this unique American holiday. Seldom was turkey and trimmings available, so more often than not the meal consisted of rice and curry or goat sate. What a […]

A personal highlight of many diverse ministry opportunities this year was to be asked to present two keynote messages to the annual COMIBAM conference in the Dominican Republic. This Latin American Consultation on Evangelizing the World has been bringing together evangelical leaders from a wide variety of denominations and mission agencies from every country in […]

We arrived home last week following a 12-day road trip of 2800 miles that entailed engagements in seven states. The temperature was a chilly 35 degrees the next morning, and it was as if the seasons had abruptly changed while we were gone. After watering thirsty house plants, the neglected yard required blowing leaves instead […]

A two-day gap between engagements in the eastern U.S. allowed us to veer our travels off the boring, fast-paced interstate and take the scenic by-ways through the Appalachian Mountains. The graciousness of ministerial discounts at LifeWay’s Ridgecrest Conference Center enabled us to enjoy an overnight in that beautiful setting near Black Mountain, NC. It was […]

Last week was highlighted by a delightful visit from Steve and Marie Goode, long-time friends from our days in Bangkok years ago. They still live in Thailand where they serve as director of Global Mercy Ministries with Youth With A Mission. Bobbye and Marie were in a close-knit women’s prayer group from 1984-88 and the […]

The last thing Bobbye would have ever wanted for her birthday last Saturday was to go to a football game. It is not that she doesn’t care for watching an occasional game on television, but as a birthday gift it would be appreciated about as much as receiving a new vacuum cleaner for a present. […]

We thought we would be with our grandchildren more than we have been–after all, isn’t that what retirement is supposed to be all about? With three of them living on the other side of the world and others entering into teenage years with their own busy schedules and activities, frequent leisure time together has yet […]

Travel continues to be the norm. Last month a two-week, 3,000 mile road trip to the Carolinas was followed by a train trip to Chicago. With only a day and a half in between it was a rush to wash clothes, catch up on mail and business, repack for a cooler climate and leave again. […]

The annual North American Mission Leaders conference and meeting of the Evangelical Missiological Society is always a valuable occasion of networking with more than 300 leaders from a wide variety of institutions and mission agencies. This year’s conference being held in Chicago last week gave us the opportunity for a unique travel experience. We often […]

Every five years the International Mission Board hosts a “Celebration of Emeriti” at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly in North Carolina. The conference used to coincide with Foreign Mission Weeks at Ridgecrest and Glorieta, but since those weeks have been discontinued, this massive periodic gathering provides an opportunity for missionaries from the past to fellowship and stay […]