Why we stay

We're still here because we're not finished. In 1968 we arrived in Madrid for a teaching job in a Bible School. When we left Madrid years later to come to Extremadura, a couple of my students at the Sefovan Bible College were the grandchildren of the family where I had given my first home Bible studies. None of our co-workers from that time remain in Spain. Unless you include John Blake of the Billy Graham Association, whom I helped by being available to show the old evangelistic movies in Madrid while he lived in Barcelona. John told me recently that at 78 he is still going strong, supervising 21 co-ordinators of the My Hope TV evangelistic campaign. Our co-worker Raúl is nearing 80, and carries a full load.

We're still here because we can't think of anything we would rather do than share the gospel with people who need salvation. And we have a vision to establish communication networks in which the gospel can travel effectively.

We're still here because we are in good health and still able to carry on, hopefully with increased effectiveness, the ministry that God gave us.

We're still here because no one has come to replace us.

We're still here because we like to visit our grandchildren in Spain. (Of course we also like to visit the ones in the U.S.)

What got me thinking along this line was that this morning a song came to my mind from back in the days at Prairie Bible Institute,

Sacred Trust

Where He leads me I will follow; oft I've sung it blessed Lord.

Oft I've said with heart o'er flowing, I would follow at Thy word.

Now I stand in holy wonder, hushed and awed by pow'r divine

Stand before an open gateway, with my hand still clasped in Thine.

Sacred trust, Oh blessed privilege

Theme befitting angel voice, yet to me the trust is given

Oh my soul rejoice, rejoice! 

When the God of all creation bids me go his love to tell

Naught in earth or heav'n can stay me; home and friends and all, farewell.