Chili 20+ Ways

We’re gearing up for the Missions Conference and Chili Cook-off, and I’m pleased to announce that there will be more than 20 different types of chili at the event. This is set to be the biggest cook-off yet, and I know competition will be fierce this year. If you’re not bringing anything, don’t worry about it! There will be plenty of food, and be on the lookout for some innovative new categories in the voting this year!

For those not familiar with our conference speaker, here is an extensive bio from RestoreLiberia.org:

Sheree and I met at Belhaven College in 1980 and married the following year. After two years in youth ministry at the First Presbyterian Church in Biloxi, we accepted an invitation from theAfrican Bible College to move to Liberia with our newborn son. I developed and taught some Christian Education classes while Sheree taught the missionary children in a one room school house. While there were plenty of challenges to grow our faith, we had a marvelous two years. The Bible College was then and is again a “teacher’s paradise” as the students are so committed to learning everything that is offered them. At the completion of our two year term we entered seminary at RTS in Jackson, Mississippi. By the time we graduated, we had three young sons who are all now on their own.

Since then I have been privileged to plant and pastor two wonderful churches in Florida, New Hope PCA in Eustis and Cross Creek Church, PCA in St. Johns. A veteran teacher, Sheree was recently recognized as North Florida’s elementary literacy coach of the year. 

Over the last 22 years  we have followed with great interest the progress of our students at ABC as well as the destruction of their country and the college during a civil war that spanned 14 years. The war crimes and atrocities left deep scars both on the country and on the souls of the survivors. 

My first trip back was in 2006 and the physical, educational, and spiritual devastation I observed gripped my heart then and has not let go. Furthermore, on annual pilgrimages since then we have heard pastors and school teachers pleading for more training. While Sheree continues her work as a literacy coach at Mill Creek Elementary, I resigned from the pastorate in January, 2011 so that I could give all my attention to training pastors so that THEY can be better equipped to bring lasting restoration.  

For the last four years I served on the board of Equipping Leaders International and am now one of their missionaries. ELI sends teams of pastors and teachers all over the world to equip Christian leaders.

It is has been a great joy of ours to witness the rebuilding of the African Bible College. The Chapel is the centerpiece of the campus and  thanks to Samaritan’s Purse it sits as a symbol of the restoration of the whole campus and the student body. Below are before and after pictures. We serve there as adjunct professors.