Influence for the Decades

 

God uses all our gifts in remarkable ways. Yet we know that some have more lasting earthly influence than others. Printed materials are often read, taught and then discarded. A mission trip lasts for ten days and after the campaigners come back, their influence in the destination country begins to wane. On it goes.

 

Clearly a lesson that leads to the salvation of a soul or a mission trip that plants and harvests a Gospel seed has effect for eternity.

 

But some gifts have substantial earthly influence. One that endures for decades is education. Train a brother or sister well and deeply in Scripture and that influence goes on and on. In fact, instead of waning, the influence of education intensifies. It’s like a snowball rolling down a hill. The longer it rolls the bigger it gets.

 

Global Christian Studies aims to provide deep, enduring training for leaders around the world. We can’t hold the results in our hands like we can some printed materials. We can’t see the Power Point presentation of the excited campaigners. But educate a leader and that influence lives on. It will come out in a person he teaches today and next year. She will use it to influence other women during a retreat this month and use it again in another gathering in ten years.  

 

In fact, education is self-perpetuating. Train a leader and they train others. The ones they train do the same thing.

 

Global Christian Studies takes a long view. A gift toward training a leader is a gift that has influence for decades.

 

Harold Shank

Director

Global Christian Studies

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