Well Done My Brothers
“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” (2ndTimothy 2:2 ESV)
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Tony Elliott, Bob Brown and Rocky Fleming[/caption]
Throughout the history of the Church which began over two thousand years ago, the Gospel has been passed down through generations of followers of Christ. These people are ordinary men and women who live the Gospel out to their world around them. They reach out and serve a world that needs to see Jesus in a life, and by their selfless acts of love for God and the people around them, they give a good example. These Christian men and women are the Church. The Church is alive, for it is an organism comprised of people who are called, “The Body of Christ.” The Church has sustained even though persecuted, targeted with assaults, and bombarded with divisive messages designed to mislead and confuse. The Church continues on not because of buildings and institutions that survive. Most church structures have been burned, rotted, bombed, neglected and replaced with other perishable buildings throughout the centuries. Buildings do not survive, nor are they examples of the Church. The Church survives because it gives a message of hope to a hopeless world in need of a Savior, in need of a Guide, in need of comfort and purpose, and this message in conveyed through God’s family ... the Church. The need is never more evident than now, and the answer has never been so clear and relevant. Christ is needed. The world needs its Savior.
Throughout the years, the messengers of the Gospel have been raised up through their own pursuit of knowing Christ and making Him known. That is why the Church continues. These people are named by Christ. They are called, “His Disciples.” We can identify Christ’s disciples not by what they say about themselves or using mere words. Rather it is because we see in them a sacred connection with the Living God. It is almost as if they are reaching out to Him all the time. But not just Him. You see a disciple must obey their teacher and do what he teaches them. To be a disciple of Christ we are told to not only be a disciple but as well to make disciples. Therefore, our true view of a disciple is a man or woman who is reaching out to Christ to grab hold of Him and walk with Him, but as well reaching back to someone in need of Him and showing them how to become a disciple of Christ. This is how and why the Church continues and is described as an organism. I would like to recognize two examples of true disciples of Christ. They are my friends Bob Brown and Tony Elliott.
Bob and Tony have been a critical and essential part of Influencers from the first Journey Group that was started in 2001 to present, by overseeing our ministry nationally and internationally. They have been leading this ministry from its beginning to present, and their inspired leadership has been evident to all of us.
After eighteen years they have decided to roll off our Global Board to allow a new generation of leadership to take the helm. Theirs is a selfless act to allow the “organism” of Influencers to go on and not be hindered by men who want to hold on to their grip and not allow new ideas and energy to emerge. Bob and Tony have been my friends, my confidants, my encouragers, my supporters in every way, and clear examples of what a disciple of Christ looks like. It will be a loss for me personally, though we will continue to lift each other up with a lifetime commitment. Like me they are ordinary businessmen, although they have distinguished themselves successfully in their careers. But their businesses and careers do not define them. They are defined by Christ. That is where they find their identities and their purpose. That is why they reach back and take their world around them toward Christ, while they continue to reach to Him personally.
They have also distinguished themselves as leaders with Influencers. Bob has served as our President since the ministry was formed, and Tony has continuously served as our the Secretary / Treasurer. Their wisdom has guarded our integrity. They help us keep our eyes on our mission and purpose. They have led this ministry by faith and not fear. They have been fearless guardians of the DNA of this ministry. No doubt we will miss their direct leadership. But their words, their exhortations, their selfless acts will live on after they roll off. Their fruit will continue to remain in this ministry, for it is about Christ who never leaves them or us. I am reminded of Jesus’s exhortation in John 15:16.
Tony Elliott, Bob Brown and Rocky Fleming[/caption]
Throughout the history of the Church which began over two thousand years ago, the Gospel has been passed down through generations of followers of Christ. These people are ordinary men and women who live the Gospel out to their world around them. They reach out and serve a world that needs to see Jesus in a life, and by their selfless acts of love for God and the people around them, they give a good example. These Christian men and women are the Church. The Church is alive, for it is an organism comprised of people who are called, “The Body of Christ.” The Church has sustained even though persecuted, targeted with assaults, and bombarded with divisive messages designed to mislead and confuse. The Church continues on not because of buildings and institutions that survive. Most church structures have been burned, rotted, bombed, neglected and replaced with other perishable buildings throughout the centuries. Buildings do not survive, nor are they examples of the Church. The Church survives because it gives a message of hope to a hopeless world in need of a Savior, in need of a Guide, in need of comfort and purpose, and this message in conveyed through God’s family ... the Church. The need is never more evident than now, and the answer has never been so clear and relevant. Christ is needed. The world needs its Savior.
Throughout the years, the messengers of the Gospel have been raised up through their own pursuit of knowing Christ and making Him known. That is why the Church continues. These people are named by Christ. They are called, “His Disciples.” We can identify Christ’s disciples not by what they say about themselves or using mere words. Rather it is because we see in them a sacred connection with the Living God. It is almost as if they are reaching out to Him all the time. But not just Him. You see a disciple must obey their teacher and do what he teaches them. To be a disciple of Christ we are told to not only be a disciple but as well to make disciples. Therefore, our true view of a disciple is a man or woman who is reaching out to Christ to grab hold of Him and walk with Him, but as well reaching back to someone in need of Him and showing them how to become a disciple of Christ. This is how and why the Church continues and is described as an organism. I would like to recognize two examples of true disciples of Christ. They are my friends Bob Brown and Tony Elliott.
Bob and Tony have been a critical and essential part of Influencers from the first Journey Group that was started in 2001 to present, by overseeing our ministry nationally and internationally. They have been leading this ministry from its beginning to present, and their inspired leadership has been evident to all of us.
After eighteen years they have decided to roll off our Global Board to allow a new generation of leadership to take the helm. Theirs is a selfless act to allow the “organism” of Influencers to go on and not be hindered by men who want to hold on to their grip and not allow new ideas and energy to emerge. Bob and Tony have been my friends, my confidants, my encouragers, my supporters in every way, and clear examples of what a disciple of Christ looks like. It will be a loss for me personally, though we will continue to lift each other up with a lifetime commitment. Like me they are ordinary businessmen, although they have distinguished themselves successfully in their careers. But their businesses and careers do not define them. They are defined by Christ. That is where they find their identities and their purpose. That is why they reach back and take their world around them toward Christ, while they continue to reach to Him personally.
They have also distinguished themselves as leaders with Influencers. Bob has served as our President since the ministry was formed, and Tony has continuously served as our the Secretary / Treasurer. Their wisdom has guarded our integrity. They help us keep our eyes on our mission and purpose. They have led this ministry by faith and not fear. They have been fearless guardians of the DNA of this ministry. No doubt we will miss their direct leadership. But their words, their exhortations, their selfless acts will live on after they roll off. Their fruit will continue to remain in this ministry, for it is about Christ who never leaves them or us. I am reminded of Jesus’s exhortation in John 15:16.
"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain ….”
Indeed, the fruit that Bob and Tony have birthed with Influencers will remain long after they are gone. It is a fruit that will last. It is the kind of fruit Jesus spoke of. It is their legacy that will follow them to heaven, and when they enter their eternal home they will no doubt hear these words: “Well done My good and faithful servants.” Join me and thank these brothers for what they have done for all the men and women who have been impacted by this ministry around the world for eighteen years. Well done Bob and Tony. You will always be in our hearts. You will always be in my heart. We love you. I love you my brothers.