I had the opportunity recently to attend the funeral of former YFC president, Dick Winn.  Dick was a man who truly loved and served our Lord.  Following college, as Dick and his wife, Janet, were praying about which of 3 job opportunities as a band director he should accept, Dick was approached by Youth for Christ to consider being on staff. Dick and Janet decided to give YFC one year of service before going into teaching.  That one year turned into over 34 years of ministry in YFC.  

Along with his ministry to YFC, Dick also served as a Senior Pastor of Kentwood Community Church, Vice President of Crown Financial Ministries, The Founder of Emerging Young Leaders, and worked alongside many international ministries including EQUIP and Care for Pastors.  Another former YFC president, Jay Kesler, spoke at the funeral.  As he shared, you could feel the friendship the two men had shared and the understanding that our purpose here on earth is to bring about the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

 As I left the funeral I began to wonder if I was doing everything God has called me to do.   Am I aware of the opportunities He places before me?  Am I willing to take the next step, go through the next door?  What is the next adventure God has in store for my wife, Janet, and me?  

Youth for Christ is where Janet and I both began our ministries, she in Lansing, and I in Holland.  Lots of great memories remain for both of us as we look back on what is now 31 years of ministry.  But we don’t want to settle for memories of past ministry.  We want to finish strong.  Thomas L. Friedman in his book, The World is Flat states that a good way to measure organizations is to determine if they have more dreams than memories.   While we relish the memories we dream to the future.  We dream of young leaders needing to be developed, more mature leaders needing to be encouraged, eyes that need to be opened to possibilities around them, and disciples to be made at all costs.

More than anything we want to be able to honestly echo the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7.  Our deepest desire is; to fight, to finish, and to keep the faith.  We appreciate your prayers and your gifts of generosity as we dream big and look forward toward finishing the race.

Dreaming Big,

Bob and Janet Wielenga