I don't know about you, but when I first read last month's letter from Pres, two different emotions confronted me.
First, I imagined how emotional it must have been for Pres to write us for the last time. Each month for thirty years, he exposed his heart, shared his passion, and encouraged us to keep seeing ourselves as God sees us and living as He intended. When you pour your whole self into an organization for three decades, I imagine you have an incredibly hard time figuring out which is you and which is the organization. The two nearly become one.
Lifetime Guarantee has been blessed to have Pres' leadership. I've shared meals with him, traveled with him, rappelled down a cliff with him, and prayed with him. He is a friend and mentor. I can tell you that he lives what he teaches. Please join me in praying for Pres as he seeks God's will about his next adventure.
Even though the leadership has transitioned at Lifetime, Pres' legacy will continue on our web site through his articles, letters, and books. If you haven't done so, you should pick up a copy of his books Things Only Men Know and Grace in Ungracious Places from our online store or by calling 1-888-395-LIFE (5433). They are straight from his heart'a declaration of his passion.
The second emotion that confronted me was how humbled and honored I feel to be in this position. The message of Lifetime Guarantee has made an indelible mark on my life and my understanding of Christianity. I learned that the Christian life is more about who you are than what you do, it's more about desire than duty, and it's more about resting than working.
I first joined the Lifetime Guarantee staff while attending seminary in Fort Worth, TX. While studying subjects like Greek, systematic theology, and hermeneutics (aka preaching), I found myself devouring every article I could find on designing and coding great web sites.
I was hooked, and the light bulb came on. This, I believed, was my calling: using this new medium of the internet to share the old, old story of how Jesus Christ lived, died, resurrected, and whose Spirit is still alive and well in the hearts of Believers. I knew for a long time that I wanted to be a part of communicating the Gospel message somehow, but until my days at Lifetime Guarantee, I didn't know what part I was going to play.
But while working at Lifetime Guarantee, the most important and life-changing things I learned were not the technical skills, but getting to know Bill, Anabel, and Pres Gillham and learning from their simple yet profound teaching. I was amazed at how clearly they communicated the basic essentials of Christianity unlike any teacher or preacher I've heard before…and believe me, I've heard a lot.
Being non-denominational, they don't touch controversial issues. They don't talk about politics or current events. They simply stick to the fundamentals of faith. They talk about issues in our everyday lives: how to accept God's grace when we've failed, how to pray, how to have successful marriages, how to raise our kids, how to combat temptation, and how to walk in closeness with God. These are the nitty gritty areas of life we all can relate to. Bill and Anabel draw models and tell stories about a kind of relationship with God that's so real. They teach in an approachable, humorous, easy-to-understand style.
I'm glad to be back at Lifetime Guarantee. I am excited about the future. I wholeheartedly believe that the world needs to hear what the Gillhams have to say. Thanks to the internet, the world can hear this message. In 2000, when I first joined Lifetime, there were 360 million internet users worldwide. Eight years later, there are 1.4 billion internet users'a 300% increase.
Today the internet is ubiquitous. People connect to the web for all different reasons, and a growing number are engaging with spiritual growth resources online. They want to improve their life, their faith, and their relationships. At Lifetime.org, we have compelling content that meets these needs.
The internet will continue to be the primary vehicle that carries the message of Lifetime Guarantee to new generations. The future is bright because the message of grace is so relevant. We're as determined as ever to find new ways to introduce this powerful, life-changing message to a vast number of people who have never heard it.
The internet will continue to be the primary vehicle that carries the message of Lifetime Guarantee to new generations. The future is bright because the message of grace is so relevant. We're as determined as ever to find new ways to introduce this powerful, life-changing message to a vast number of people who have never heard it.
We're all going to miss Pres' monthly letters. I know I will. Yet we know he trusts the reliable leadership of his Father. As for Lifetime Guarantee, Pres has left the organization in great shape. Not because I'm here, mind you. Hardly! But because he and the board always led with integrity, good judgment, and long walks with God. I need your prayers to continue on the legacy that they began.
Thank you for allowing Lifetime Guarantee to be a part of your life. I look forward to getting to know you.
Grace and peace,
PS Seriously, I'd love to meet you. Get in touch with me at andy@lifetime.org.
