I just got back from a ten-day trip to Sierra Leone, West Africa. It has been about 7 years since I last went, and I used to go 2 or 3 times a year for 17 years. I stopped because of my health, but I did very well on this trip and plan to go back again in February to teach a seminar to the pastors on church growth, majoring on prayer, teaching leadership, and teaching personal evangelism to those in their churches. God has given me some new big goals in my life, and I am very excited to get after them. I have been having a very fulfilling and rewarding time preaching at Jefferson Evangelical Church over the last couple of years, and now, with this ministry added to my life, I feel like I could live to be 100. It is amazing the power that goals, dreams, and purpose have in our lives, giving us energy and passion, even for old guys like me. There are so many opportunities all around us to get involved in something that has purpose and blesses other people. 

I am in Sierra Leone, West Africa, this week. I came to Sierra Leone for the first time in 2002, right after the civil war was over, which resulted in many thousands of people being killed. I continued to come over several times a year for about 20 years. The country was very open to the gospel because of the poverty and turmoil caused by the war. I haven’t come over for over six years because of health issues. This trip has been very rewarding. We have started 43 churches since 2002, and most of them have a school ministry serving several hundred kids. Our ministry is actively training pastors through a Bible college and a seminary to equip new churches with quality leaders. We just finished building a facility for the Bible College and Seminary to meet in. It is a very nice building with plenty of room to teach many potential pastors. Because I was the pioneer of this ministry, I was honored that the building was named “Duke Hall.” It was a very nice honor, and all who were at the commissioning celebration were very honoring to me. Even though it was a very positive experience in my life, someday I will stand before Jesus at the Judgment seat of Christ, where I will be honored by Him for what I have done with my life for Him. That day will be wonderful if I have really served Christ well. 

I am in Sierra Leone, West Africa, this week. I came to Sierra Leone for the first time in 2002, right after the civil war was over, which resulted in many thousands of people being killed. I continued to come over several times a year for about 20 years. The country was very open to the gospel because of the poverty and turmoil caused by the war. I haven’t come over for over six years because of health issues. This trip has been very rewarding. We have started 43 churches since 2002, and most of them have a school ministry serving several hundred kids. Our ministry is actively training pastors through a Bible college and a seminary to equip new churches with quality leaders. We just finished building a facility for the Bible College and Seminary to meet in. It is a very nice building with plenty of room to teach many potential pastors. Because I was the pioneer of this ministry, I was honored that the building was named “Duke Hall.” It was a very nice honor, and all who were at the commissioning celebration were very honoring to me. Even though it was a very positive experience in my life, someday I will stand before Jesus at the Judgment seat of Christ, where I will be honored by Him for what I have done with my life for Him. That day will be wonderful if I have really served Christ well.