Thank you Tony

Tuesday February 24
A Visit from Tony
Last week for four days from Februay 19-22, I had the absolute joy of being with my mentor and friend Tony Campolo as he ministered to people at the 2009 Mission Fest meeting in Pretoria, South Africa. My love for Tony and his wife Peggy goes back a long time, all the way to 1972 when I went to then Eastern College, now Eastern University, because I heard Tony on Christian radio. At that time I was unsure of where I wanted to go. After I heard Tony I was headed to Eastern. From the day I arrived, he and Peggy took such an interest in me. I actually got to know Peggy first since she interviewed me for the local newspaper. Then Tony helped me with financial support, but even more, with a new perspective on the call of Christ and the Christian faith that was to change my life forever. I took every sociology course of his even though I was an English and Communications major. Like hundreds of others, I could hardly wait for classes which were more sermons than lecture but with a professor who was one of the toughest examiners of the college. Oh yes, I did well, and the lessons I learned are with me today. The call of Christ is a radical call to change the world and see the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all of life. Jesus loves the poor and we must work with him in the power of the Holy Spirit on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged. I listened and watched as Tony preached that same message with that same passion to Mission Fest and I was as moved and motivated now as I was then so many years ago. In my humble opinion, Tony's imprint on evangelical Christianity in North America and Canada and Europe is large, and all to the Glory of the kingdom of God, never to Tony's. There are hundreds of people in full time Christian service today who are there because they heard the call of God through Tony's preaching. When he asks you to respond, he calls you to sacrifice and service, with no promises. He is unswerving in his belief that Christ came to change the world and Christians must be involved in every aspect of it. I am thankful too that he shares his struggles in the Christian faith around issues today that challenge the evangelical church. You may not always agree with him but you have to do some thinking and I like that. I am as proud today to be his friend and thankful for the short time I served on his Board before I left for South Africa. What I do here in Cape Town, can be traced all the way back to my late dad and to Tony Campolo. thank you Tony and may many more lives be changed because of what the Lord does so uniquely through you-call people to Jesus Christ