It was February 2001, Johnbull and I were just beginning our relationship. The first person we went to as a couple for counsel was Bishop Ebi (he wasn't a bishop then, but rather Dr. Ebi).
I was so drawn to him ~ a Nigerian native who had this amazing British accent ~ as he had lived in England for several year with his wife and children. So full of wisdom and authority and yet so humble and full of love.
Bishop counseled us and told us to seek God and His plan for our lives and stay true to His calling on our lives and God would do the rest.
Over the years Bishop Ebi has been a spiritual father to us ~ our kids know him as Grandpa Ebi. On several occasions when he traveled back to South Dakota he would stay with us and Johnbull has been honored to speak at The New Life International Mission church in Liverpool on a few different occasions ~ Bishop Ebi's church, a community of Africans seeking God in Liverpool.
Our kids with Bishop Ebi 2010.
We are in Liverpool this week...spending time with Bishops Ebi and Gloria...celebrating Founder's Week with The New Life International Mission. It was five years ago that we were here last...so much has changed. Bishop has not been well and had a liver transplant a couple years ago. The church has been through some hard times and now a remnant remains.
Johnbull has preached several times while we have been here. I believe that the people have been encouraged to keep on with the good fight of faith. It has been so good to see God move and I have been encouraged and renewed.
On Sunday before Johnbull spoke he asked me to come up and say a few words...if you know me you know I don't like to speak in front of groups. As I walked up to the front I was overcome with so many emotions...mostly love for this man who has given all of himself to the furthering of the gospel of Jesus Christ...honored to know him and his beautiful wife who see so much more than the present but they see and want each of their spiritual children to walk in the truth and understand what God has created them for...but mostly I wanted to express how much we honor him for the way he has ran this race well.
"...I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..." 2 Timothy 4:7
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