Parshall Tribute

Wheaton College Alumnus of the Year Recommendation

President Duane Litfin,

Greetings.

We have corresponded only once some years back. I rejoice at how well things are progressing at Wheaton. I graduated in ’84 from the Grad School and am presently “Missionary at Large” with SIM, based in Charlotte. My wife and I served in Bangladesh and the Philippines for 44 years and just returned to the States last year.

The occasion for writing is to nominate Greg Livingstone as your “Alumnus of the Year.” I have known Greg for over a quarter of a century and would feel him most worthy of such an honor. Greg and his wife Sally both graduated from the College in 1962. I asked Greg to send me his bio-data which is attached. He forgot to mention his best-selling book, Planting Churches in Muslim Cities (Baker, 1993).

Personal Observations:

1. Greg is a missions entrepreneur par excellence. He founded Frontiers without resources, but with a strong vision. Today Frontiers is the largest “Mission to Muslims only” in the history of the world. Over 1,000 long-term missionaries are currently deployed throughout the Muslim world. Greg’s recruitment gifts are almost unparalleled in contemporary times.

2. Greg (and his wife Sally) left the directorship of Frontiers to incarnate his life and witness in Malaysia for the past 5 years.

3. I have known Greg as an intimate friend who has compassion and a remarkable degree of humility. In a day where so many Christian leaders fall, I have seen Greg “walk the talk” with admirable consistency.

4. Greg’s wife Sally has struggled with severe depression for many years. I have marveled at Greg’s intimate, loving care for Sally during her long dark night of the soul.

5. Greg has a tremendous love for the Word of God. He, without pretention, cross-references Scripture as a source of strength to keep him on track for Kingdom concerns.

I count it a real privilege to have a deep friendship with an open, honest, caring, Christian leader such as Greg. He has done Wheaton well by being one of your most accomplished graduates.

Perhaps you will forward this to the Alumni Association if you feel that is the way forward.

With appreciation for your leadership in the Christian world….

Under His Mercy,

Phil