Billy, well-connected, knew the president of King College very
well and used his broad base of knowledge and networking the
territory. “He was supportive of King College, and he wanted me
to be real careful about moving from there. At the same time, he
understood the Southern Baptist scene, and he knew I did not,
because I was a Presbyterian and didn’t have a clue. It was an
amazing thing for him to call and help me understand. It wasn’t
going to help him in any way.”
We asked Frank how Billy processed this with him.
“He asked questions about the schools. He was basically being
a pastor to me, calling someone with no way of repaying the
favor. He assured me that whatever decision I made was good
with him. His friendship didn’t depend on which choice I made.”
Another time, Billy learned Frank was writing a commentary
on Philippians and asked for a copy of the manuscript. “He read
it and offered a little commendatory blurb for it. This was when
he was ill—but he reaches out to people and seeks to help them.
Talk about a purpose-driven life!”
The list of names of such younger leaders in all fields, from
business to politics to academics, is remarkably long. Some are
names we don’t recognize; others are known mostly in their own
circles.
As John Huffman observed, Billy’s leadership dynamically
interfaced with many generations, igniting and enriching in two-
way streets of “touch” and communication. And as influential
pastor Leith Anderson told us, “Billy’s willingness to allow others
to succeed may be his greatest lasting impact. Through the suc-
cess of others, he brought evangelicalism to a high-water mark of
size and influence.”
■ ■ ■Gordon MacDonald is currently editor at large for the journal Lead-
ershipand chair of World Relief. As pastor of Grace Chapel in Lex-
ington, Massachusetts, he was involved in Billy’s New England
crusades. As a speaker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship,
Igniting Other Leaders