WEA Missions Head Hands Over Leadership after 20 Years

World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission (WEA-MC) Executive Director Dr. William Taylor officially handed over leadership of the global mission body to Brazilian missionary Bertil Ekstrom after serving in the position for 20 years.
and ldquo;I have no doubt that heaven is smiling, and that God and rsquo;s eyes are on this place, and rdquo; said Ndaba Mazabane, Chairman of the WEA International Council and South African native in a statement released by the WEA on Thursday. and ldquo;The world may be watching [the World Cup] in Germany, but all the angels have been instructed to put their eyes on this great service. and rdquo; Taylor has served the Mission Commission since 1986, and has brought significant growth to the once-fledgling network, which now boasts membership from over 80 countries around the world.
and ldquo;There were challenging times, and rdquo; Taylor reminisced. and ldquo;There were times when we thought we may have to close the MC down because of these challenges. and rdquo;
and ldquo;But it was the vision to serve the global mission movement that committed us to this ministry, and the Holy Spirit that allowed us to continue and ndash; whether or not we had money, and rdquo; he explained. and ldquo;What you see now is the result of God and rsquo;s work in 20 years. I and rsquo;m so grateful that God is present. and rdquo;
More than 300 missions experts and pastors from 54 countries gave their blessings to the Commission as a dozen representatives laid their hands on Taylor, his wife Yvonne, and the new WEA-MC head, Ekstrom, at the two-hour event.
and ldquo;Tonight, we release these brothers into new areas of ministry, and rdquo; said Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the WEA. and ldquo;We bless you; your appointment has been affirmed. and rdquo;
The leadership transition service was the highlight of the weeklong 10th WEA-MC Convocation in Cape Town, South Africa. The service was reportedly as much a tribute to Taylor and rsquo;s sacrifice and service as it was a celebration of the new leadership of the 31-year-old Commission.
and ldquo;Bill, we are deeply grateful for you, and rdquo; said Tunnicliffe. and ldquo;Because of your leadership, the Kingdom of God has been advancing around the world, God and rsquo;s servants have been more effectively trained for leadership, missionaries have been cared for better than 20 years ago, and those of us who are mission activists have become more reflective practitioners.
and ldquo;Tonight, we give God the glory of your service of 20 years, and we honor that, and rdquo; Tunnicliffe proclaimed.
The new Commission head thanked Taylor and sought and ldquo;support in prayer and in correction and rdquo; to help him understand God and rsquo;s vision for his future during the service.
and ldquo;I think you know some of my limitations and ndash; I have many more, and rdquo; said the Swedish-born missionary to Brazil, who currently resides in England. and ldquo;I and rsquo;m also thankful for the people who have encouraged me during this journey, and together I want to serve you, and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. and rdquo;
The transition process began two years ago in the Netherlands, when Ekstrom was anointed as the next MC executive director. Since then, the two men have collaborated in planting a new direction for the Commission and working out a smooth changeover of leadership.
and ldquo;The leadership transition went so well, and rdquo; said Dr. K. Rajendran, Chair of the WEA-MC Global Leadership Team and Executive Director of India Missions Association. and ldquo;It has been planned for years, and the conclusion was absolutely fantastic. and rdquo;
and ldquo;I think Bertil [Ekstrom] will take us in the same footsteps of Bill Taylor, but also in a direction that is much better than all that has happened so far, and rdquo; Rajendran explained. and ldquo;He is a team player and has different giftings, and I and rsquo;m grateful for Bill [Taylor] for paving the way. and rdquo;
Ekstrom will serve in his new position, and Taylor will serve the larger WEA community as a global ambassador.
Source