A Lesson from Bob Pierce

A generation ago this is what Bob Pierce wrote in the margin of his Bible. That directive ordered his life.

Here are some things I found from

Lookout Magazine August 14,2005 editon


"For 20 years, he traveled to Korea,
Africa, China, India, and Europe saving
souls, housing orphans, and building
hospitals. Through his documentary
fi lms, radio broadcasts, and personal
appearances, he awakened the social
consciousness of an entire generation of
American Christians. In the process he
formed a worldwide relief organization,
World Vision, which continues to be an
effective Christian relief agency.

The man’s name was Bob Pierce.
But while Bob Pierce was reaching the
world, he was losing his family. He had
accepted the believable lie, “If I take care
of God’s business, God will take care
of my family.” His all-consuming work
kept him away from home for months
at a time. Relational distance increased
as time with his family decreased.
Eventually he became frustrated, even
hostile, toward his family and in time was
legally separated from his wife. One child
committed suicide; another married
prematurely and was shortly divorced.
Soon even his closest associates found it
impossible to work with him.

Consequently, they removed him from
the organization he had created. Bob
Pierce became a bitter and reclusive man,
suffering severe bouts of depression. On
his deathbed he experienced one evening
of reconciliation with his alienated wife
and family. He died at peace, but his
family life, in many ways, was still in
pieces."