Flashing Back, Pressing Forward

JOY IN CONNECTING AS 2024 CAME TO AN END

I am grateful for you all, who in this past year (and past years) were part of our Global Training Network ministry (both at home in the US and abroad where we are training networks of leaders).

One of the joys for me, as 2024 wound down, has been to interact with long time friends and hear stories of how God has been at work in their lives.

That includes those from past seasons of ministry, including some of the players from our 1970s News Release Basketball teams that traveled and shared the Gospel at the half times of our games in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Mirror, mirror. on the wall, who’s the fairest….

I got to spend time with Rich Mraule (UC Irvine), visiting him at the special needs boys’ (actually mens’) home he started and heads. I get to see Vince Leong (UCLA) regularly, as he is an ongoing part and valuable contributor to the NO BS BS I lead on Fridays. Vince also played on our News Release teams, helped us start the Crossroads Church in Geneva, and is now a businessman. Lots of fun memories including the photo of Rich, Vince, and some other guy.

MORE YEAR END CONNECTING

Another former News Release player, Stan Pietkeitz (U. of Auburn), also a businessman, emailed:

I still remember playing hoops [in Europe] with you. You probably never encountered a player that loved the game like I did. That summer was great for me spiritually and for my basketball as well and you were instrumental in making that happen!!!

I connected recently through email as well with News Release Director Steve Sorenson, and former players Dennis Lord, Rod Stiling, and Ralph Drollinger. Three nights ago I had dinner with two former players and now long time friends Bill Boyd (USC), Dave Baker ( UC Irvine) and their wives. We laughed and laughed as we shared stories and memories. Bill wrote afterward,

I’ve thought of how I could best share my feelings and I think I have it – being with you both connects me to a time that I treasure and being with you quenches a thirst that only our friendship, and our ‘73 teammates, can satisfy. It’s very significant for me and the time we spent (not counting my lack of travel patience!) was certainly among the best times of my life.

SEVERAL OF OUR TEAMMATES COULDN’T WAIT

Don Bostic, Gary Edmonds, and Jim Urish couldn’t wait to go to heaven, so went on ahead. I miss them and others. Don and I roomed together in then Yugoslavia, and one night as we talked, he invited Jesus to be his Savior and Lord. He went on to become a college administrator before slipping into heaven.

Gary helped launch News Release and then helped start and led the church we planted in Geneva. He led several Christian organizations thereafter. Jim played on our teams in Africa and Europe, then lived with us for several months when Sharon and I studied at L’abri (he met his wife Anne there too). He went on to pastor a church in Colorado Springs until he entered the presence of Jesus.

One of those who also left us early to enter heaven was Billy Ingram. Billy was a star player in high school and went to the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship.

At the U of O, Billy got involved in drugs but became a Christian toward the end of his sophomore year. Someone connected him to us and he became part of our Christian basketball team barnstorming Europe.

“BILLY BRICK” AND “LOVE SUPREME”

Billy was a supreme basketball player but was still affected by the drugs he had taken. He could “jump out of the gym,” but sometimes during a game he would space out like he was somewhere else. As we took trains from city to city, our other players would have to help Billy, as he traveled with five bags, heavy ones too. We would jokingly ask, “Billy, what do you have in these bags, bricks?”

One night when I was rooming with Billy, I saw him open one of his bags. It was full of bricks (cobblestones). Literally bricks. I was shocked. He said he wanted to keep his muscle tone. I said, “Billy, you’ve got to get rid of those bricks!” He was much easier to travel with after that with two bags like everyone else.

During one of our regular Bible studies , Billy pulled out a flute and told us God had given him a song, which he titled “Love Supreme.” It was awful but we endured it because his heart was so good.

DR. INGRAM: LITTLE DID WE KNOW

It was crazy but fruitful summer. In addition to lifting up Christ and the Gospel in city after city, I think all of the guys on our team would say the camaraderie, ministry and Bible studies impacted them. It certainly did Billy.

After the trip, Billy transferred to Biola University and among other things began memorizing the Bible (he actually memorized the entire Bible), which cleared “the cobwebs” of drug use. Billy graduated with a bachelor’s degree and eventually went on to earn a PhD in history, with an emphasis in Greek and Hebrew. He had an international ministry including Israel as he spoke Hebrew fluently.

Billy became the founder and pastor of Maranatha Community Church in Inglewood, California, which he led until a heart attack opened the door for his entrance into heaven. He was known as a Bible scholar, commanding preacher, and community outreach activist. 5,ooo people attended his memorial service and viewers from 35 states and five countries joined the live stream of his homegoing.

As for the fledgling “Love Supreme” music talent we suffered through, Maranatha’s Pastor-at-Large noted in his eulogy that “Pastor Billy was a man of many gifts and interests; photography, music, and traveling.” Among other things, he collaborated with Stevie Wonder on a musical project called “The Legacy.”

While multi-talented and gifted, Billy (Dr. Ingram’s) “was known most of all for his uncompromising dedication to the word of God. His number one passion of his life was his love for God and his thirst for knowledge of God’s word. A serious student of the word, he searched the scriptures daily for divine truth, so that he might reveal it with clarity to God’s people.”

PUSHING FORWARD

Little did we know that this “spacey,” brick carrying, new Christian would become part of storming the gates of hell, and that we would get to be a part of his journey toward doing so.

As we push into 2025 we do so with the mindset “you never know.” You never know what your impact will be as you follow Jesus and seek to lift him up. We do know, however, that,

“No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

what God has prepared for those who love him”(1 Cor. 2:9)

So thankful to have been a part of the spiritual journey of those above…and their part of mine. Thankful you are too.

Because of His great and unsearchable love,

Linus for the GTN Divine Expedition team

On Expedition +

with Global Training Network