Can you first explain the reason for your retirement?
I have a leadership philosophy. I think it's very healthy for leaders to continually look at how long they've been in a position and be prepared to say, "We now need to bring in a next generation of leaders with fresh ideas and perspective."
Organisations grow by leadership that's provided. When I saw I was 65 years old and we accomplished things, I signaled to the board that "Hey, it's time for me to move." A leader's responsibility is to make sure he doesn't stay too long. You really need to be looking down the road for the next visionary leaders to come in and to take what you've accomplished and move it to the next level. It's a very healthy thing for leaders to change over a period of time.
There were numerous new projects and accomplishments made at IBS under your leadership. Above all, a larger vision seemed to have been instilled in the ministry. What was your vision going into presidency in 2000 and looking at it now, do you feel you've fulfilled it?
When I came in, my vision really was we are living in a unique decade. This is a decade where there's going to be a tremendous spiritual harvest all over the world and we agreed that the IBS direction would be to assist and help the church in that harvest field – to bring as many people in the KOG. Our role is to make sure we are translating and distributing accurate and contemporary translations in every part of the world to help bring that harvest in.I really believe we were able to see a part of that vision fulfilled under my particular leadership. I feel really good that we're accelerating that vision and therefore feel it's time to bring new leadership who can fulfill that higher and faster than I can.
What would you say was your greatest achievement during your six years as IBS president?
A couple of achievements I feel very good I was a part of is the ability to focus our outreach on children and youth around the world. The Reach 4 Life and the new TNIV were a significant part of that outreach plan.
And the greatest challenge?
I think probably the greatest challenge was trying to distribute the Bible in parts of the world where there were huge barriers – political barriers, financial barriers, illiteracy and physical barriers, like how do you get a Bible into the rural parts of China where they don't have infrastructure. As we looked at those barriers, what we really realised is that if we were able to repackage these translations in different media, we're able to get around those barriers [like] radio and audio/visual.
