After two years of praying for Pastor Dixon Kanganga, I finally met my new hero. When we launched Gateway on 2.10.08, we gave our offering away to plant a church on the island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. Our church has prayed for Dixon as he sacrifices in EVERY way to reach 1 million of his closest Muslim friends with the love of Jesus. Dixon’s dad was a witch doctor who died when he was a little boy. While contemplating suicide, his friend read John 3:16 and Dixon surrendered his life to Christ. In two years, he started a church in a disco hall before acquiring land connected with David Livingstone. The old church is in the background of this picture and while Dixon would preach, Muslims would throw stones through the windows at him.

It was a humbling experience to preach at his church. Dixon, Drew, Johnny, missionary Nick Stuva and I prayed and dreamed of creative ways to reach others with the Good News. Boots for porters, misquito nets, water wells, Fire Bibles, and a carpentery training shop with tools to train future church planters were just a few of the ideas. I can’t wait to see how God uses our partnership because of a kindred spirit we share for people. I have learned that the depth of our sacrifice determines the depth of our love.

Once very valued pictures of me with John Maxwell, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, Rod Loy, George Wood, Johnny Damon, Alton Garrison, George Bush, and other great leaders have been placed in a file. This picture of my hero Dixon is the one that sits on my desk as a reminder of what sacrificial leadership and gritty love truly means. I hope to be a fraction of what this man is for Jesus.