August 7 2000

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Oswald Chambers said we experience life "in the haphazard." As I write this, the death just days ago of our dear colleague Clayton Bell hits us as indeed "haphazard."A month ago we flew to Dallas to confer with Clayton about major changes in CTi. As usual he gave wise counsel and hearty encouragement. At our board meeting a few weeks later, we adjusted our corporate name to Christianity Today International. We looked forward to working with Clayton on new strategies to help Christian leaders worldwide. Now we grieve for Clayton's family and we adjust to another sharp turn in the road. God has his own plans and timetable.Sometimes life has an odd symmetry. Exactly 25 years ago in June, Clayton, as a member of the board's executive committee, helped hire me to lead CTi. For all of those years we've experienced Clayton's wisdom, faithfulness, and marvelous sense of humor.We could always count on Clayton to do whatever it took. For the June meetings, because of a change of plans, he volunteered to fly standby to arrive early. He waited at the airport for hours without complaint. When he finally arrived in Chicago, his huge smile was intact.Clayton's father, L. Nelson Bell, helped Billy Graham found Christianity Today. In CTi's history, only Harold Ockenga and Billy Graham had been chairmen—that is, until our June board meeting. Billy was then elevated to founder and honorary chairman. Clayton, after a decade of effective leadership as executive chairman, was elected chairman. Clayton gave us vital leadership during years of steady growth when we added magazines and developed a major Internet presence. He honored his father's legacy in his pastorate and in his broad national leadership (see page 28). His leadership in the Presbyterian ...