From the Willow Creek Leadership Summit, president and CEO of Compassion International, opened up about his painful past and how that has given him his deep compassion for the poor.
His book, Too Small to Ignore, tells his story, which was so painful to tell, “sometimes I could write only 1 sentence a day.”
“My most courageous leadership moment came at age 10.” At his missionary boarding school, the housemaster put him on a chair and lit a candle on both ends and put it in Wess’s young hands to punish him and make the point that “you cannot serve both God and Satan.”
He had been hit by belts, the treads of sandals–and so had his friends–for the most trivial infractions, such as a wrinkle in the bed. He was, on average, being beaten 17 times per week. There was sexual abuse as well–being done by the same people who read the Bible stories, and by older children who had been victims and now became perpetrators.
At 9, in America, he had looked into his mom’s eyes and said, “I don’t want to forget what you look like” and he blurted out, “Please don’t send me back: they hate me, they beat me.” His friends who had heard him tell his mom–he had broken the silence of this boarding school–and for telling, he was now being tortured by this sadistic candle about to burn his hand. But when the housemaster said, “There will be Africans in hell because of this little boy,” rage rose up in me. I had a desperate thought, “I could win this time.” Enough. Enough shame, abuse, and lies. I determined, “It stops now. I am not going to drop this candle. I am not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me scream in pain.” I tightened my grip on that candle.
Then one of the kids knocked the candle out of my hand.
I had received my calling. I had gone from victim to victor. I would spend the rest of my life defending children.
That school was closed. Those perpetrators were not sent to jail, as they should have been. The mission agency did an official inquiry and censured them.
I may never had the courage I had at age 10, but I am a joyful, energized leader. My story: Satan intended for evil, but God redeemed and intended for good.
I cry tears of joy over what I get to do. I am still useful in His Kingdom.
What is your cause? Can it move you to tears?
