“Not Why, But Whom:” The Leadership Lessons I Learned from Sally McClung
Dear Friends,
In my current role, I had thought I would work closely with Floyd. Instead, the greatest gift I received was Sally. In February 2016, Floyd was suddenly taken ill and became incapacitated, just three months after he announced me as the future international leader of All Nations, to be effective after a two-year Paul-Timothy mentoring transition. But February 23rd forever changed the trajectory for All Nations. It began an arduous heart-wrenching journey over the next five-and-a-half years till Floyd passed away. During this period, Sally also battled cancer and almost lost her life to the disease while simultaneously caring for Floyd. Yet, amidst her own storm, she encouraged thousands of people around the world through her personal updates. And in her storm, she has been a constant support and wise counsel to me personally the past ten years. It says that “His way is in the whirlwind and the storm” (Nahum 1:3). Sally more than anyone else I know has modeled His way in the storm and the whirlwind.
So many of us could not fathom why God would allow all this to happen to Floyd, Sally, and All Nations. One day, I was very indignant and asked Sally, “Why is all this happening?” I will never forget that moment. We were sitting on her porch overlooking the bright blooming bougainvillea when she looked squarely at me and replied, “Mary, I never ask why. I only ask Whom. I ask in Whom do I believe? In Whom do I trust?” That is the greatest leadership lesson I learned from Sally.
Over the past ten years, there have been so many trials. But the “not why, but Whom” has stayed with me. It is the “but God” who draws the line in our lives between being overwhelmed and overcoming. This morning, I pondered again on the five “buts” that have carried me through this year: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:7-9). Sally modeled for me “but Jesus” in all our circumstances.
In November 2017, when Sally commissioned me as the All Nations International leader on behalf of herself and Floyd, she gave me two gifts: Floyd’s huge magnifying glass (from a towering man!) and his devotional book, At the Name of Jesus, highlighting 365 names of Jesus. With the gifts, she enclosed this note, ‘With giving you Floyd’s book and magnifying glass as a “symbolic baton”—my prayer is for you to daily fall more in love with Jesus, and that He will be magnified in and through you to the world.’
That’s my prayer for you too, that you and I will daily fall more in love with Jesus, and that each of us in all our circumstances will be able to say “but Jesus” and magnify Him each and every of the 365 days of the year.
Blessings,
Mary
About the Author: Mary Ho is the All Nations International Executive Leader
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