THE POWER OF THE FEW--Legacy of Ed Neteland

The Lasting Legacy of Ed Neteland

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." This is a primary role Ed Neteland played in the lives of so many leaders around the world. Ed befriended so many who never knew what friendship meant, until he passed through. Without a doubt one of the greatest privileges of my life is that I can count Ed Neteland as a dear friend and colleague who has marked my life and ministry indelibly.

Ed always had a Scripture to share with me that was appropriate to the moment. He knew and loved the Scriptures and it showed. He was an unparalleled example of waiting on the Lord and putting his trust in Him. Ed never sought a job. He trusted the Lord to bring him what was next. His walk with Jesus was so simple and so authentic.

Ed believed in me. He was the master of affirmation. He relentlessly queried me as to what God called me to do. He saw a person's vision as the most important issue in life. Once I was able to put my vision into words, then Ed held me to it. There was no obstacle and no impossibility that could keep me from doing what I was called to do in Ed's mind.

There are two things that stick out to me that have marked my life so deeply.
FIRST-About 20 years ago Ed challenged me to develop a curriculum that would take a new follower of Jesus into some level of spiritual maturity. He believed that since I have spent so much time in the marketplace with men and women who were coming from a non-biblical background that I ought to be able to see Jesus through their eyes and lead them along in their spiritual journey. I tried my best on several occasions, but it was never quite right. He praised what I had come up with, but we both knew it was still short of the mark.

Then a few months ago, I announced to Ed that I finally discovered it. We are now writing a curriculum that can be followed by anyone from a non-Christian background-Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, Jew, Animist and Agnostic. It is a way to simply and purely introduce people to Jesus from every religious and cultural background. It lifts Jesus up to His rightful place and recognizes that Jesus isn't owned by Christianity or Christians. Ed loved the concept and gave it his blessing and a few helpful insights.

SECOND-Ed was into a practice-a personal ministry focus-that may be the blueprint for spiritual revolution. Ed was devoted to the power of the few. When I initially wrote out my personal, life vision it was stated: I want to empower the masses of the world to be and to do all that God created me to be and to do. Ed never did like this vision, because of one word-masses. He repeatedly cautioned me that it is impossible to empower the masses. "You can empower individuals, but not the masses," he said. So, just to please Ed and get him off my back I inserted "individuals" for "masses", but I really didn't embrace it. Well, I didn't embrace it until the last four years.

After all these years, I finally got it. When Jesus came to reach the world, He didn't do it the way I would have. I would have set up as many mass seminars and workshops as possible; even sponsor a few more of those mass luncheons of 5000 or more throughout the country. Now, that would have had impact.

But, not Jesus. Jesus called 3 to come alongside Him-just to be with Him. Then 12, then 72. He poured His life into a few and the movement exploded and is still exploding today. It's the power of the few. Paul didn't work alone. He took others along with him. And, he had help in writing his letters. With respect to I & II Thessalonians Paul didn't write those letters alone. It was Paul, Silas and Timothy who wrote them. But even more important is that the relationship between those 3 men was so dynamic that many Thessalonians began following Jesus and their testimony spread throughout all of Asia Minor. By the way, they were only in Thessalonica for 3 and a half weeks. This is a clear example of "where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus", He will show up in their midst.

In my thinking, "the power of the few" principle was so embraced by Ed Neteland that the impact of his investment in the few that he touched will continue to echo forth throughout the world in great multiples.

It doesn't take much to observe how effective this principle works, when you examine the life of Dr. Ed Neteland. You need go no further than to note his investment in "Project Pearl" where 1 million bibles were taken into China. That investment could result in millions of Chinese being introduced to Jesus. Project Pearl was just one project that God used Ed Neteland to direct. There are so many more-many more like me who are today marking others with the marks of Ed Neteland upon our lives. Every time I write, every time I speak and every time I share any wisdom or experience another, I am a living legacy to my dear friend and mentor, Ed Neteland.

Note: Ed Neteland died on Sunday, December 3, at the age of 74 years.