What happens when God redirects your carefully laid plans? Dr. Bill Jones knows this redirection intimately. Once determined to serve as an overseas church planter among unreached people groups, a pivotal conversation with three seminary graduates forever changed his trajectory, leading him to Columbia International University and an unexpected leadership path.
Dr. Jones shares how a simple yet profound analogy—comparing the world to waffles rather than pancakes—revolutionized his understanding of missions. This new perspective inspired him to found Crossover Global, one of the first mission agencies focused specifically on reaching cultural groups rather than countries. Today, that organization has planted more than 6,000 churches among Muslims and Hindus across over 30 countries—far exceeding what he might have accomplished alone.
The thread of breaking generational cycles runs powerfully through Dr. Jones' testimony. Having grown up in what he describes as an "unchurched, non-Christian, dysfunctional home" marked by addiction, mental health struggles, and broken relationships, he now leads a family transformed by faith. His daily prayer from Isaiah 59:21—that God's Spirit and Word would remain with his offspring and his offspring's offspring—reflects his passion for multi-generational impact.
As president of CIU and champion of Ben Lippen School, Dr. Jones advocates for education that equips students "from a biblical worldview to impact the nations." He believes deeply in developing both "professional ministers" and "ministering professionals," recognizing that all believers have a divine platform for influence regardless of vocation. His own family experienced the transformative power of Christian education, particularly through Ben Lippin's specialized learning support that dramatically improved his son's academic performance and life trajectory.
Listen as Dr. Jones shares practical wisdom on staying faithful in your current sphere, developing spiritual disciplines through his "five fingers" approach to Scripture, and embracing God's redirection for kingdom impact that spans generations and continents. His journey reminds us that sometimes our greatest contribution comes through surrendering our original plans to God's greater vision.
